14
ediciones
Cambios
→Season 2025/26
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<!-- IF YOU COPY FROM THIS EDITING VIEW, YOU NEED TO USE THIS TEMPLATE (* TRANSFORMS INTO BULLET, ''' MAKE IT BOLD):*''' Start Date to Finish Date (use Format YYYY-MMM-DD) / Duration in Days / Hiking or <span style="background-color:aqua;">Packrafting </span> / Travel Direction (SOBO for Southbound or NOBO Northbound) / Chosen Route and/or Option Name (RR for Regular Route) / Names or Alias'''--><nowiki>* '''</nowiki>'''Start Date to Finish Date (use Format YYYY-MMM-DD) / Duration in Days / Hiking or <span style="background-color:aqua;">Packrafting</span> / Travel Direction (SOBO for Southbound or NOBO Northbound) / Chosen Route and/or Option Name (RR for Regular Route) / Names or Alias'''<nowiki>'''</nowiki>
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=Overview=
=Section Log, Alerts and Suggestions=
==Season 2025/26==
'''2025-11-21 to 2025-11-24 / 4 days / Hiking / NOBO / RR69 + OH69-A / Pierrick G
General Information :
It is possible to do this section with only 0.5L of water as water sources are abundant.
Replenishment is possible at Puerto Almanza.
There are restaurants in Puerto Almanza.
Long stretch of road between Puerto Almanza and Haberton, hitchhiking is possible.
Day 1:
Ushuaia to Estancia Remolino - 35km
Start on foot from Ushuaia following Route 3 out of the city, though hitchhiking or bus is recommended as walking is less interesting. After Estancia Tunel, the trail becomes very muddy and vegetation dense, fragile clothing should be removed. For northbound hikers, do not follow the gorge trail to cross the first river; cross near the Beagle Channel shore for safety. Several small rivers to cross by ford after that. Possible to sleep in an abandoned house on the right with 3 iron bed frames but no mattresses. Several refuges and estancias for shelter along the way.
Day 2:
Estancia Remolino to Lucas Bridge trail start - 41km (26km of walking and about 15km of hitchhiking between Puerto Almanza and the Lucas Bridge trail start 54°51′56.01′′ S 67°21′08.06′′ W).
The trail is a continuous forest track with no difficulty. Hitchhiking recommended to avoid long, monotonous road walking.
Day 3:
Lucas Bridge trail start to 54°40′59.05′′ S 67°19′11.43′′ W - 30km
General advice:
- walk in rivers when possible to save energy and time versus bush bashing.
- A packraft can be very useful northbound from a specific point on the Río Valdez.
Cross the farm gate (left open for hikers), the official start of Lucas Bridge trail. Trail markings are sparse; rely on GPS. Many river crossings, bogs, fallen trees, dense vegetation with thorns. Expect wet and dirty feet; gaiters recommended. Fragile clothing may be damaged by dense thorny vegetation. River Varela ford at given coordinates can be dangerous due to current; take time and keep shoes for stability; trekking poles recommended. 3 or 4 official campsites with wooden shelters in poor condition encountered.
Day 4:
From 54°40′59.05′′ S 67°19′11.43′′ W to Tolhuin - 26km
Exit dense forest, several river fords, following GPS is important. Trail becomes a forest track, then meets Route 3; hitchhiking possible here.
In Tolhuin, rest at Kau Karskam hostel: 30,000 ARS/night with breakfast and towel. Supermarket "La Anonima" nearby for resupply.
==Season 2024/25==
* ''' 2025-AVR-03 > 06 / 3,5 jours / Randonnée / RR > 69-04 > <strike>69-04A</strike> > 69-04 (+ glaciar Vinciguerra : 12km A-R) > 69-01C > 69-01 (+ glaciar Ojo del Albino : 8km A-R) > 69-06 > <strike>69-06A</strike> > 69-06 > 69-06B > 69-06 > RR / Pierre-Marie '''
Etape : GPT69
| Meteo : nuages et soleil
| Eau : difficile
| Neige : beaucoup dès le départ
| Intérêt : 5/5
| Difficulté : 5/5
| Danger : neige, boue, marais, ruisseau caché profond
Je fais une boucle de 4 jours depuis Ushuaïa. Il y a un sentier au dessus de Los Alacalufles, ca évite de marcher au bord de la route. Il y a ~15cm de neige dès le départ. J'ai de la chance car un groupe me précède et je suis leurs traces dans les bois. Le sentier est moyennement balisé. Dès que je sors du bois, ça se complique sérieusement. Le vent pousse la neige dans la vallée. Le sentier est recouvert de 20 à 150cm de neige. La progression est difficile et les traces du groupe précédent sont effacées en quelques minutes. Je les croise quand ils font demi-tour. La fin de la montée se fait bien et j'atteins la bifurcation. Je ne suis pas allé au lac car la neige était trop épaisse et que je voulais assurer ma descente dans les bois. Par chance, j'ai croisé un groupe qui montait après seulement 20 minutes, ce qui m'a encore fait gagner du temps car le balisage n'est vraiment pas bien fait. Le sentier est particulierement boueux. Impossible de garder les pieds sec avec la neige qui fond. Je campe après le pont du sentier qui va au glacier Vinciguerra. La température descend très bas la nuit et le lendemain matin le