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→Season 2025/26
==Season 2025/26==
'''GPT05-06/ 27.02.2026 to 10.03.2026/ 11 days/ Hiking/ SOBO / GPT05 Options 01, RR, Option 07; GPT06 Option 09, 09A, 09C, RR/ Yannick and Alina'''
We followed Jan's recommendation and Greg's footsteps and combined GPT05 and 06. We took food for 12 days as we did not want to hassle, which worked out great for us. GPT06 starts at day 9.
Day 01 (half day)
Caught the later bus at 11:30 from Curicó. When hearing about our plans, the bus driver recommended going not to the Center of Los Queñes, but a little further, cross the bridge and try hitching at Ruta J-25, as the chances are better there. Indeed the first truck stopped and took us all the way to a mine (?) or construction site close to the start of Option 01. Traffic on the road is mostly trucks, probably not too nice for walking. Then a nice Chilean family on holiday took us even right to Option 09 and we started walking around four. On the road to Laguna Tena we were also passed by cars, as apparently it can get pretty crowded up there on the weekend
Camped at one of the marked camping spots along the river.
Day 02
Hiked onwards, there was a guy at the refugio who did not mind us passing. Very nice views of the Laguna and on the way up El Planchon. Met a group of arrieros on their way to Argentina. The wind was blowing very strongly on our way up the flank of the volcano though, which combined with the rubble made the ascent very sketchy. We were a little worried we'd end up blown away into some valley in Argentina at some point! Decided to not go for the summit for this reason and dry camped on the plateau, where we were circled by condors that seemed a little disappointed we were in fact still alive xD Camp very dusty due to the wind.
Day 03
Long descent day, forded Rio Claro (who tf named that, it is actually incredibly murky haha) in the afternoon, double ford where the clear stream enters, water to the mid- thigh. We actually did it without backpacks first, just to be sure about the depth.
Day 04
"Enjoyable ridge-walking", as Greg put it :) the weather was not the best, so the views were a little lacking. Forded Rio Barroso in the afternoon, easy but very cold.
Day 05
Cross-country ascent to pass and subsequent descent to Rio Negro. Indeed very steep and technical, not made easier at all by the frequent landslides. Forded the muddy river at knee height.
Day 06
Descent through the bottleneck Cuesta la Hormiga. Sketchy, but doable. The cross-country walking and crossing numerous boulder fields afterwards was very draining though. Surprise landslides or steep canyons on the way did not make it better, nor did the bush-bashing required several times. The trail does magically reappear after the bridge though, which is a thing you can REALLY appreciate after the last kms. You're so fast all of a sudden! Enjoyed a refreshing bath in the river before hiking on. Camped at Termas Las Yeguas and enjoyed the hot spring, which felt amazing after such a day. The arriero from the nearby puesto dropped by in the evening, but did not mind us camping there. He seemed very surprised we made it down to Rio Negro though.
Day 07
Met three other arrieros in the morning, they asked us where we came from and also seemed quite surprised we came from the direction of Rio Negro. Ford of Rio de Valle Grande very easy, knee height. An hour later almost got carried away by a herd of cows our amigo from yesterday was leading down the valley with the help of three dogs. Luckily we heard them a little beforehand and could get out of the way. Forded Rio Colorado in the afternoon, not even knee deep, very easy. Camped close to the pass, where there is a trickling stream.
Day 08
Amazing views on the way up and from the pass, and also from the plateau. Had a short day and camped at the Laguna Aguas Calientes at the western Hot Spring, which has a nice but pretty shallow pool with a great view of Volcan Calabozos and the Laguna and a perfect water temperature.
Day 09
Hiking up to the Descabezado plateau next to the lava stream. Amazing views on the way. Climbed Descabezado Chico, very windy and unfortunately some clouds came closing in, obscuring the view. After the small Laguna right at the foot of Volcan Cerro Colorado, the way becomes very tiring, as you have to clamber up a steep slope of fine volcanic ash/rubble. Decided to take Option 09 C to Terms die Azufre to avoid Don Victor.
Day 10
Continued on Option 09-C, nice views and some unmarked water sources. There is a section where you have to scramble up a steep ash/ loose rubble slope to get back up on the plateau, the track files lead straight over a cliff. Maybe there was a rockfall or the way was done SOBO, when there was a lot of snow? Anyhow, when doing this NOBO you have to keep as far West as possible to get up there :). Descending from the pass was very fast and enjoyable, as you could just ski down the rubble. Views also very nice. Termas del Azufre were quite muddy and kind of soupy (?) looked pretty disgusting unfortunately, so we did not take a bath there and hiked on.
Day 11
Hiking up to the pass, amazing views again. Down to Laguna las Animas and El Bolson, met people working there on the way. As we did not want to camp there we went past (no one there, as it was Monday and the park was closed and the workers were on their hike) and camped a little further.
Day 12 (half day)
Hiked down to Parque Ingles. As we were sure the bus was leaving at 17:00 from Parque Ingles and we were there very early, we decided to just walk down to Radal. Imagine our surprise when a bus passed us around 13:00 haha. We were to surprised to stop it and continued walking. The very nice lady at the mini market in Radal said that there are no busses going that late in the day (we were there at three), so if someone wants to take this route it is probably best to ask at the park. We were lucky as we got a hitch to Lontué and from there a bus to Curicó.
Overall, quite hard section, especially GPT05, but very worth it for the remoteness, the views, the people, the wildlife, the volcanos and the Lagunas!
Difficulty 5/5 Attractiveness 5/5
'''GPT05-06/ 2026-01-03 to 2026-01-12/ 11 days/ Hiking/ SOBO/ GPT05 Options 1, 2, RR; GPT06 Options 9B, 9A, 9, 3B, 3, RR, 6F/ Greg and Simon Carter'''