13
ediciones
Cambios
→Season 2025/26
''' Dec 19th 2025 – Dec 23th 2025 / 4.5 days (including 1 rest day) / NOBO / Option 4, Variant D, RR, Variant B, RR / Matt&Linda '''
Day 1: from what I read in the logs it seems like Option 4 used to be the RR, the new RR has a longer and steeper climb starting from Trapa Trapa and there weren’t any campsites marked for the first 25km. With a late start in Trapa Trapa and bad weather coming in the following day we decided to take Option 4. The ascent along the river in the cool of the afternoon was quite nice, easy path. We met a lot of Pehuenche and arrieros coming down from the pass. We said our hellos but no one stopped long enough to talk. The pass and the high, open valley that followed was so beautiful. I was sad we had to rush through it a little. We camped at a closed puesto (Camp 09-04 [9.5/1709]).
Day 2: we started early to beat the rain. Stopped for breakfast at a nice site that isn’t in the GPS files with wooden benches and tables a couple of meters off the trail (S 37°34.568, W71° 14.489), could be a nice campsite?! The path was very comfortable to hike and we enjoyed the valley. The fords were no problem for us, could do most of them with dry feet. There is a little metal bridge right by a puesto to cross the Rio de los Pinos here: S 37° 31.047, W 71° 15.071. Closer to Laguna de la Laja we finally got our feet wet but the water only went up to our knees. We set up our camp on the riverbank, trying to find a sheltered spot for 1.5 days of rain. Found a good spot and build a little fire pit here: S37° 29.090, W71° 16.148
Day 5: we hiked the last couple of km down to the park ranger on good and well marked trails in the morning. The trail ends before the office, as far as we could tell. There was no one around who asked us for a permit or a fee. We hitchhiked into Antuco without a problem. Due to tendon issues we had to make the call to end our adventures on the GPT for now. A big thanks to Jan Dudeck, David Brophy and all the others who contributed to making the GPT happen for so many people!
Final note: We hadn’t planned to be in town for Christmas and found last minute accommodations with an unbelievably open and welcoming family in Huépil. It took us about 2 hours to reach it by bus (Antuco – Canteras – Huépil, 4000cp total). It is probably too far from the trailhead if you only want to stay the night but we can highly recommend “El mercadito de Pamela” if you want to be pampered with good and abundant local food by a lovely family. We couldn’t believe our luck to be asked to join the Christmas feast and be part of preparing “Chivo al Palo” with Pamela and her family.
==Season 2024/25==