72
ediciones
Cambios
→Season 2024/25
In Icalma, we asked a local working in a garden whether there was a taxi in Icalma and he offered to drive us to the border for 5 thousand CLP, which we accepted. It was a big help since the border was closing at ~7pm (it may have been 6pm but we only had an hour or so for BOTH crossings). At the border, we were informed that Argentina requires a boat certificate of disinfection by a Chilian officer, but the Argentinians did not ask for it (for details, see this discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/222224388283455/posts/1956717948167415/). We didn't get a hitch between the border controls, but soon after in Argentina the first car took us to Villa Pehuenia. Villa Pehuenia is a tourist town, with no exchange office but seemingly every shop was willing to change US dollars for Argentinian pesos, ask around to get a decent rate. Shops were open until 21. Resupply is well possible, this being Argentina the food is great, but depending on the inflation food is much cheaper in Chile (the Argentinian border controls did not check our bags stuffed with food at all). There is a dedicated shop for vegetables and fruits here: -38.88139, -71.18762. Paid 10 thousand to sleep at a run-down but functional Complejo Lagrimitas. Phone Claro internet decent.
Day 1 - Villa Pehuenia to Moquehue ‐ 15 km. Our first independent packrafting trip meant that we fiddled several hours with packing and loading the boat, so we started at 11 AM. Lake was calm and we reached a beach here: -38.91476, -71.27327 around 14:00. The "puesto" marked in OSM sounds more like a settler, dogs and chickens heard. While we ate, whitecap waves against our direction developed and when we got back to paddling, we more or less stood on stayed in the groundsame spot, so we opted for hiking the rest of the way. The trail to Moquehue is easy but scenic, so we did not regret it. It is a trail, not a road, OSM has it wrong (will be fixed in the summer) until the last 1 km or so. In Moquehue, we managed to buy bread and nuts, ressuply resupply possible, but we had most of our food already. Claro internet (last before end of trip). We followed HA for one km and slept a few hundred metres beyond the town here: -38.95579, -71.32329 (no water).
Day 2 - Moquehue to ridge above the next valley - 13 km.We followed HA until just before Filo Cerro Plomo. Appart from first 2 km, it is a 4x4 road (sad) through a beautiful forrest forest (happy). Sidetrip to viewpoint here -38.96209, -71.32286 worth the ten minutes it takes. The There is a ridge above the HA that should be accessible through OSM path starting here -38.95090, -71.31670 (mapped based on Strava, so might be CC) . It would be an alternative option but looked like easy and beautiful walking and is , probably preferrable preferable in good weather. Paths There are also alternative paths around -38.97080, -71.32003 which are also mapped based on Strava, might . Could be an artifact of a race or one single mad person doing the same round over and over and might be more CC than trails, but it should get you to the ridge tooas well. Anyway, on HA, the trackfiles are a bit wrong, around for an important turn off -39.00634, -71.30802, . At that point you will see two trail markstrails, so leave the road and go up. Met We met some people with bikes bikers here, only people we met for the next two days. Path up is not visible, but forrest the forest is open and you go basically straight up. When reaching you reach low lying beech shrubbery, the path reappers that leads reapers and takes you up to the saddle. There Down below, at the turn off, there is a creek shortly after this turn off (just before if you follow the trail marks) main road for a little bit, you can will want to fill up on water. There is also a cairn at this creek and if you wish to walk the creek bed I think it might be possible as well. From the saddle we opted to follow the ridge NE from HA. It is spectacular and while steep, no hands are needed to advance. It is a bit slowgoing though, especially with With a packraft and 10 days of foodit was slow. We slept near a seasonal lake around -39.03013, -71.28361, very beautiful.
Day 3 - Ridge above the next valley to Lago Ñorquinco - 15 km.