La Capilla del Mármol (Marble Chapel), Lago General Carrera, Aysen Patagonia, Chile

Posted on October 20, 2012 by zkruz

So just outside the town of Puerto Tranquilo, Aysen, Chile there is an amazing hidden Gem along the coast of Lago General Carrera. These Marble Caverns are just incredible (click photo for album)

for more info check this out

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2021090/The-marble-cathedral-Chile-Natural-wonder-worlds-beautiful-cave-network.html

Patagonia Aysen Video Collection

Posted on October 20, 2012 by zkruz

Catching up on my blog i thought i’d post a series of fantastic videos on the Aysen Region of Patagonia.

Here is a great Video on Patagonia Aysen and the Patagonia Sin Represas movement (english version also available within:

Patagonia Sin Represas from Christopher Lehmann on Vimeo.

This is a great video Claudio Magallanes from OutdoorsTV.cl made on a trip i co-guided with Rolando at AguaHielo Expediciones when we went to the Jorge Montt Glacier for New Years 2011/12. Click here for photos

KAYAK AL GLACIAR JORGE MONTT por OutdoorsTV© from OUTDOORS TV on Vimeo.

This is a video also by Claudio from a few years ago on the Rio Baker Expedition:

KAYAKING POR EL RIO BAKER EN PATAGONIA CHILENA from CHILE 2.0UTDOORS on Vimeo.

Here is a video of young Chilean Kayakers learning how to paddle on the Rio Baker:

LOS ESCUALOS: Young Chilean Kayakers of Patagonia (Trailer) from Weston Boyles / Rios to Rivers on Vimeo.

This video captures some of the unique cultures of the people who live in the Aysen (FB video might not work):

Rio Baker – Cochrane to Caleta Tortel – Spectacular Journeys on Patagonia Aysen’s Wildest River

Posted on May 16, 2012 by zkruz

So Puerto Bertrand is situated at the start of the Rio Baker. The Baker River is one of Chile’s largest free flowing wild rivers. The hydro company, HidroAysen and the Chilean government want to build 5 major hydro electric dams, 2 on the Baker and 3 on the Rio Pascua further south. They then want to build power lines all the way from the Aysen Region of Chile north of Santiago to help power big mining projects that run the economy. The people of Chile and the Aysen region have been going through countless struggles and protests. They have created the “Patagonia Sin Represas” (Patagonia Without Dams) movement to try to stop this project. Please click here for more information and recent news. From my understanding it is still under negotiation. If and when it would happen is still unknown.

Rolando’s most popular kayak trip with AguaHielo Expediciones is running 4-5 day trips from the Balsa Baker 9km from the town of Cochrane to the ocean in Caleta Tortel.

I had the privilege to help out, participate and guide a few of the trips this past Austral Summer on the Baker.

Here are some pics from a little Outward Bound Staff trip with folks from the Bariloche Argentina base who connected with Rolando and we all paddled the Baker in 3 days. (click any pic below to link to full album)

view of the confluencia of the Rio Nef with the Rio Baker

proposed dam site #1 on the Rio Baker