sentier est totalement glacé. J'ai fait l'aller-retour au lac en ~2h30 car la trace était déjà faite. Le sentier est très emprunté mais j'ai commencé à croiser du monde à 10h seulement. Ce sentier est faisable si la trace n'est pas faite, c'est juste plus long. Quand je suis arrivé sur la RN3 j'ai fait de l'auto-stop et ça a très bien fonctionné. On m'a déposé au départ du sentier. Il y a un sentier qui rejoins le sentier officiel de la Laguna Esperalda mais sur ma carte j'ai vu qu'il y en avait un autre qui partait du refuge Bonete. Attention le refuge est fermé à clé. Le sentier n'existe plus mais le CC est très facile car il y a peu de végétation. J'ai pu observer des castors car personne ne passe par ici. J'ai rejoins le lac sans difficulté. En allant au campement indiqué sur ma carte (-54.6801666, -68.1317597) j'ai croisé un groupe avec un guide qui m'a demandé si je montais au glacier ce soir. J'ai dit que non et il m'a dit que la montée était facile. Je suis arrivé au campement à 16h30 alors j'ai laissé mon sac et suis monté au glacier pour 3 raison : il n'y avait plus de touristes sur le sentier, la trace était déjà faite, et j'avais peur que le sentier soit infaisable le matin avec le gel. J'ai fait l'aller-retour en 2h30. Attention ce sentier est impossible sans trace GPS ou si la trace n'est pas faite. Un vrai labyrinthe dans les rochers. La nuit a été fraiche mais il n'a pas gelé. Le sentier est une vraie mare de boue. Il y a un refuge (-54.6867047, -68.1306579) utilisable uniquement par les adhérents d'une association, mais en cas de problème grave il est ouvert. Mes chaussures sont toujours aussi trempées. A la fin de la montée vers la Laguna Submarino il y a des cairns. La montée est faisable sans trace mais dans mon cas des gens étaient montés avant moi. Je n'ai pas fait la 69-06A car il y avait trop de neige pour moi. C'est une belle journee et la neige font très vite, les torrents sont en crue et il y a des ruisseaux partout. Attention certains ruisseaux sont très creux et bien dissimulés dans l'herbe ou la neige. Entre le lac et la 69-06B c'est du CC pas toujours évident car ça glissait beaucoup. J'ai cassé un de mes bâtons. Un acte manqué pour me dire que je dois rentrer chez moi. Casser un baton de 9000km le dernier jour du GPT ce n'est pas un hasard. A partir de la confluence (-54.788636, -68.1128231) qui est facile à traverser car il y a un arbre couché, c'est du CC très difficile voir du BB sur plusieurs centaines de mètres de temps en temps. L'utilisation du GPS est indispensable. Il ne faut pas longer la rivière trop près, en hauteur c'est moins escarpé et il y a moins de végétation et d'arbres couchés. Je suis arrivé directement sur la 69-06B qui est un vieux sentier de trail. Il y a des arbres en travers mais pas de végétation. J'ai campé à côté d'un cours d'eau (-54.8154405, -68.1220069) car la descente n'a pas été facile (4h30 depuis le lac...). La fin a été facile, il suffit de suivre le sentier puis la route jusqu'à Ushuaïa. J'ai rencontré le propriétaire de l'estancia Tunel sur son cheval, il m'a dit que ce sentier était en parfait état il y a 15 ans, mais que les gens n'y vont plus alors la forêt a repris le terrain. Il m'a dit qu'il y avait un autre sentier dans la vallée à l'est, en longeant le cour d'eau.
==Season 2023/24==
* '''Frank /4.5 days / RR NOBO'''
1. I got the bus to the edge of Ushuaia (see transport section) & walked back to the centre along the coast road in a little over an hour.
3. From Tolhuin I got a taxi on Ruta 27 to Aguas Blancas where there is a sign for SLB. I walked back 19KM to Tolhuin easily in 4 hours.
4. I got the Tolhuin-Ushuaia bus to the junction with Ruta J then hitched to the Puesto at the start of SLB. Not much traffic, possibly because it was Christmas Eve. At the puesto go in on the jeep track for 1KM then leave it as it turns left & continue along a fence. Forded Rio Varela, it was a little over knee deep & fast. There is a camp just after the ford. The trail is marked with blue & red dots & occasional small metal flags. Continued to Rio Lata & crossed it easily. There are a few more crossings. Most I was able to cross on logs & rocks. There is a narrow trail section along a gravel bank which is eroded & undercut. I walked it but it would be safer to ford the river below the bank. There is an intermediate camp then the trail fades out with no markers until Camp Lata. Summer days are long so I continued from Camp Lata to the pass easily on slabs up a streambed. Good views of the Dientes on the way up. At the pass (650M) don't lose altitude but contour following metal posts to the second pass which is at about the same altitude. Then you drop steeply on a clear trail. Once at the treeline it's very muddy for 1KM but you are soon at Camp BruzzoBruzo, 3KM from the pass, where I camped. I marked the locations of all the camps so they should be available with the 2024 track file update.
