A team of 21 from previous trips embarked on an expedition into Patagonia Southern Chile in November 2008.
Four Hamilton 141 jet Boats were shipped to Santiago Chile were the group will meet and travelled south to Puerto Montt for a 24 hour Ferry to Patagonia Aysen for a week of boating, then north to the Futaleufu region to ascend the famous Futaleufu white water river systems. In the final week the team will made their way back to Santiago, boating many of Chile's rivers along the way, including the Rio Bio Bio.
Click on the tabs below to view daily trip updates and photographs
We have all arrived in Santiago Chile with no problems, all bags arrived too!. Today travelling far south on two flights to Balmaceda then pick up 4x4 for the drive farther south to Coihaique. Next update tonight or once we have cleared the boats (3 x 141a and 1x 141U) from customs.
7 hours drive south today over spectacular mountains and around huge lakes. 300km of dirt meant all trailers lost staunchions and mudguards were removed or fell off. In lodge beside Baker River tonight before re fuelling and boating some 140km tomorrow. All very well and happy!
Early start leaving Cochrane to launch on the Lower Baker River. 30min run down the dirt took 4 hours through some spectacular country and rough roads. On arrival at the launch site we discovered that two boats had split fuel tanks in 6 places, tanks were removed and repair attempted. One tank fixed with silly putty and the other ran from jerry cans. One trailer spring was replaced, one spring hanger broken and the last of the mud guards had fallen off. On the opposite riverbank at our launching a large avalanche started and came down the mountain to just above river level. 135km's was covered ending at a very large rapid. 12 km's downstream towards the sea we put in at Tortel, a small fishing village on a rocky outcrop, where we stayed in self contained houses complete with cook. Tomorrow we head north to boat another section of the Baker and possibly boat up to a glacier.
Day 5 and 6
Departed seaside village of Tortel early for a 45 run up stream on the Baker back to the trailers, a couple of boats had a look up a clear running creek with hope of reaching a lake seen on the map. All boats back on trailers we headed up the dirt road to Cochrane to refuel, however one 4x4 with boat clipped an on coming 4x4 nearly sent the other vehicle down an embankment. The rear axle was torn from the springs and the drive shaft pulled from the gear box. After a couple of hours the suspension was patched back up (bashed into place with 14lb hammer) and the other 4x4 retrieved.
Lunch was had at Cochrane and some supplies bought for camping that night. We launched into another section of the Baker and boated down to our camp at Balsa Colonia. After a big cookout and fine session around the camp fire we broke camp on day 6 and headed for Glacier Lake Cachet Dos via the Rio Colonia, a very silty river from the glacier debris. Braided on the lower sections, heavily wooded midway up and then got very steep and rocky towards the top. After a few had some big hits and another boat sinking one corner we decided to head back, the trip back to the trailers had us boating under a few large mountains and hanging glaciers with spectacular weather. A night in Green Baker lodge then on the road at 5am to Coyhaique to repair the trailers, fuel tanks and a broken engine mount.
All doing very well and having a good time. Matthew
click images to view full size
Day 7
Travel day north up valleys and over a pass back to town, changed another trailer spring on the way. Big drive up north tomorrow to the next boating region Futaleufu, famous for its white water region. Repairing boats and trailers today. All well. Matthew
Day 8
Launched into the rio simpson and had a great run down stream before turning up stream into a clear river. Had a play in some rapids and a few went fly fishing: On the road just after lunch for a big drive north through some spectacular country and passes. Some more repairs carried out and jet unit parts were machined locally as we had run out of spares.. In a very nice lodge tonight and boating/camping tomorrow.
click images to view full size
Launched into the Rio West and boated down to the Rio Palena, the Palena is a small river which climbs through some steep country side on the way to the Argentina boarder. We stopped at Balsa Palena a few km's short of the boarder rather than continue through and threaten our crossing with the whole convoy the next day. On returning to the trailers we ventured up the Rio Frio for a quick look. A short change of plan had us continue up the Rio West which turned out to be a very good decision, a small winding river climbing sharply to a remote valley amongst huge mountains. Primitive houses only served what appeared to be a logging village, the mountains are believed to have huge rainfall. We hit the road for our next stop at Futuleufu where a sheep on the spit was waiting for us, a detour on the way had us stop at a small school with just 12 students, most of which arrived to school on horseback from cabins in the mountains. A good sleep in the following dayeside a very big white water river and perfect weather. Ash was still laying around the ground from the Chaiten Volcano, some ash even in a washing up sink at the log cabin.
This is our boarder crossing day of around 4 hours drive only, having to get all 5 trucks and 4 boats out of Chile and into Argentina. After checking in at the police station in Palena we headed for a small one man boarder post in Elencuentro Chile, having got through there we were in no mans land for a short distance before arriving at Corrileufu Argentina to gain permission to move all the vehicles, boats and our two fixers (Pascal and Roberto) into the country. We found no diesel or petrol and will have to go further into Argentina on fumes tomorrow. We set up camp in an idyllic site just off the road at Corcovado. We met 3 locals who were fishing and it was not long (despite them speaking no English) before we were sharing their make shift camp fire and beef. They were well rewarded with a jet boat ride up river through a small canyon. Fish for dinner! Not so, apparently you need a fishing licence. The noise of the boat attracted the attention of a passing fish inspector (Secretaria de Pesca), in the middle of nowhere! Camp tonight is divided, with some replacing two trailer springs, others swapping tow bars with one dead truck, after the clutch and brakes failed. We are hoping to tow it to a town tomorrow and source a clutch. All Well. Matthew
After a camp breakfast we launched into the Rio Corcovado, a small stony river just on the Argentinean side of the boarder. The night before we had been to the local police to get a permit. John S boat took a good hit and the dizzy came off with the rotor making a mess of it, Jeff headed back to the trailers for spares. One of the tow trucks had lost a clutch so had to be towed by another boat/trailer combo 80km's to the nearest town, we will leave it there as a clutch is 3 days away. The drive to Esquel was quite dusty as the ash from a volcanic eruption still lay in the fields and road, see photo.. We have picked up another 4x4 and at some point will have to double back and swap them before returning to Chile. In Esquel tonight for R&R, all quite well and having a great time. Matthew
Day 13
As the tow vehicle had a failed clutch and no spares available for many days and as we had brought the truck from Chile into Argentina, the truck had to be returned through the boarder into Chile with the nominated driver. An "A Frame" was fabricated at a local sheet metal shop and that day we towed the 4x4 on the gravel roads some 600 km's (in fact we would tow the truck over 1000 km's on the dirt over the journey) to Sarmiento. Upon arrival the town was booked out for accommodation and winds gales force so camping was not an option, our "fixer" Roberto visited the Mayor and we were soon lodged in a local hall. Two more fuel tanks suffered leaks from the days towing. The road trip was through very dry desert country with lots of abandoned stone building etc, barely a sole to be seen.
Day 14
Departed Sarmiento for the Senguer Rio and launched early after a 3 hour drive, we covered around 170km on a very windy day, a small skinny river with plenty of jet sprint track channels, most had pushes and cold feet. The dash for the boarder commenced and after around 5 hours we arrived at the boarder posts and departed dry windy barren Argentina (Chubut Province) and almost immediately upon entering Chile we were in green hills and snow capped peaks again. Staying in Coyhaique for 2 nights while we pack the container with boats and gear, then its a drive north for a flight to Santiago and on to Rio De Janeiro for a few days r&r.
Everyone is alive and well! An expedition ends with always something spectacular to see or do, otherwise overcoming challenges that would stop most.. Thanks Duncan for a great adventure. Matthew
click images to view full size
