Solo Bikepacking Chile's 1240 Kilometer Route 7

Thick forests, fjords, glaciers, canals, lakes, steep mountains, volcanoes, wild rivers, and ever-changing weather conditions is what to expect on the Carretera Austral, the name given to Chile's Route 7. The gravel road runs for 1240 km, offering access to the unique land and most remote part of Patagonia occupied by a scarce population of only 100k people in total. As a result, the region retains a spectacularly rugged, unspoiled environment and a strong unique identity.

Construction of the Carretera Austral started in 1976 under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet and took no less than 20 years, 10,000 soldiers and $300 million US to achieve this titanic work of engineering. Though work on the Carretera Austral has never ended. Heavy machines, trucks, and working men are constantly maintaining the road, fighting against the forces of Nature. But not only is the road being maintained, it is also slowly being paved. The difference between a gravel road and an asphalted road is tremendous when it comes to the impact on the environment, and on the relation one can have with nature. After the pavement, the lifestyle of the population living along the Carretera Austral will never be the same again. For better and for worse.

The accessibility of a place, no matter the beauty of it, somehow turns me off, transforming an “adventure” into a “casual touristic experience.” I need that element of adventure and merit. I’d rather spend two days hiking through a mountain to admire a more ordinary waterfall than take a car to observe the Niagara Falls. This may sound selfish, as possibly, locals impatiently await for the road surface to boost local economy and quality of life. Should the beauties of nature exclusively be available for a few healthy privileged “adventurous” people?

In our Western mentality, we want to have everything under control and secured beforehand. But this time I said to myself: “The plan is that there is no plan.” It happened to be the best decision ever.

So, in December I decided to solo bikepack the entire Carretera Austral from North to South in three months with a minimal set-up and without any proper rain trousers.