Summit to Suds Cycling Edventure

Another Rolling Field Course from Wanderland Educational Travel

–  The Backroads of Chile’s Lakes District

OVERVIEW

Your course will study a perfect slice of Chile, on fat-tire mountain bikes and graded backroads, from the mountainous heights of the Southern Andes to the wave-tossed Pacific shoreline.  The geography and culture of this unique region will come alive  as our educational staff and various speakers introduce you to the history, science , and significance of the Lakes District. Your field trek starts in an incredible volcanic region of the Chilean Andes and traces a typical cross-section of Chile: Cordilleran Volcanoes in the East, fertile central valley lands and a district of finger lakes and bright blue rivers, traversing a coastal mountain range of eroded hills and temperate forests, and finally down to the Pacific coast with beaches and rocky cliffs.  We offer this trek only once per year to correspond with the dates of Valdivia’s famous German festivals.

BACKGROUND

Chile enjoys soaring Summits and Sudsy coastline throughout its 3000+ mile length from 18 degrees South Latitude to 60 degrees South Latitude and is ripe for these Summit to Shore trips.  This itinerary traces the parallel East to West along 39.5 Degrees South in Chile.  Wanderland offers several field courses like this one that track the ideal seasonal weather windows that are found at specific latitudes in specific seasons throughout the Southern Cone.  Late January in the 39.5 is a great weather window inn the Lakes District, the bubble of ideal climate for this study.

Chilean cowboy, el huaso.

Like all of our treks this one features the astounding natural and cultural wonders of Chile, its national parks, preserves, and culturally significant landscapes.  You will travel by mountain bike for close to 220 miles on a unique backroads and dirt roads edventure. Your belongings will be shuttled along in the support vehicle….along with plenty of water, snacks, and electrolytes.  We stay in comfortable little inns and hotels or cabins with private rooms each night.  The route begins in the astonishing beauty of the Lakes District of Southern Chile and winds through ancient forests, riparian habitats, and isolated villages to the inviting warmth of the coastal region of Valdivia and the Pacific ocean.  Our edventure trek will provide you with safety and support in addition to a fascinating curriculum (see below).  The guides and hosts are all expert mechanics and riders.

CURRICULUM — Tectonic to Teutonic :: Chile and Southern Cone Geography;  basics of Chilean Castillian Spanish;  Chilean History – Settlement Patterns; Teutonic Influences on Chilean Settlement Patterns   Southern Chile – Contemporary Cultures and Issues;   Andean Geology and Lakes District Formation and Glacial History;  Valdivian Rainforest Complex and UNESCO World Heritage Designation;  Biodiversity of the Valdivian Forest Region;  Tourism Industry of the Lakes District;  Mapuche and Pehuenche Cultures – Pre-History, History, and Contemporary Issues;  Chilean Toponymy – Mapudungun Meets Manuel Montt;  And So Much More!!!

Riding Conditions:  The trip is about 75% dirt roads.  These are secondary and tertiary routes of hard-packed and grippy crushed rock and packed volcanic soil.  There is about 10% spent on trails or park interior roads and these will satisfy the avid mountain bikers and somewhat challenge the fit aficionado. The remaining 15% is on stretches of paved backroads and winding country highways. While the population is light where we travel and the traffic minimal, still we time our passage to days that have the lightest traffic and avoid any major thoroughfares and truck routes.  Expect 20 to 30 miles on average each day, with plenty of time devoted to roadside studies of flora, fauna, geology, and historical sites.  Typical daily climbing and descending profiles undulate with 50 to 200 foot ascents and descents interspersed between faster rolly terrain.  The Granny Gear will get some time for sure!  You will be provided with excellent map books of the whole route to refer to and a complete program packet with a full day-by-day description and important local contact information. These, along with our policy of Rolling Enclosure for the riders means that you won’t stray from the track.

Bikes and other Transport Logistics:  Most participants choose to bring their own mountain touring bike or cross-bike, however we also have bikes available for rental at an additional fee of about $18usd per day.   We have easy guidelines on how to pack your bike and your gear for the airlines.  We’ll provide you with an equipment list to help dial in your packing.  Our sag vehicle takes all personal gear between hotels and cabins and shadows us with lunch and beverages at just the right time. It is possible to mountain bike as much or as little as you like.  The support vehicle can carry those who choose to ride less or not at all on any particular day.

Thumbnail Itinerary:  Pucón – Coñaripe -  Panguipulli – Riñihue – Los Lagos – Valdivia – Pacific!

Please contact us for a full itinerary.