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New for 2009!
An Anniversary Follow the Leader Trip with John Yost

Want to do more than trek while you are in Patagonia? Explore a stunning slice of remote and rugged frontier on our newest Patagonian adventure. Join Sobek co-founder John Yost hiking and exploring the Aysén Glacier region for 6 days, followed by 3 days of rafting on the Rio Baker, a wild river that is severely contested for its hydro-dam potential or its status as UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The Aysén Glacier Trail is so untouched that the chances of seeing another trekker are one in 500,000. Pass through the most secluded forests and alpine habitats on the Northern Patagonia Ice Field. Cross Neff Glacier, marvel at the dazzling ice walls of the Colonia Glacier, and view wildlife, including the shy huemul deer. Then hop on rafts on the Río Baker, and ride Class II and III rapids and float downstream until we spill into the Pacific at a unique village on stilts, Caleta Tortel. Descend all the way from the northern Patagonian Ice-Field to the Ocean on this “Ice to Ocean” adventure!

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• An exclusive adventure into the least-known corner of Patagonia, from the Northern Patagonia Ice Field to the Pacific Ocean!
• Hike in an isolated, captivating landscape of glaciers, old-growth forests, and glittering lakes
• Raft the Río Baker, Chile’s most voluminous and contested river
• Experience traditional gaucho culture while camping on privately-owned ranch land
• Run rapids with Sobek co-founder John Yost, who has run over 30 exploratory rafting expeditions on the world’s rivers

Day 1 - Meet in Santiago, Chile. Afternoon city tour.

Day 2 - Fly to Balmaceda and transfer to Puerto Bertrand (population 65!), located at the headwaters of Chile’s biggest volume river, the Río Baker. Welcome dinner, orientation meeting, and packing for the trek. Day 3 - Boat across Lagos Bertrand and Plomo to meet up with our horse packing team. Begin hiking, traversing the flanks of the Cordon Soler (7,052').

Day 4 - Pass the convergence of three major glacial valleys and continue toward the back of the Soler Valley and up into the old growth beech forest to the Palomar Ranch.

Day 5 - Cross the moraines of the Neff Glacier, descend the south side of the glacier, and then hike up to camp by some mirror-like lakes.

Day 6 - Layover day to explore, including a hike to a viewpoint for panoramic vistas of the three glacier-filled valleys in this corner of the northern ice cap.

Day 7 - Hike down the Buena Cueva Valley among old growth beech forests, Cypress filled wetlands, and huge boulders to camp by Cachet Lake, which faces the constantly calving Colonia Glacier.

Day 8 - Enjoy constant views of the iceberg-filled lake and the 160-foot ice wall of the Colonia Glacier as you ascend into a beech forest overlooking a deep canyon.

Day 9 - Follow the tracks of huemul deer to the northern shore of Lago Colonia. Take a boat across the lake, passing below 150-foot waterfalls to the south shore, then walk to camp at the Sol de Mayo Ranch.

Day 10 - Paddle raft down the Colonia Valley to the confluence with Río Baker. Camp at the traditional cableway raft used to cross the voluminous Rio Baker.

Day 11 - We board oar rafts and float south, running some good Class III rapids among classic Patagonian scenery. Camp at the Salton Baker, an unraftable Class VI gorge.

Day 12 - The morning is dedicated to exploring the gorge and the tunnels cut by Lucas Bridge, an early explorer of the region who opened the Colonia Valley for farming. We portage rafts and gear around the waterfall and relaunch the rafts below the powerful Salton Falls. Continue rafting to the Rio Ventisquero.

Day 13 - Float toward the ocean along verdant forests to Caleta Tortel, a unique fishing village built on stilts. Celebrate our arrival to the Pacific Ocean!

Day 14 - Return journey from Tortel to Puerto Bertrand.

Day 15 - Early morning drive to Balmaceda, fly to Santiago, and depart.

Photo Credits
Both images: ©MTS Photo File