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→Season 2025/26
==Season 2025/26==
* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''2026-01-02 to 2026-01-04 / 3 Days / Packrafting / SOBO / RP / Michel, Lisa & Antoine'''</span>
Day 1
We started from La Junta in the late afternoon (16:30) and paddled only a few kilometers to Camp (28P} [5.5/30], which is really nice with tons of flat, grassy spots and space for half an army if you needed it. Shade, wind protection, beautiful views, cow poop - this place has it all.
Day 2 & 3
We got started at 9:30 and floated down the river, only occasionally paddling since there was generally good flow (3-5 km/h) and no wind. It was so hot we went for swims in our drysuits from the boat and Antoine had a go at trying to standup paddle on his packraft. We thought about the names of our packraft and thought that tabaño might be a good one, then there at least would be one tábano that we'd like.
Floating down the river at 5 km/h, not lifting a finger we realized how lucky we were. No wind, no clouds, 30°C, fishing from the packraft, mate in hand, birds chirping in the background and en route to hot springs. What more could one wish for?!! (Maybe catching a fish, still unsuccessful so far)
We did the 33 km to the hot springs in 5 h 40 min with barely any paddling which is quite astounding when reading other entries here I guess.
The hot springs are amazing and we were completely alone there on a Saturday afternoon. There are two small pools, the upper one was 41 °C and the lower one must have been cooler (we didn't try/measure). The small stream that flows into a pool next to the hot pools was 17 °C cold, so a perfect match for the hot water.
While we were all sitting in the nice hot water, Antoine suddenly brought up the crazy idea to paddle on to Raúl Marín Balmaceda in the full moon light. The forecast predicted 5 m/s southeastern winds at night with no clouds and the moonrise was at 22:30, so it all sort of added up.
After apero and dinner on the island just downstream of the hot springs, still enjoying 30deg at 7pm and the view on Melimoyu, we started again at 22:00. The conditions were ideal with no wind except for a ~1.5 km stretch at 2:00 and the full moon to light up the river and surrounding landscape after midnight. All in all it took us 8 h of paddling to reach Raul Marín Balmaceda, arriving at 7:00 at the beach, where we collapsed onto the sand and slept in the sun.
--longer version for Day 2 & 3, describing the night
Got excited about the full Moon, high temperatures and no to 5km SE wind conditions and decided to flow the last 40km overnight, attempting sunrise (6am) when entering fjordo Pitipalena. High tide expected around 3.30am with a high coefficient (7m amplitude), as expected by full Moon (Sun-Earth-Moon alignment increases tidal effects). We aimed to reach canal Gerrao around then, to minimize counter currents on the Palena, counter currents on the canal during falling tide and enjoying the falling currents in the fjord to reach Puerto Raúl Marin Balmaceda.
We started at 10:30pm, very chill and excited for the first 2hr, with a great river flow, rather dark as the Moon was not yet above the mountains. Chose the calmest lines, staying safe from sunken trees and enjoying the stars. Moonrise over the mountain at 0:30 was majestic, at the same time we started observing the rising tide in the 270° section.
After km56 (past the water waypoint), the current increased with many waves (probably increased by the rising tide on the flowing water), making this ~2km stretch quite exhausting. This ceased after the turn and moderate tailwinds (incredible, right?) pushed us down to the channel on this long stretch. As it took us longer than expected, we pressed on to make it for the right tide timing. We attached Antoine's solo packraft to the double one for 6km to get faster. Exhausted but mate-powered, we entered the canal at 5am. It was already flowing out fast to the Palena but further on, when expending, this becomes less noticeable (Venturi effect). And it actually flows to the fjord in the last section, evacuating water both ways. It took about an hour to cross the channel, surprisingly nicer that expected with birds singing in the dawn, jumping fish and the fjord appearing in dim light. The fjord was beautiful, exciting to see tidal currents, feeling some sea smells, crossing the shallow bay before the water ran out in a matter of minutes. The Moon set in the west as the sun rose and gradually enlighten parts of the fjord. Another 45mn with favourable currents and we reach the beach of Puerto RMB at 7:15 where we instantly crashed on the beach after 70km/14h for a well deserved nap, waking up later to see dolphins, a penguin and a seal swimming in front of us.
Though but rewarding traverse, with a variety of atmospheres, lights and moods.
Of course, we acknowledge this was done with exceptional conditions, 2 boats and a taste for spicy memories :)
