53
ediciones
Cambios
sin resumen de edición
==Season 2025/26==
*''' 2025.08.12 / 1.5 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR (New Re-route) / Kris and Stiina '''
We connected the GPT08 and 09 via GPT08 Option 4 (Ruta Este) recommended by Jan. Termas de Chillán to Trapa Trapa total 5.5 days. 4 days for GPT08 and 1.5 days for GPT 09.
(Continued from Section GPT08 log - middle of Day 5)
We joined the GPT09 RR ca. 28.2km - A decent trail continued all the way to Rio de los Pinos which we forded at this point (-37.51706, -71.24997) it’s a long but shallow ford and the water temperature was actually very pleasant. After the ford there is a minor road for a short bit and then some CC/cow trails to get to X {09} [34.9/1495].
Big dark clouds were gathering on the Argentinian side, we hoped that we will escape them by going up the valley following the now new RR. At the Puesto {09} [37.6/1543] there was a friendly family and the man let us through the 3 gates to get to the ford just below (-37.54347, -71.25271). The RR passes right through his property. He explained to us that the better trail goes on the other side of the valley, which matched with the RR. Since we felt a bit rushed by the brewing storm behind us we didn’t really chat to the man and didn’t even find out his name unfortunately.
The trail was really good for a GPT standard and there was a cool waterfall on the way (-37.56195, -71.27035) with a place to swim just below (we unfortunately didn’t). Also the area around the trail especially higher up in the valley seemed to have had quite a few bush/forest fires.
Our goal for today was to get to the waypoint “Camp ? {09} [41.8/1705” Just before we got there it started to rain and when we did get there, there was no campsite just bushes and spiky tufed grass. It was a shame because we had earlier passed a nice sheltered looking place in trees just before around this area (-37.56669, -71.27521)
However we didn’t want to return so we walked onwards a bit and found somewhat sheltered spot among the bushes on a slightly sloping ground and it had a small side stream right by it. I wouldn’t recommend the spot as there were better places further up the valley as we learned the next day.
Lightning thunder and heavy rain kept things exciting for quite a few hours until it died down before midnight, the night was somewhat peaceful.
Day 6 - Our morning alarm was the thunder that started rumbling before 7am, it was back! By the time we were done with breakfast and packing it started to rain. We considered heading back to the road Q45 and hitching to Antuco but the thought of being all wet and miserable potentially for hours didn’t appeal much so we opted to wait it out in the tent.
Garmin forecast showed there should be a few hour weather window around midday. It stopped raining around 11:30 and the sky got a bit brighter. We decided to stick with our original plan and gun for the ridge route which is now the RR to Trapa Trapa.
We started walking around 13:00 and the good trail continued, when we got to around “Camp ? {09} [43.3/1890]” we could see the ridge where we had to go and a way to get there but the RR suggested we continue up the valley for a few km and then ridge walk back to get to that point. We wanted to get to Trapa Trapa by daylight so we opted for a direct attack (slow crawl) towards the ridge. From around the marked camp - and there were definitely some camp spots in the area with a small stream in the meadow, we aimed for the burned bushes on the hillside across. Through a slightly wet meadow and then we opted for a 30 m Bush Bash to get to a clearer area behind it. From my satellite images I couldn’t see it then but I can see it now that there probably is a trail going through the bushes further on if we would have kept skirting along to somewhere around here (-37.56999, -71.29519). Once we did our BB we picked up the trail which took us in the direction where we had initially planned to go.
From a bot higher up we could see a puesto here (-37.56909, -71.30161) and on Google Maps it is marked as “Cajon gutarda” - “summer camp organizer”
We continued on the newly found trail until we were just below the ridge with the less steep ground and less bushes above us and then went straight for the ridge which we reached and rejoined the RR around here (-37.57952, -71.29323). In total I believe this “variant” saved us about 2.5km and some valuable time.
Once on the ridge it was straightforward CC to the “Summit {09} [49.1/2381]” from which the panorama was incredible, we could see from Volcá Chillán to Volcán Callaqui and all the high snowy summits in between.
From the summit we continued down to a pass (-37.61173, -71.26537). However already on the way down we could see from above that there were some trails passing on the side of the mountain towards the pass. We could also see a small lake/pond (-37.60329, -71.26681) with a large flat area around it, definitely a camp spot with water if you want to break up the ridge walk and the weather permits it.
