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==Season 2025/26==
2025-12-13 to 2025-12-16 / 4 Days / Hiking / SOBO / Option 2 + Option 1C + Option 1D + RR / Martin Ankel
My first GPT experience, and what a start!
I started from Altos Vilches, since the Bolson trail and Bolson Camp is closed until further notice and it is unclear whether CONAF will allow you to enter using Option 01 — I emailed with CONAF asking for an indication on opening date and whether I was allowed to hike on the road (Option 01) and connect to the RR after Camp Bolson, their answers were less than helpful to say the least.
Regarding permits. I contacted Tamara well in advance. She is slow to reply, but once she gets going she is very helpful and accommodating. I took the liberty to upload the form she requires you sign HERE to facilitate the process for other hikers. Notice that many of the more strict requirements (minimum 3 persons, certified guide, etc.) is CONAFS doing and not Tamara’s. She does not really care, her and her father just want to know who accesses their lands as littering has become problematic. In other words, obtaining permission is mostly a CONAF issue. If you are a bit persuasive, in a good way, it seems Tamara might just overrule CONAF as she did in my case. Paying Tamara 25 000 CLP using Caja Vecina was straightforward. I did it at the bank office.
Day 01
I took the 7:15 bus from Talca to Alto Vilches and hiked to the ticket booth. There I was immediately stopped by no less than six CONAF rangers asking to see my permission from Tamara — my big pack is a dead give away — which I gladly showed them. What followed was a long discussion among the rangers. A few seemed quite annoyed that Tamara had given permission to a solo hiker and tried calling here several times, to no avail. The others seemed more relaxed with a “let the man hike” mindset.
After about half an hour, and after an inspection of my kitchen, I’m allowed to continue given that I don’t end through Parque Ingles as the Bolson trail is closed, and that I do not camp inside the reserve. I also have to notify CONAF once I exit.
I started hiking Option 02 through the reserve and connected with Option 01C. As I hike Option 01C the weather takes a turn for the worse with thick clouds (20 meter visibility) and rain. I feel a storm is brewing and decide to bunker in early. Up to the pass {06-01C} there are plenty of good campsites and water sources.
Day 02
I awake to thick fog and decide to wait a few hours to see if conditions improve. After a couple of hours the rain stops and I decide to get going. The visibility is still low and it is hard to follow the trail in these conditions, I rely heavily on my GPS. Between pass {06-01V} there seems to be no campsites or good water sources until you reach the [-35.51293, -70.91191] marker. I want to add the caveat that I hiked in low visibility.
Trying to keep some distance from Camp Bolson in case someone is there, I take option 1D. The route is overgrown in a few places, some bushwhacking is necessary. As I connect to the RR the weather is improving, the sun is slowly chipping away at the clouds.
I continue hiking to [35.505166, 70.757863°] where I find a relatively flat and dry patch of grass, with many nearby streams of water, among all the volcanic sand.
Day 03:
I woke up to perfect weather, sunny and clear skies. Absolutely extraordinary views.
Around pass {06} [34 / 2695] there is some kilometers of snow left, but nothing troublesome.
Continuing with the amazing hiking, it is not long until I pass Don Victor’s Puesto. He does not seem to be there yet, adding to that belief, I did not see any cattle during my entire 4 days of hiking. To be honest, I’m somewhat jealous over his little bachelor’s lodge. I kinda want one myself, in the same location of course.
I camp at Laguna La Turbia ([35.675735, 70.845147°]). Beautiful campsite, and warm water, if you do not mind building some rock towers to keep the tent pitched in the sand.
Day 04:
Last day in this magnificent environment. I make my way to the hydroelectric dam, where I meet the first person I have seen since leaving the Lircay Altos reserve. I’m allowed to continue to Los Alamos without escort.
In Los Alamos I visited the shop at the resupply marker. Limited resupply, but they have cheese, butter and eggs. You know the basic staples ;). They also have accommodations. I paid 10 000 CLP for the night for one room. I think they also have a restaurant, but I did not verify this.
Amazing start to my GPT adventure. I will embark on GPT07 tomorrow. Hopefully by hitchhiking to Laguna del Maule.
All water sources are reliable. At this time of year there was water everywhere. All fording was very easy. If you are light on your feet you can probably make it without dipping your feet in the water.
'''GPT06/2025-12-3 to 2025-12-5/2 days/SOBO/RR/variant C/variant F/ Denis and Robert '''