Cambios

I combined GPT8 and 9, from Termas de Chillan to Trapa Trapa. I joined GPT9 at ~29.2km (intersection with 08-04) at midday of Day 4 (4.5 days total).  Highlights were Los Peucos termas and Option 4, particularly the ridge and final 10km coming into GPT9. Challenges included occasional BB to avoid agitated cows. Attractiveness - 4/5, Difficulty, 2/5. CampsNight 1: Los Peucos (64.2/1191).  Night 2: -37.216593, -71.304660. Flat, gravel (lumpy), no protection. Great view. Water at lake or stream 150m along RR.  Night 3: -37.375702, -71.254774. Flat, sandy, no protection. Water available at previous river (~800m before).  * Several campsites on OH-2A just after ford 08-2A (1.6/2097) (rock hop) and following unmarked ford of Rio Diguillin (quite hot). These are on gravel, but away from the herd of cows that were hanging around the camp at 42.6/2087. * No issues with fords. Ford at 48.7/1334 was only crotch height for entry (165cm), and after a couple steps became shallower, below the knee.* Highly recommend stopping or camping at Los Peucos. I camped next to a small sheltered hut with a table, benches, fire pit and metal grill. Termas were great and clean. Site was as described in previous 25/26 reports; closed, no ranger/fee, but seemingly okay to camp. Only one other group of equestrian tourists there. * I found Kris and Stinna’s report below really helpful for OH-4 - thank you! The lake level for Laguna del Laja is now a lot lower; I was able to skirt the coast for the entirety of the first 12.5km, and was able to cross at Option 4C where marked and without fording. If you fancy a swim, I recommend jumping in within the first 10km of Option 4; thereafter the water is murkier/looked less inviting. Transport: I caught the bus to Terma de Chillan as per the schedule posted by Volker below, 3.900clp. The final stop (-36.91088, -71.42120), is 2km from the OH-2A trailhead. I was fortunate to stay for free at the staff accomm of a girl I met on the bus - accomm is otherwise very expensive and I couldn’t see any good stealth camp spots.   *'''GPT08 | 2026-01-04 to 2026-01-09 I 5,5 days | hiking | SOBO I Route: RR - Variant F - RR - Variant G - RR | Michaela ''' Day 1:I hitchhiked from San Fabián and was very lucky. Some people took me to the waypoint where the trail to Salto Las Minas starts. I started after midday with the hike and crossed Río Ñuble about 1.5 km upstream from the RR ford (-36.843437, -71.236798). The crossing was easy, water up to knee height.I completely avoided bushbashing by crossing Estero El Quebrado at -36.856431, -71.275622, where there is a trail. I returned to the RR at -36.858428, -71.279562, as suggested by Martin (thanks!).Camp: -36.865234, -71.290436. Dusty place, water about 150 m away. Day 2:The hot spring [40.6/2173] was excellent. I had lunch there and took a long bath. Crossing Río Diguillín was easy, but water reached waist height. There are probably better crossing points.Camp: -36.963371, -71.397603, next to the river. Day 3:I hiked to Termas Los Peucos and arrived around midday. Two groups of men with horses were there. They told me the place has been abandoned for some time, but camping and using the hot pools is no problem. Later they left, and I had the whole place to myself.Camped at the Los Peucos campsite. Day 4:All river crossings were easy. The worst part was the horseflies. From midday until evening, they were constantly around me.Camp: -37.15623, -71.319804, grassy spot, many horseflies. Day 5:I had a very nice lunch break and swim at Laguna El Roble. When I reached the mountain pass, I noticed a thunderstorm approaching from behind. I was on the ridge with no option to descend quickly. I waited about two hours under bushes for protection until the storm passed.Camp: -37.233919, -71.402365. Nice grassy spot, water a bit away. Day 6:I hiked down to Central El Toro and had lunch at Río Polcura. After that, I followed a long minor road to the point Bus {08-J} [2.9/734], from where I hitchhiked to Antuco.Accommodation: Cabañas Puelche  ''' 2025-12-23 to 2025-12-26 / 3.5 Days / Hiking / SOBO / RR + Option 04and 04a / Martin Ankel''' Day 01 Hitchhiked from San Fabian to Los Sauce, after 3 hours of waiting and many false alarms (people only going a few kilometers outside of San Fabian) I struck gold.Joseph and Mattias stopped, they where going to the Saltos Las Minas waterfal and drove me all the way, thereby I could avoid horsefly highway and some unnecessary road walking.  