Following with our eyes to where approximately the trail leads from the little lake, in the distance we could see some structure here (-37.58957, -71.25816) possibly a puesto? And on the satellite image now I can see that there is a trail from there connecting to the road of Option 4 below. That would definitely be an easier and a quicker way to gain the ridge. An option worth investigating?
Because we initially were considering variant D but since we got there late in the afternoon it would have meant we would have had to camp somewhere around “Ford {09-D} [0.9/1512]” to then go for the ridge the next day. And from the distance Variant D looked very steep and not very inviting to be honest.
Continuing along the ridge we picked up the trail going towards the pass that I mentioned before and though it was very faint at times it was possible to follow it, sometimes it was the scratches on the rocks from the horse shoes that showed the way. This faint trail pretty much continued across two more passes along the ridge. First to this pass/saddle (-37.62817, -71.25821) and from here instead of going up an over the steep and unnecessary climb like the RR suggests an actual trail skirted nicely around it on the west side you can see it clearly on the sattelite image. On the way it passed a spring somwhere around here (-37.63423, -71.25954). At least judging by the wet green swampy area around it I believe it was a spring and not a result of the heavy rains earlier in the day, there was a small stream with flowing water. Right after that it connects to what almost seems to be a road going over the pass that then connects the Variant E to the RR. On the pass there was also a spring (3rd and last water along the ridge) and a really good campsite with flat soft short grass and dry ground below it. This is where I would have loved to camp if I knew before and of course if the weather permited.
From this pass the trail sort of fizzled out and it was more or less CC once again. We didn’t exactly follow the gpx of the RR but mostly what seemed to be some animal tracks. And we skirted between the two knolls over a mini saddle and skirted along to the next mini saddle without loosing elevation like the RR suggests but it was on a steep muddy slope at times, perhaps actually going a little uphill and staying on the ridge would have been better. The ridge here actually splits into two separate, we of course followed the one that RR suggested and it also got a bit more interesting, it got a lot narrower and more rocky. Though it looked very exciting from the distance it was still pretty easy, and you could go around the rocks on the east side where necessary.
Around here we heard our friend Thunder was back, right behind us brewing up another nasty. Though this time we were even more determined to win this race. We pushed onwards to the next saddle along the ridge where Variant F joins the RR where we picked up a nice and easy trail that pretty much carried us all the way to Trapa Trapa. On the way we saw the Variant H trail coming up to join the RR and a puesto right besides it (-37.66803, -71.24238)
Since we were racing to outrun the thunderstorm and get to Trapa Trapa we didn’t really look for or investigate the Variant I trail, the RR was super good enough.
To mention a few extra waypoints along the RR: A possible Camp without water around this area (-37.69263, -71.24922) and a small ford here (-37.69691, -71.25383) it was possible to cross it with dry feet but the water was murky probably due to heavy rains earlier in the day.
Also, there is now a fence here (-37.70568, -71.26387) but the path is redirected nicely in between two property fences and channels you onto the same road that the RR comes to just a slightly different way.
We got to Trapa Trapa around 19:30 it looked very quiet there. The Posta de Salud Rural Trapa Trapa wifi now had a password and since it was closed we couldn’t use the wifi. We had no interest in staying in the accommodation there or visiting the shop, we wanted to get to Los Angeles for some proper resupply and rest. So we started walking down the road hoping to at least get to the Termas Nitrao hot springs (-37.69241, -71.29524) for the night. But after less than a km of walking a pickup truck picked us up and brought us to Cauñicu which is where the Chilean road maintenance crew that picked us up was heading for their night. They told us Termas Nitrao cost about 4k CLP pp and that you can camp there but we can’t confirm that.
In Cauñicu we stayed in a very basic campsite here (-37.71099, -71.48273) called Camping y Cabañas Margarita - 6k CLP pp. There was also a roadside “cafe” called Kawello Ko (-37.71329, -71.48313) where we got some large “sopapillas con palta” for dinner. They also sold some completos, soft drinks and some home made nut mixes.
From what we could gather from the locals there are usually 2 buses one at around 6:40 and another one just before 7:00. We got on the bus around 6:40 and the bus was already full and we were standing all the way to Ralco (Alto BioBio) and more people kept packing on the bus. So it’s probably better to get on the bus somewhere earlier.
Bus to Los Angeles costs 3.5k CLP pp and takes about 3h from Cauñicu, it stops for a 10 min coffee break in Santa Barbara.
For more stories of the trail, pictures, videos and in case you want to ask us anything you can find us on Instagram: @smallfootprint_bigadventures
*'''2025-12-09: Track file update 2025 Jan Dudeck'''