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==Season 2025/26==
*'''2026-1-7 to 2026-1-1/ 5 days/ Hiking/ NOBO/ Sendero Rio Chacabuco + RR/Tomas Martinec'''
I already walked some sections of Tamango before, so I started the Parque Patagonia traverse via Sendero Rio Chacabuco, then connected to RR at Casa Piedra.
Overall, I consider it as a diverse section
Beginning: savana like terrrain inside a wide valley
Middle: mountainous terrain with river crossing and lakes
End: pure pampa and plateu walking
What makes this section special is the sense of wildness. It is possible to see a lot of guanacos, flamingos, and many other birds I couldn't identify. If you are lucky, you might even encounter pumas (I had that luck). Unfortunately, there are also a lot of tabanos (horseflies).
Navigation is generally easy and well marked, except for the final plateau section (15-42 km). There are several river fords in the middle (69-72 km), the deepest reaching mid-thigh (I'm 184 cm tall)
Day 1
Sendero Rio Chacabuco is officially closed. At the entrance (Museum), I had to prove that I had offline maps and a powerbank, then sign a document stating that I continued at my own responsibility.
Later I learned the main reason for the closure is a missing bridge across Rio Aseradero Quemado (washed away by the river). However, the main donor is very interested in reopening the trail, and CONAF workers are currently working on reopening it in the coming months.
I spent about 2 hours in the museum (highly recommended), then started hiking around midday.
Despite the official closure, the trail was easy to follow. The missing bridge wasn't problem - the river was low and easy to ford.
Still, there are very few hikers using this trail. After about 10 km, I met CONAF worker who took photo of me, saying very unusual seeing tourist here.
Around km 20, I encountered a group of guanacos. A few kilometres later, I unexpectedly passed three pumas sitting next to the trail in the bushes. Two of them run away immediately (probably bigger cubs, I only saw them for a split second). The third one (probably the mama) stayed sitted and looked directly to me. I followed basic safety rules: not showing my back, keeping the eye contact, and slowly walked out of the bushes. The whole encounter lasted only a few seconds and everything was thankfully fine.
I camped about 3 kms from where I saw them
(I didnt sleep well that night). There are several nice shelters along this trail. I camped next to the Refugio Pampa Guanaco.
1st night camp: 47.0548324S, 72.3130370W
Day 2
Unfortunately, the Sendero Rio Chacabuco does not connect directly to Casa Piedra. I had to walk 8km on the road to reach Casa Piedra. From there, I continued along RR.
2nd night camp spot: 46.9408026S, 72.1560413W (protected to the wind, a lot of space)
Day 3
The pass is in the forrest. On the descent, I lost the trail briefly and had to do some bush bashing.
Later came the ford section (km 69-72). The deepest crossing reached mid-tigh height (I'm 184 cm tall).
After that, there is another pass above Lago Verde, a beautiful lake.
3rd night camp: Refuge {35} [61.7/856] (Camp Raleigh - very nice place)
Day 4
An easy walk brought me to lago Jenimeni and camp El Silencio (there is WiFi), with quite a lot tourists around.
I hitched 8 km and started the final section, which is a pure pampa. The beginning is easy to follow,. Later, I simply kept a fence on my left side as a navigation aid.
I stopped before reaching the plateau and camped here X. It was still quite windy. A spot about 30 m lower might serve better. Water was not problem.
4th day camp spot: Camp {35} [32.6/1300]
Day 5
No wind in the morning, but the navigation on the plateu was difficult. It is better to keep your general direction and follow it, rather than trying to stay exactly on the track.
Progres was slow - 2.5 km/h. Wind picked up again on the plateu.
There were many guanacos, and even flamingos in the central part of the plateau.
From Puesto {35} [15.8/1075], navigation becomes easy again. I passed the puesto and greeted Don Claudio and three young men. I wanted to finish the long day as quickly as possible, so I didnt stop for a long.
Luckily, the three guys gave me a lift for the last 10 km. That helped me a lot, it had already been a very long and slow day. I arrived with them in Chile Chico.
It turned out they are cousins from the family that owns the land around the puesto. Don Claudio might be the caretaker.
* ''' 2025-Dec-22 to 2025-Dec-31 / 10(9) Days / Hiking / SOBO RR / Massa and Jacicek '''