107
ediciones
Cambios
→Transport to and from Route
==Season 2023/24==
*2023-Jan-20 / 4 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Tom Pieper
This section was a worthy final for my journey on the GPT! Even seeing at least 2-3 other hikers per day it felt really remote. I enjoyed the long walking on the beaches and the special atmosphere up at the cross at cabo froward, looking down the magellan strait and imagine the first sailors passing this strenous passage.
Its possible to do this track in an enjoyale pace in 4 days in good weather, but I guess it to be much harder in bad weather. Especially in strong winds walking will be much slower at the coast. I found the short inland sections really nice - only a little muddy but nothing serious and an impressive landscape.
I tooked a packraft which helped me crossing the second river, but if you have enough time I recomment to not carry it on the track. Going in the packraft close to the shore looked feasible in some moments but wind turns often and you do not want to be blown onto the sea here!
I found the tide tables for cabor froward more accurate (I provided a link).
The fox is present at the camp south of the 3rd river. He completely devastated the tents of two chilenos who made a day trip to the cabo. Hang ALL your food higher than 2 m. He can jump pretty high and even reached their food hanging at 1.5 m :D
There is also a tame fox living near Bahia del Aguila. You might see him relaxing on the beach. Saw also colibris. The seem to love the fuchsia bushes.
There were many people and cars at the parking lot. Hitchhiking was no problem at this time of the year.
*Frank RR 3 days 29-31/12/2023
1. I got the bus to San Juan. Last stop is @ Rio Santa Maria (the stop is marked on OSM) Not much traffic @ 9AM so I walked 8KM to the roadhead. On the road there is a house with some boats. A big dog came out & started attacking me but 4 people came along & when in a group he retreated. Easy walking to the hut. Saw a whale, some penguins & dolphins near the lighthouse. The first river is v. easy, I was able to jump it. 2nd & 3rd river crossings were both easy & knee deep within 90 minutes of low tide. There are sticks marking the crossings. Cross about half way between the sticks & the sea.
The 3rd crossing is a little shallower than 2nd but can be harder as it flows faster. Approaching the third crossing there are two small basic sheds on the beach, good for a break but not sleeping. 300M after the sheds a route going into the forest is marked. At low or mid tide it's easier to stay on the shore. There are some rocks but it's easier than navigating the maze of fallen trees. The forest route may be better @ high tide.
Camped after the 3rd crossing. The water @ 1st river is good. 2nd & 3rd river water needs to be filtered. It was still green after filtering but tasted OK.
2. Continued to the cape. Stayed on the coast all the way apart from one place where it cliffs out & you do a short workaround on ropes & fallen trees. The shore is mostly rock, not difficult by GPT standards but it's slow going, about 2KMPH. Good trail up from last campsite on the 300M ascent to cross. Several small streams along the way. I returned to the 3rd & 2nd rivers & crossed both easily near low tide. Crossed the 2nd @ 10PM & camped after the crossing.
3. Tired after 2 long days. Had a long break @ the hut & walked easily out to the road. After a few KM I hitched to Punta Arenas. Lots of people camping & cooking asados as it was new years eve.
The Fox:
At the 3rd camp he ripped a tent & punctured a sleeping mat when only food wrappers were inside. He also snatched food hung too low from a tree.
Recommendation: If you go from 3rd camp to cape on daytrip, take all your food & rubbish with you. Take down tent & hang your gear as high as you can in a tree. If it has no traces of food it will be OK. There was some rope @ Camp 3 (after the crossing) but best to bring 10M of light cord with you.
==Season 2022/23==
=Transport to and from Route=
https://transportesubsidiadomagallanico.blogspot.com/
See the section Fundo San Antonio-San Juan-Punta Arenas.
In Punta Arenas buses leave from the rural terminal on the corner of calles Chiloe & Pinto
=Permits, Entry Fees and Right-of-Way Issues=
https://www.tide-forecast.com/locations/Punta-Arenas-Chile/tides/latest
https://www.tideschart.com/Chile/Region-of-Magallanes/Provincia-de-Magallanes/Cabo-Froward/Weekly/
=Images=
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