From our bush camp we climbed steadily up to a saddle above Puerto Yungay. It was one of those climbs that cyclists tell you about but are more enjoyable than forewarned. We had a buzzy ride – the loads light enough and us fit enough to be able to enjoy the up and the down.
We made the 10am ferry that enabled us to connected the two ends of the Highway without getting wet feet. We could relax on the back of the boat and watch 2 condors enjoying some thermals. From the drop off we followed a long flat valley that had a good kick at the end with a steep spiral road that led us to a great high camp with small stream for washing clothes and us.We had had mosca camp, ladybird camp and caterpillar camp – this camp was named tadpole cmp after all the tadpoles in the creek.
Next morning we started on a big downhill before some more climbing to take us into the flat road leading toVilla O’Higgens – the last town on the Caraterra Austral and the end of the road for anything other than cyclists or walkers. this section of road was finished less than a decade ago and the roadside epitaph to military personal who lost their lives in the construction of it was sobering.
The scenery was outstanding with more glaciated landscapes than we had previously had. The photos just don’t capture the size of it all, cascades, hanging glaciers, lakes and mountains. As we neared Villa O’Higgens we had to hang on tight to stay on the road for the deterioration of the ripio made for a challenging finish of Chile’s Route 7. the odd truck passing also made for a dusty finish. It was great to finally arrive at this frontier town.