There is a new gate here [ 36.819694, 71.253476] that clearly says private property, no passing allowed. Luckily, I’m a good climber. Fording at {08} [23.8 / 950] was waist deep (I’m 180 cm), not overly rapid and footing was good. Easy if you know how to ford properly. You can also probably find better places to ford. The bush bashing at the ~28 km is mostly not bush bashing, largely there is a good trail, and the small section that actually is bush bashing can easily be avoided as there runs a trail on the opposite side of the river, I forded here [36.856910, 71.276356] but you should ford about 100 meters downstream or so, just follow the trail. I then walked the trail on the other side of the river, forded again here [36.858428, 71.279562], again follow the trail, and connected back to the regular route. I recommend rerouting the route for next year based on my GPS recording. The hot spring (or hot river) at [40.6/2173] was absolutely amazing. Make sure to stop there.  Additionally there is a new bridge built over Rio Nuble a bit upstream at [36.744770, 71.249650] if you do not want to ford, follow the minor road. Day 02 Walked to Camping Los Peucos, not open yet, but there was a car there, the sprinkler and some lights where on. I called out but no one answered. I did not risk bathing in the hot springs as it clearly said it was prohibited. I continued walking. From the [-37.06515, -71.40995] marker the route should be redesignated as trail, there are remnants of a road but completely overgrown and clearly not used anymore. Redesignate to [-37.06886, -71.39601] from there I took variant F. Highly recommend var F, nice animal trail to follow and the ford was easy.  From the trailhead {08} [80.2/1248] the trail is starting to become very overgrown all the way up to the pass. Still easy to follow though as there never is any alternatives. I camped at Camp {08} [87.4 / 1514]. It is flat and ok ground to pitch poles in, but very dusty and your tent will become dirty.  Day 03 Connected to Option 4 running east of Lake Laja. Nice options scenic wise, but absolutely swarming with horseflies. I killed hundreds of those godforsaken creatures. Until starting the climb you mostly walk on stone fields close to the shoreline.  Starting the climb there runs an animal track you can follow. Do not be fooled believing that the high elevation will save you from the horseflies, because it won’t. Having made the climb I walked a bit on the ridge to see the views before turning back to Option 04a as I was out of water. Option 04a is a nice trail, very easy to walk. You will start to see traces of car tracks after a while and at [37.323878, 71.223060] you are in no doubt walking on a minor road (redesignate the track files) which runs clearly until [-37.40963, -71.27578] at which it comes more diffuse. In the evening I suffered severe full leg cramp in both legs and crawled my way to [37.367707, 71.250348] where I made my worst tent pitch ever, prayed a silent prayer for a still night and went to sleep. Not the best campsite but there is water nearby.  Two Puestos not in the track files [37.329803, 71.222082] and [37.363379, 71.247417] along option 04a. Day 04  Awoke feeling like shit, I’m in no doubt very sick. I laid in the tent until it became too hot, at which my only option was to continue hiking. Hiked with little pace and grace the rest of Option 04 and continued on GPT09. I eventually started feeling slightly better and continued onto GPT 10, and most likely further but that has not happened yet.    '''GPT08/2025-12-12 to 2025-12-17/ 5,5 days/ SOBO/RR/ Denis and Robert '''After two nights in San Fabian in Cabañas Nativa we hitchhiked to El Inglés because the bus goes there once a day at 18:00 (not sure if weekends), it took us 3,5 hours.08Shop there has some basic food. Then we hiked to Rio Ñuble, the ford was not the easiest but possible one by one, we slept close to river. Bush at 28,7 was a bit challenging but not too long, we had foggy weather that day, didn’t see more than 20 meters ahead. That day we hiked close to Vulcan Chillán but didn’t see anything because of fog and clouds. Hot river after pass is amazing. He had breakfast at Camping Los Peucos, it is still close no one there but we didn’t sleep there just chilled in Thermas. The view at the ridge after Laguna El Roble is great, would be worth to camp there, there are some spots for camp. Last night we slept at kilometer 120 next to the road in the bushes, until this moment we didn’t see anyone from power plant. Because we didn’t wanna come to Abanico too late. In the morning on the last day we didn’t have an issue to get to Abanico. Nice resupply shops there.  Attractiveness 5/5 (even we didn’t see Vulcan Chillán)Difficulty 3/5   *''' 2025.04.12 / 4 days / Hiking / SOBO / Opt 2A + RR + Var F + Var G + Opt 4 (Ruta Este) / Kris and Stiina '''