Camp Bruzzo Bruzo is at the point where the route divides with a 'track' along each side of the river. However the trail & markers disappear & its CC on either side until the point where the routes reunite. I found the best option to be going out on the left route & when I reached the river I started walking along the gravel banks, crossing it many times, often just walking in the river. If you stay on land you are in rough trackless scrub with beaver dams, logjams & mud. At the point where the tracks reunite the trail & markers start again. After a short confusing section through a maze of fallen trees it led out more easily although navigation was still required. Forded the river easily at the puesto & went out on a good track to the road. After a few KM I hitched into Tolhuin.
==Season 2022/23==
* '''2023-04-28 to 2023-05-12 / Hiking / all directions / RR + various OH / Jakub & Veronika'''
We stayed in Ushuaia for quite a long time. We visited NP Tiera del Fuego, walked to Mirador Glaciar Martial, Cerro Medio and Laguna Esmeralda, hitchhiked to Puerto Almanza and finally walked Sendero Lucas Bridges from Estancia Haberton to Tolhuin. All was nice, all is recomendable Ushuaia's museums included, the last is the hardest:
We crossed the pasture (unlocked wooden gates) and from there on it was easy to follow the way threw the gassing land. It is necessary to cross the fences a few times untill you get closer to the forest, there you need to follow the track files for a while, because the trail itself is misleading. After we crossed the river Varela (all crossings are recorded accurately at the original locations), and spent the first night in the camp on its shore. The camp looks quite new (first photo). From there the path was well marked with metal Fuegian flags and red and blue spots and leads next to Varela River and after along one of its left sources at the bottom of the valley. We followed that untill we approached another new camp (second photo). Then the trail leads to peatbog where the path disappears with the first beaver lagoon and from that moment on it is just cross-country through the peat. Sometimes we could see more marks but it doesn't help at all (the solution would be to record all the marks on the GPS but we didn't have time for that - if you can, do it!). We wanted to spent our second night at Rancho Lata, but we couldn't find it because of a dark (search around the track in the forest at km 37.2). We slept close to this point between the the trees that provided good shelter from the wind. The next day we turned right to the Paso Bridges. Here the path follows a stream that runs from the pass. When in the mountains, we found yellow and wooden pole marks that led us across the pass. The wind here was strongest we've met in Patagonia so take care! We spent night in the camp Bruzo with another beaver lagoon next to it (and sadly some rubbish as well). In the morning we lost marks again, so we needed to cross the peatbog again, thanks to frost it was harder then a day ago. It is better to go around the lagoon on its right side. We crossed river again over fallen trees, after in the forest we found marks again for a monet. Then some more cross-country untill we reached Rio Valdez. From there on the trail is recorded accurately and well visible with some recent maintainance. Last night we spent close to the river where are many good camping spots. Next day we crossed the river Valdez next to the puesto and soon we were on the mud road leading to Tolhuin. We spent on the path 4 nights. We walked slowly, but also it wasn't easy. Lot's of humidity, peatbogs, fallen trees and half of the path not well marked. But nature really amazing with interesting history (Selk'nam) and present (beaver introduction related demage and recent forest exploitation close to slowly expanding Tolhuin). It seems that not many people visit this sendero these days. Hopefully the protection status will change and more people will come!
* '''2023/04/21 - 2023/04/26 / 5 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR and Option 6 / Christopher and Anna'''
Tolhuin - Estancia Haberton - Laguna Esmeralda - Laguna Submarina - Ushuaia
At km 110,8 we reached the RR of section 69 and followed the really good path. There are lots of visitors there and we hitchhiked from the parking lot at km 114 to Ushuaia.
=Resupply and Accommodation=
==Resupply and Accommodation along the Route==
7 restaurants in Puerto Almanza. There may be rooms & camping available there also.
Several camps along Sendero Lucas Bridges. They all have lean tos which are more suitable for cooking than sleeping. Rancho Lata is a collapsed hut. Plenty of water along the route & at all the camps.
=Transport to and from Route=
Minibuses run by Lider & Montiel go several times a day Ushuaia-Tolhuin
Tours go to Estancia Harberton by bus & boat from Ushuaia but they are expensive, around 150 euro. They don´t give any discount if you just want transport without the tour. Hitching is possible with a bit of patience.
Local buses A & B run from Ushuaia centre along the coast road to about 6.5KM from the centre along the RR. No need to walk this part unless you like shipping containers. You need a SUBE card to use the bus but if you ask a local & offer them 200 pesos they will normally tap you on.
=Permits, Entry Fees and Right-of-Way Issues=
=Links to other Resources=
=Images=