6
ediciones
Cambios
→Season 2025/26
==Season 2025/26==
<big>'''2025-11-8 to 2025-11-13 / 6 days / hiking / NOBO / RR, Opt 3, Opt 3A, Opt 3E, RR / Ohad '''</big>
Beautiful and diverse section! Very glad its my introduction to the GPT.
Sendero 7 Lagunas (RR) is closed, but hikers with inreach/gps that informed the park administration (north of westwind camp) are allowed to walk it. I did not know this, and went without informing. I suppose its possible to contact them prior to arrival to do it by the book. I saw no rangers or other person on trail.
Fees: 11400$
paid 11400 pessos for entry to the NP in the ranger station near Cochrane, did not sleep at any camps that required payment, no ranger in Casa de Piedra and didnt pay for the second entry to the park.
Camping
Day 1: S 47.149459 W 072.434050, unofficial therefore illegal (alt spot, semi protected from wind, a patch of dirt big enough for one tent reletivaly flat. Hidden from the road.
Day 2: Camp {35} [114.6/779], nice spot near little stream in lenga forest.
Day 3: OSM camp at S 46.983453 W 072.160344 No wind protection, very scenic there is a little stream a bit to the south.
Day 4: Camped at Raleigh, wind sheltered and scenic, the outhouse has mice droppings, probably mice around the camp. Very nice spot.
Day 5: slept on the plateau at S 46.715519
W 0.71877977. Semi wind sheltered spot woth little stream behind a small hill. Still had a very windy night. Would not reccomend sleeping on the plateau, crazy wind. But it was beautiful at sunset and early morning.
Challenges: no challanging fords. some snow left on Opt 3 and the plateau, could be annoying if tackeling slush but it was mostly firm.
Water: no problem at all, at the plateau i would recc to filter all water, lots of dead guanaco and goose droppings with still and slow moving water.
Day 1: started from Cochrane, no hitchhike. Waited for the ranger to wake up and open shop (9 am), only after saw the option to pay online. Continued on my way on Sendero Las Aguilas, a trail heading towards Opt3 not on the gpx files. Nice views over the valley, mainly lenga forest, continued to the pass. Decieded to continue on the lagunas altas route (Opt 3A) and connect to RR tommorrow. The pass and Opt3A offer very panoramic views to the valley next over and surrounding mountains. Up to you if its worth the steep uphill. Some of the northface of the pass is an unstable, exposed scree slope. Would not reccomend in snow.
Day 2: shorter day, transioned yesterday to Sendero 7 Lagunas. The trail is not always clear in open terrain as Perrenial plants are starting to grow over it and annuals are in full growth. When entering the lenga forest the trail is clear but there is debree. Beautiful day with amazing yellow orchids, clear lakes and on very not shy hemuel.
Day 3: over the pass, lots of puma prints and droppings, be alert and maybe get a lucky encounter. Over the pass the terrain opens up and for NOBO hikers offers a (usually) nice stroll down. The last 2km of trail coming down to Laguna Guttiérrez is very unclear, i approached it as CC. Casa de Piedra (CdP) was closed, and the gate to the bridge was closed (just a steel rope attached lazely, no problem). The trail becomes clear again after CdP.
Day 4: very clear day, fallen trees in the forrested parts, the fords never passed my knees (Im 185cm). I saw someone reccomending sandals for the many fords on the river flowing east (couldnt find the name) I disagree, a lot of walking on dry river bed, they would probably get in the sandel and or hit your toes on them. To each their own. There are clear posts every couple hundred meters so its very easy to pathfind. The pass to Lago Verde was steep.
Day 5: easy flat day, nice views over the lakes, saw the first people in 5 days. As i was walking past the ranger station the ranger called me to "sign out"? Was very friendly but just starteled me. Just wanted to ask if I had any information and that everything is OK. No hitch on the road (at around noon). Walked up to the plateau, CC is less challenging as you go up in elevation. At certain point decided to just ascend the plateau for easier CC. Wanted to shorten the next day to get to Chile Chico earlier and ended up dleeping on the plateau. Would not reccomend. Lots of guanacos on the plateau and very interesting ecosystem, geology and views. definatley worth the extra day if youre NOBO.
Day 6: woke up early and traversed the plateau, lots of snow patches, the temp was low and i was early so it wasnt very bad. If there is snow and you expect slush then it will be slower. Lots of mud from the extra water. The southwest wind was extremely harsh, was very happy to walk north. Shared some maté, bread, salami and ciggs with the settler. Lovely man. Said hes there from oct to april give or take. Dropped into the road and got a hitch into town.
Happy GPT Season!
==Season 2024/25==