Cambios

{{Science and adventureAnd Adventure}}

|Distancia=3200032

|Primer Autor=Joaquín Baranao... Translated , edited and amended by Tim Stolerman

|ComentariosImagen=Acampando en Camping in Laguna de las Ánimas

|ComentariosMapa=Trek a to Laguna Las de las Ánimas[estero = stream... piedra = stone... planicie = plain... cartel = sign... inicio zigzag = start of the zig-zag]

[[File:Laguna_Las_Animas.jpg|frame|center|Laguna Las Ánimas, enero de 2010]][[File:bosque Siete Tazas radal.JPG|thumb|En el bosque de robles entre In the southern beech forest sector between Parque Inglés y and Refugio El Bolsón. Diciembre de December 2016]][[File:Valle El Bolson.JPG|thumb|Vista al Bolsón. El refugio El Bolsón se aprecia por su techo verde. Mirando al Este, diciembre de 2016]][[File:Colmillo_del_Diablo_Parque_Ingles2 hour sign.jpg|thumb|[[Colmillo del Diablo]] desde el Two hours down the hill from Refugio de El Bolsón]][[File:Refugio_el_bolson.jpg|thumb|Refugio El Bolsón, con el [[Cerro looking northwards with Colmillo del Diablo]]in the background. Mirando al norte, enero de January 2010]][[Archivo:Panoramica - Valle del Indio 01 (piedra).jpg|thumb|Ruta en medio del segundo matorralRoute through the second section of scrubland beyond Refugio El Bolsón. Foto: Andrés Roncagliolo]][[Archivo:DSC02713.JPG|thumb|Letrero indicando ruta hacia la Laguna de Las Ánimas]][[ArchivoFile:Perfil_LagLasAnimasAnimas_Tim.PNGjpg|thumb|ProfileOn the shoreline of Laguna de las Ánimas. Early April 2016]]

The starting point of this trail is the CONAF rangers' office at Parque Inglés (km 0 of the trek - 1100m above sea level). Start the walk by passing around the back of the CONAF base through a turnstile following the signs to the trails. After you get out of the CONAF base, you need to turn right onto a dirt road which then bears around to the left. Within 150 m from the CONAF base area, you will see a path, which exits the dirt road to the right, along with a route sign pointing towards Refugio El Bolsón, and that it's four hours' walk away. This is the trail you want to take. You have to keep following it until you get to Refugio El Bolsón, ignoring all of the secondary paths that you'll see branching off to the sides of the main route as you go along (most notably, Sendero Mala Cara and Sendero La Montañita). Try not to forget this! 🙂 On the way, you'll see signs saying "3 hours to go", "2 hours to go" and "1 hour to go" in Spanish -- as seen in one of the photos to the right -- which will give you some idea of how close you are to your destination. Obviously, the time periods that appear on these signs are only rough estimates but they should be reasonably accurate for a person walking at a normal pace. Most of the signs along the route to Refugio El Bolsón are clearly marked and there aren't very many places where you can expect to get lost easily.

On The opening section of the wayroute is very pleasant. It passes through dense forest and has a relatively flat gradient. After about 20 minutes of walking, you'll see signs saying "3 hours get to go", "a small clearing (km 2 hours to go" and "1 hour to go" -- albeit not in English -.4 - 1212m). A few steps further on is a small stream, which will give you some idea gets dried up by the middle of how close summer. You'll then pass a quincho [= a simple, local wooden gazebo] and a wooden sign with a map on it just ahead of it, in the same clearing. You'll also go past the entrance to Sendero Mala Cara less than 10 minutes later. In km 3.7 of the walk (altitude 1282m), you reach a fork in the trail . You need to take the right fork in order to keep heading towards Refugio El Bolsón instead off veering off left to Sendero Montañita. There are signposts there to your destinationhelp you out. Obviously330 metres further along, you have to cross another stream.You then have to keep following the time periods that appear on these signs are only rough estimates but they should be reasonably accurate for a person walking at a normal pacetrail as it winds its way uphill, through the southern beech forest. After another hour's walk, the scenery begins to change. The vegetation thins out considerably and turns into scrubland.

Most of the signs along the route to Refugio El Bolsón are clearly marked and there aren't very many places where you can expect to get lost easily. The opening section of the route is very pleasant. It passes through dense forest and has a relatively flat gradient. After about 20 minutes of walking, you'll get to a small clearing (km 2.4 - 1212m). A few steps further on is a small stream, which gets dried up by the middle of summer. You'll then pass a quincho [= a simple, local wooden gazebo] and a wooden sign with a map on it just ahead of it, in the same clearing. You'll also go past the entrance to Sendero Mala Cara less than 10 minutes later. In km 3.7 of the walk (altitude 1282m), you reach a fork in the trail . You need to take the right fork in order to keep heading towards Refugio El Bolsón instead off veering off left to Sendero Montañita. There are signposts there to help you out. 330 metres further along, you have to cross another stream. You then have to keep following the trail as it winds its way uphill, through the southern beech forest. After another hour's walk, the scenery begins to change. The vegetation thins out considerably and turns into scrubland. At km 7.3 of the trek (1520m above sea level) you have to cross a moderately wide stream, which flows down from Cerro Piuquenes. Just 600 metres further ahead, the trail arrives at the Río Claro, which carries a much greater volume of water and has a very powerful current. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS THE RIVER, on this particular trek. Just keeping walking along the north bank of it. Further on, the climb starts to get a little bit steeper. After a few more minutes of walking the Valle del Indio starts to open up on you. You'll see ñirre shrubs all around, and should be able to make out Cerro Tres Puntas and the Salto del Indio (a waterfall, pictured below), in the distance. About 45 minutes after you cross the stream, you should get to the small CONAF shelter: "Refugio El Bolsón" [km 10.1 -- Altitude: 1686m], which is also a camping area. There is plenty of space to pitch tents close to a small brook that flows through the site. This camping spot also offers an outstanding view of a dramatically steep and rocky peak -- the appropriately-named, Colmillo del Diablo [= The Devil's Fang], which is located just two kilometres to the North.

Just beyond the rocky ravine, you get to a meadow with more ñirre bushes. The path basically crosses this section close to the foot of the slopes on the northern side of the valley. Having said that, it's really hard not to lose sight of the trail. Keep following it by looking out for bare patches where there is no grass growing. UnfotunatelyUnfortunately, the ñirre bushes' branches tend to cover up these bare patches. So, just keep being patient, and wherever possible, try to break off the branches that create you find are creating the most obstruction, in order to help out anybody else who uses the trail after you.

Once you are up on the ridge, and on the "final straight", things get considerably easier. The path heads eastwards towards Laguna de las Ánimas. It goes gently downhill and then gently uphill. The last CONAF sign on the route indicates that you have arrived in the vicinity of the lake (km 16,0 - 2283m). The lake is a somewhat diminutive yet picturesque Andean water feature with a white sand beach. The lake water, unsurprisingly, is very cold. It's definitely a scenic place to spend the night in a tent 🙂

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File:Salto_del_Indio_Parque_InglesSalto del Indio.jpg|Salto del Indio, April 2016