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Lago Leones (english)
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Contenido |
Season
Best season of the year to do this trekking is during summer because of the milder temperatures, but also it is possible to do it during the rest of the year. During winter there is snow. There is to go ready for rains at any season of the year.
Access by car and the road status
From Coyhaique there is to take Route 7 known as Southern Road southbound. There are 258 km. until the deviation that enters the west through the valley of Lions. During the trip you get a breathtaking landscape sight of the Aysen Region as the Cerro Castillo, Valle de Ibañez, the jungle Murta Valley, Lake General Carrera, Puerto Tranquilo with marble caverns, among many other attractions. The Southern Highway is paved to km. 98 (Villa Cerro Castillo). The rest of the gravel road is generally in good condition, and can go with any type of vehicle.
If one starts from Puerto Tranquilo there are only 30 km. south, and from Puerto Bertrand there are 68 km. north.
Lago Leones (Lions Lake) is located 28 kilometers from the Southern Highway. From that internal diversion through the Valley of Lions, is possible to move 10 km. towards the interior. This stretch is unpaved and is in regular conditions, recommended only for high and 4x4 vehicles.
Access by public transport and hitchhiking
Almost every day there are buses operating on the Southern Highway between Coyhaique and Cochrane towns in both directions.
Information is available this summer 2008:
- BUSES SAO PAULO
- Coyhaique - Cochrane (M, J and S) $ 10,000;
- Cochrane - Coyhaique (W, V and D) $ 10,000
- LAKES INTER BUS
- Coyhaique - Cochrane (M, J and S) $ 10,000;
- Cochrane - Coyhaique (L, W and V) $ 10,000
- BUSES Don Carlos
- Coyhaique - Cochrane (M, J and S) $ 10,000;
- Cochrane - Coyhaique (W, V and D) $ 10,000
- BUSES BUSES VILLAGES AQUARIUM 13
- Cochrane - Coyhaique (M & S) $ 10,000;
- Coyhaique - Cochrane (W & D) $ 10,000
You can get a price between $ 7,000 and $ 8,000 from Coyhaique to the entrance to the Valley of Lions. Taking public transportation requires start the trekking from the beginning of the valley, if you have the time to do it, it is strongly recommended by the beautiful scenery and tranquility of the surroundings.
Route description
The first 10 km to the Rio Meliquina are possible to travel with a high vehicle and 4x4. If not have a vehicle of this nature, this stretch can be done on foot along the trail vehicle quietly given almost no presence of transit, which makes for a pleasant hiking.
The vehicle moves on the track south of the river bed Lions, which is permanently on the northern side, mighty and blue colored product of glacial dust from the Northern Ice Field. The first view to the southwest for the glaciated Cerro La Torre, which has many hidden glaciers and accessible through the river valley Meliquina. Towards the north of the Lions can see the cord the heaps, glaciated mountains that are only a prelude to the magnificent mountains on the huge body present glacial northern Patagonia.
Once the footprint, where passenger cars are currently authorized, subtract 18 km of trail to Lake Lions. After 8 km of walking, you cross a vast field of boulders before crossing the river Mapuche, which arises from an ice pick visible to the south. You can cross it bounding over the rocks. Then the trail was a bit lost and must find an old abandoned wooden house, where there are usually hanging around cows belonging to the owners of the valley.
The trail so far has been flat to mount on the southern slope of the valley and begin a journey of continuous ups and downs. The footprint in many places is very narrow and the vegetation has gained ground by poor maintenance. At km. 3 must cross a calm but deep stream, which can be overcome by great walking logs that are left by the settlers. In the last part the forest is quite open, and then mounted to cover some coigues moraine makes a wonderful sight: Lake Lions, with the glacier Lions hanging from the Northern Ice Field in the background. On the horizon are visible Sinoulchu hills, Mocho, Glass, and Trunk. To the northwest are the imposing Mount Iron and Mount San Valentín (the highest of Patagonia, with 4058 meters).
Return is by the same route.
Expected Time
Transfer by car to the entrance of Coyhaique Valley Lions will take 4 hours. The 10 km. additional vehicular trace, open so far, taking 30 minutes, which should be walked take 3 hours. The trail of 18 km. leading to the lake is winding and takes about 5 hours or more.
If going by public transport is needed 2 days, being able to camp in clear mind to a different side of the track. Even in case of having your own vehicle, we recommend camping in the valley so quietly enjoy the beautiful present.
Note that no camping allowed at the property located between the rivers Meliquina Mapuche, which is a protected area closed. Please note the signs in this area.
Permits / Fees
The trail is a private country road - a series of private easements from residents of the valley. For now do not require permits or tickets must be canceled. It should be remembered that the path forward on land belonging to the settlers in the valley, so that should keep the respect for property and livestock present. Lions Glacier is part of Laguna San Rafael National Park, which protects the entire length of the Northern Ice Field.
Recommendations
Keep in mind that the trail has been opened and renovated by the owners for their own use and has no signage and tourism infrastructure at the moment.
You can navigate to the front of the glacier through the craft of John Village, who is usually present in the valley but not necessarily in the lake. To schedule a crossing of the lake and see the beautiful glacier near Lions (which is formed by the convergence of three different glacier tongues), is available sgte. Information:
- Contact: Juan Village
- Phone: 431,260 through his sister Jeannette Village, located in Puerto Guadal.
- E-mail: naciraja@hotmail.com.
Juan Village is a local guide Valley Lions. Has boat that crosses Lake Lions and front of the glacier reaches the Lions. His sister Jeanette is in constant contact with him via radio.
Lions Glacier is one of the most used entry doors for an expedition on the Northern Ice Field. If you want to make inroads on the ice, is needed general knowledge such as mountaineering crevasse rescue, building igloos and caves, among others. The climate on the Northern Ice Field may be inhospitable, which is why one must be well prepared.
Another less extreme alternative from the viewpoint of Lake Lions, is internal to the south and way up to Lake Cub which has a fabulous setting in the middle of a valley glacier.
Waypoints in Google Earth
- Lago Leones Waypoints. 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.
