We didn't actually make it to Pumalin. It was a pretty funny story. We started in Puerto Montt heading south. When we were just north of Hornopiren, we learned that the ferries weren't running yet. (It was December, just before Christmas). We hitched a ride back to Puerto Montt and caught the ferry to Puerto Chacabuco/Aisen. The ferry was a couple day trip and we had Christmas dinner with the captain. We were somewhat limited on time, so we took a bus north from Coyaihque to Salto el Gato (just south of Queulat. From there we rode back north to Chaiten. We started running out of time and flew from there back to Puerto Montt and the took the Salon Cama back to Santiago to get back to work. Great memories of that trip, but the hill just outside of the junction to Futaluefu (heading north) almost killed us.
We're still trying to put together a trip back to Chile this year, but I'm not sure it's going to happen. We have lots of friends we haven't seen in a while.
Oh yes , great memories , although its a 100% different perspective to do this road on a MTB, you actually know every detail of the road. I actually do ride too but with the familiy and doing a 5.000 mile round trip its another story.
The ferries are somehow intermitent when not in summertime (January to March). I did this early January, its the best time since its all open and almost nobody on the road. In February almost all locals have summer vacation and there's more traffic.
The trip from the Piedra del Gato (where during the construction of the road that place killed 4 soldiers with a rock avalanche) towards Chaiten is beautiful, congrats for the great RIDE. And you're right the uphill after Villa Santa Lucia (after the junction to Futaluefu) is long , curvy and steep , it must have been a great effort to climb it. Hope with good weather.
Thanks for the memories , and if you have pics of your ride , please upload 'em.
Cheers ! :bike_rider:
, this forum here is highly interesting , I am really motivated here (also keep tracking of yours in SA of course), sadly the US boys ain't got the Patrol. 