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==Season 2024/25==
*''' 2025-Jan-26 to 2025-Jan-28 / 2,5 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Janboro '''
I combined GPT 09, 10 and 11 and took 6,5 days in total.
Highlights: Stunning views on the ascent to and the pass itself.
Challenges: Physically exhausting and dangerous descent on steep, loose terrain. Clambering in and around the river end the gorge on the descent.
Day 1
Started in the evening at the shop in Guallalí and camped at the Hot Springs at [6.6/991].
Day 2
Took a warm bath in the hot spring. There was still a little bit left of the cow manure mentioned in previous logs, but I just washed myself right afterwards in the river. The hot spring had a perfect hot bath temperature.
Met lots of cow herds with calves and overprotective fathers: massive bulls that clearly signal you their willingness to defend their kin if you get too close. Walking detours to keep distance as described in the manual worked well.
Camped close to [21.2/1349].
Day 3
Continued the ascent. It got pretty steep but the ways were good. The CC part uphill is also easy to walk. The views on the pass are beautiful - you can see both Sierra Velluda (right next to Antuco at the start of GPT09) and Sollipulli (GPT14) at the same time. Took a long food and coffee break there.
As expected after doing my research here and in the manual, I found the first couple of hundred meters of the CC descent after the pass quite challenging. It was still safe to slide down the snow field for the first hundred meters or so, but doing it this time of the year or later, choose your route and your exit point wisely. I took a snow bridge I could see from atop and hints for possible other snow bridges (water entering the snow field from the side) into consideration and only slid down the first hundred meters or so. From there on downwards, the gorge was full of snow which was unsafe to walk or slide, so I had to walk on the steep scree around it. This is the kind of terrain where you’ll want to check your hiking poles and shoelaces before. It’s still safe to walk down, but only if you choose your route carefully and walk with full focus. As soon as the snow was gone I continued my descent in the gorge right next to the river, which was easy. Then a long way clambering around the river and crossing it countless times. Again very exhausting and partly dangerous.
Once the CC part is over the path follows a an horse track that’s comfortable to walk. The last 6 km or so are a MR with almost no inclination.
Arrived at the carabineros around sunset. Ricardo, the police chief, offered me to camp on their property and to use their kitchen. Had a very nice conversation over dinner with him.
The next morning I took the bus to Lonquimay, which came over an hour later that the carabineros had told me (7 instead of 5:45).
* '''2025-JAN-10 to 2025-JAN-11 / 1.5 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Alex '''
The designated camp {11} [26.1/1957] has a swamp nearby with significant mosquito activity. I camped about 70 meters higher at S38° 05.114' W71° 05.379', which provided better conditions.