==Season 2025/26==
Test'''GPT05-06/ 2026-01-03 to 2026-01-12/ 11 days/ Hiking/ SOBO/ GPT05 Options 1, 2, RR; GPT06 Options 9B, 9A, 9, 3B, 3, RR, 6F/ Greg and Simon Carter''' OverallThis was my favourite GPT trek to date. Spectacular mountain vistas, lagunas, rivers, streams and springs, waterfalls, glaciers, hot springs, challenging navigation and terrain, volcanoes, wild horses, arrieros, and condors. A big shout out to Alexey Abramov for providing the track file of his “Desolation Traverse: Los Queñes - Rio Colorado - Descabezado plateau - Central Los Cipreses” (available on WikiLoc), which was super helpful in navigating through difficult cross-country terrain. Attraction: 5/5Difficulty: 5/5 Day 1Caught a bus from Curicó to Los Queñes for CLP 2,500pp. (The bus leaves at 0730, 1130, 1300, 1630, 1830 Mon-Fri; 0730, 1130 and 1630 on Sat, Sun and public holidays) Arriving early Mon there was little chance of a hitch so we (reluctantly) paid CLP 40,000 for a ride up to the start of Option 1. Wonderful mountain and lake views on the hike up the road and valley to camp. The Refuge {05-01} [8.9/2599] (El Planchon Base Camp) was locked but had good camping spots, running water from a hose, and a covered outdoor area with an open fire place (and wood) and enough room to pitch a small tent undercover in bad weather. Camped at {05-01} [13.2+0.2/2623], which had amazing views but was very exposed and dusty with high gusting wind. Day 2Ascended Volcán Planchon on Option 2, which was quite challenging with steep loose scree, and ridge walking close to big drop-offs with a strong cross-wind. 2hrs up. 1.5hrs down on an alternative route to the west of Option 2, which seemed safer, provided some enjoyable scree skiing on soft sand, and joined up with the E/W OSM trail at the foot of the Volcán, to return to the intersection of Options 1 and 2. Spectacular views of and from the Volcán. Well worth the effort. Note there was no water until Camp {05-01} [27.8/1670]. However there was plenty of water at this camp, which has a man-made irrigation ditch that channels water close to camp. Day 3Joined the RR and forded the Rio Claro at -35.20436, -70.66298, where as Bailey pointed out, there is a clear water stream entering the Rio Claro. The ford was easy, at half calf height. After the ford there was some enjoyable ridge hiking, with spectacular big mountain views. Camped at -35.24513, -70.66722, beside a bunch of small bushes, which provided good shelter from northerly winds coming up the valley. Good flowing water in the nearby stream. Day 4Very scenic views from pass [41.0/2354] and during the subsequent descent and ascent. Then really spectacular 270 degree views from pass [48.7/2362]. Sketchy very steep technical descent to camp at Rio Negro, with the trail partially washed away in some sections. Camped by Rio Negro. Camp sites are limited: only for a 2 person and 1 person tent. Day 5Easy ford of the Rio Negro in the morning, as the water level dropped substantially overnight. However it was also fordable late afternoon the previous day. Steep technical descent down from Cuesta La Hormiga, through the Bottleneck. Then slow going crossing through numerous boulder fields, heading upriver. Note there is a steep descent down a washout extending towards the Rio Colorado, commencing at the large cairn at -35.34364, -70.64654. The last few metres are a bit tricky to get down from the boulders - head downstream/ west to find the easiest path down to the river flats. Enjoyed a nice swim in an eddy immediately downstream of the bridge over the Rio Colorado at -35.34734, -70.64363. The trail becomes easier after the bridge, as it becomes a well travelled cattle trail. There is a good flowing stream at -35.37310, -70.57358 just before the hot spring at [64.7/2027] (Las Yeguas), also just after, at -35.37194, -70.57043. Enjoyed a wonderful hot spring and camp at Las Yeguas. There is cold water flowing into the hot spring from a pipe which is probably ok if filtered. We met the family from the nearby puesto who dropped in to use the hot spring. They were friendly and didn’t mind us camping. Note that in the morning the hot spring was warm, so it’s best to use it in the afternoon, or divert the cold water pipe flowing into the spring the night before. Day 6Continued on the RR. The ford of the Rio Valle Grande at [68.1/2057] was easy, at half calf height. Enjoyed the awesome hot spring at [70.3/2135] (Termas Pellejo), then forded the Rio Colorado a little downstream, at knee height. Continued the RR, ascending with views of incredible volcanic landscapes, then descended to camp in a gully with a small spring at -35.42381, -70.55906. Day 7Hiked up to GPT06 Option 9/ 9A junction, with stunning desolate volcanic terrain along the way, especially the valley of Rio San Pedro (easy ford at [83.0/2340], ankle height). Lake {05} [80.4/2499] has plenty of water, and there is a good flowing stream before you get there, at -35.41984, -70.59138. Late in the day climbed Descabezado Chico - no snow but very steep with sand and small loose rock that is fairly well consolidated (ie doesn’t move much when stepped on). Spectacular views from the summit. Day 8Continued on GPT06 Option 9. Another day of spectacular big mountain scenery. Plenty of water in Rio Barroso. Pass {05-08} [5.2+6.2/3033] has a steep ice field across it including a section of sideways sloping steep ice covering 20m of the trail (viewed in the direction of the trail it was lower to higher, left to right), where micro-spikes were required. I cut steps with the micro-spikes as I crossed. This was a solid but scary traverse where a slip/slide would have been fatal. Alternatively you can bypass the ice by walking above it on very loose rock, which is not recommended. Camped at -35.54428, -70.75478, below the trail junction of Options 3B and 9, where there are some good camping sites beside the Estero El Volcan, which had a good flow. Day 9Traversed Descabezado Grande on GPT06 Option 3B. Spectacular scenery but slow progress on complex volcanic terrain, requiring hours of contouring, ascending and descending. Luckily Pass {06-3B} [2.7/3124] had no snow or ice. Ford {06-3B} [5.8/2847] had very little flow with small pools of clean water. The Quebrada El Descabezado had no water. Camped at -35.64057, -70.78693. Day 10Hiked Option 3 to the RR. Really spectacular views traversing to Pass {06} [59.5/2518] (Hornitos). On descent from the pass there was a good flowing stream at -35.70283, -70.82520, and at Camp {06} [62.3/1999]. No ford was required at Ford {06} [63.6/1909], as the river is not flowing. Laguna de los Hornitos has a fair amount of water, but it is getting low with algae around the sides. Climbed Volcan Los Hornitos and walked around the rim - really superb views. Hiked down to the road. Rio Cipreses was dry in its upper reaches, as the Laguna La Invernada has been dammed for hydro. Dry camped at -35.75345, -70.78590. There is a gate on the road to the Laguna, but it could be passed if you need water. The next water is further away, down the road, at Water {06} [73.7/1014], where there is a good flowing stream. Day 11Hiked out to Los Cipreses. The Shop was open at {06-F} [0.5/855]. Hitched easily from the bus stop at {06-F} [0.6/862] to Talca.
*'''2025-08-09: Track file update 2025 and investigation suggestions of Jan Dudeck'''
