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Glaciar del Morado (english)
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Contenido |
Season
- Trekking: October to May. In October and November may have a considerable amount of snow that makes it difficult to walk and not be able to access by car to the end of the road, but this will be rewarded by an even more beautiful landscape in the summer months.
- Randonnée: Between June and mid October. However, from mid August to start possibly need to load skis on the first leg. Moreover, in winter the road vehicle cut into the mining facilities in Lo Valdes, so it may be necessary to start from Baños Morales.
Access by car and the road status
From Santiago, you should take Route G-25 at Cajon del Maipo. From the junction of Vizcachas, are 47 miles paved in good to the control of police of San Gabriel (telephone 8611008 and 8612290, should you wish to check the status of the road, although the responses are to be too "conservative"). Then are 1.1 kilometers of pavement to the confluence of the Maipo Gypsum. Immediately after the bridge starts on gravel whose state depends on the length of time without being arranged by equipment for roads, but it is usually state regular. After 18 kilometers of gravel on the main road we arrive at the fork to Baños Morales, nestled on the north bank of the volcano. This town is the last place where supplies, but it requires a short detour to the northern bank of river. It must continue along the main road and not diverted to Baños Morales, after 1.6 kilometers from the bifurcation is passed through the mining facilities in Lo Valdes, where collection of gypsum mine. 6 kilometers below the bifurcation to Baños Morales, once the 'Hill of the Afflicted, you reach a bridge crossing the River Hill. Only 120 meters after the bridge is reached Cabrerias,right of way. The Cabrerias is only a shelter frequented by drovers, recognizable by a large rock with a small chimney on top. At this point we leave the main road and into the valley of Cerro Arenas. This new road was built by a mining company and is not maintained by roads, is represented in blue on the map. The path descends a hill two kilometers and then climbs another, also of two kilometers. At the end of the route runs through the eastern slope of the hill, this is relatively straight and moderate slope, however is in poor condition having not been maintained in years. In case of not having 4x4 will be advisable not to follow the vehicle. At 1.5 kilometers you get to a place wide flat valley known as "the choriboulder" product of the large amount of rocks (boulders) that are in this valley. If you are looking for camping this place is adequate. At the time that the road begins to separate the valley and ascend the east slope of the hills (to 1.5 kilometers of "choriboulders") is due to begin the trek park.
Access by public transport and hitchhiking
The municipal bus line (Turmaipo) conducts tours to Baños Morales. From October until 1 January, the bus departs on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. A count of the first of January until 15 March, a bus leaves every day. The exit is on the Metrobus Terminal Bellavista de la Florida (penultimate station on subway line 5). If you have questions subway guards can help. The return value of the passage to Banos Morales is $ 6,000 (the amount in Turmaipo confirm: 8611518 to 8612450, or their website). There are rates for intermediate lengths. The output bus from the terminal is performed at 8:30 and get a bus a day. You can also take this bus in Puente Alto, outside the station Las Mercedes, where the bus passes close at 8:50. For San Jose de Maipo passes around 9:35 and arrives at Baños Morales about 11 am. You'll recognize the bus by its number, "MB-72".
It is also possible to privately hire the minibus Turismontaña (8500555 / 8500783) or ARPU Tourism (6818475 and 09-9320108) and fix a price to the same starting point. Both made the previous booking service to Baños Morales. Depart from Baquedano Metro Station (Plaza Italia), a Telefonica side of the building.
Route description
After parking the car must leave the main road to take a route already badly damaged vehicle that as progress is made on the wane. The first two miles the trail runs through the valley to the west side of the river where you gently gaining height. Then the trail is located on the eastern slope of the hills away from each of the main river, along with this slope becomes considerably higher than in the first stage of the trek. Continually have to cross small creeks crossing the trail. After 1.2 kilometers will result in a relatively flat valley, you follow this pleasant valley by 600 feet and then have to cross a creek to the west and start climbing the slopes which are to the west. From this point is 400 meters from the station, but there is still unevenness exceed 120 meters. Although the trail is notorious in this area in the spring with a high probability will be covered with snow. view image As a general rule should take into account that the lagoon is situated in a pot that forms the west of this valley. When starting up the hillside to the west slope becomes more pronounced and will require a greater effort, however this will not last more than 30 minutes. Immediately at the end of the climb will reward the spectacular panoramic view of the purple hanging glacier, its glaciers and its surrounding lake with icebergs.
It is not advisable to venture into the glacier, as they often have large cracks hidden under snow. To return to do the same route.
From Baños Morales (Randonnée)
If on arrival at the Lo Valdes yesera of the road is blocked (which is likely in mid-May and September) will have to return and take the road to Baños Morales to start from there the journey, along the north shore Volcano River. They are 5.6 miles along an old road-vehicle-very suitable for skiing until the junction with the road that starts from the Cabrerias, rising from 1860m to 2275m, which should take just under two hours. From this junction, is 5.4 kilometers more to the beginning described in the previous section and can be reached by car when there is snow. This section requires climbing from 2275m up to 2628m, which should take another hour and a half at least.
Expected Time
Permissions
Although for this trek is required to enter private land for the moment does not require permits or admission is charged. Guides Santiago
Hire horses
You can hire horses with Roberto Molina and Katerina Cáceres, departing from Baños Morales. Ph: 02-87100051, 91667566. Fares are around CLP $10.000 (US 18) per horse.
Waypoints in Google Earth and Map Source
- Google Earth Waypoints Hanging Glacier Trek.
- Map Source Waypoints Hanging Glacier Trek. To download the file right-click and then select "Save file as" (IE) or "Save link as" (Firefox, Chrome). By trying to open it directly, some browsers will show the raw code with the coordinates.
