Hike to Lago Electrico then to Campimento Pioncenot

December 31, 2025

I locked the Kona to the wooden fence in the campsite after setting out food and camping equipment for the hike, packed all in the rucksack and walked out of the campsite shortly after 06. While on the usual steep uphill trail from the village heading toward Laguna Torres but shortly would take a sharp right split over a bridge and continue across to join the Fitzroy trail, I notice a line of six early risers vivid in horizontal early sunshine upon a faint single-track cut through the rough grass crossing the hillside to join the trail a little before meeting the main trail up from the paid entrance: a more direct route.

Once on the main trail with clear blue sky and a great day in the making there were already many out in a fast march uphill and for quite a distance I hear the stomp of feet directly behind me, thinking I'm holding them up, I step aside to let them pass. The one to the fore of two twenty year olds says in american twang no thanks sir, your setting a great pace. Yes and my rucksack weights at least 3 or 4 times as much as your small daypacks, I jest and add more subduedly showing a need to pause, its only a short way to the mirador (viewpoint) where I'll stop for breakfast. They dropped off once I passed the left split for Lago Capri and it was only 500 metres more to the planned breakfast stop at the mirador with view of Firzroy.

Still only 07.30 as I head on and this early the colours of the wooded hills vivid and sharp, more impressive than late morning glaring sunshine when I was here Sunday. Also easy to see the phone screen whereas later its impossible unless you find shade.

At kilometre 8, a hundred metres short of Campimento Poincenot which I would later return to, I go right along the Rio Electrico trail and midway along began to meet heavy traffic, apparently a lot take a bus up the 41 road and are dropped off at the Rio Electrico bridge where they begin the hike in to Fitzroy and I was meeting busload after busload upon a narrow trail.

The other striking thing is the amount of mosquitoes with the lack of wind. A few mosquitoes on my hand or face doesn't bother me as cyclists which I've been twice to the North Cape know mosquitoes in northern Scandinavia descend in swarms, here the amount is small in comparision but the walkers from the buses were swiping madly at them.

Not the easiest trail: loose grit which get into footwear with a chaos of small and large rounded river stones

Around midmorning I reach where I turned around on Sunday which was faint single-track, going west up the Rio Electrico valley. Onwards the scenery is like The Sound Of Music as it goes up and over a grassy hill between woodland with rocky cragged mountaintops above the treetops.

The grassy single-track shortly turns out to be a link to a main cart track coming up the valley from the 41 road. I stop after joining it for a breather, boiling water for mate. A German couple come along down the track as I'm doing so, who give good reports of the area at the head of the valley.

It was an easy walk along an earthen two-track-coming to a stream ford at one point, but there is a footbridge to the side so I avoid getting wet feet. Through the trees the tumble of the glacial Electrico river gets louder and eventually the riverbank is reached with its strong current surging along having split in two channels around a long wooded island.

A bit further upstream I pause admiring the river as one rushing by like a burst dam when five hikers come along up the track fully outfitted in expensive outdoor apparel and with climbing ropes and helmets hung from rucksacks. I say a polite hi but they blank me keeping their gaze ahead. Okay.

All the gear but no idea such as everyday civility

I continue, dropping in behind the five setting a fast pace and shortly reach Piedra Fraile mountain refuge with huge clump of purple, white and pink lupins and grassy meadow surrounds. The one to the fore who turned out to be a rock-climbing guide greeted jovially a man sat outside the main hut. The other four with American accents and on a rock-climbing excursion sat on the grass, ate a sandwich while chatting between themselves, the guide and the hut man, then it was up and off again.

I pack up after my lunch of peanut butter and banana sandwiches setting off again. There is paid camping at Piedra Fraile but as there's no electricity, payment is cash only, so I continue with my rucksack on a single-track further along the river.

Rio Electrico looking up towards the valley head

The trees thin out and soon vegetation is sparse as the valley become a glacial wash. There are a few small streams with a board across or narrow enough to step across while off to the right the thunder of the river echos across with the wind blowing down the the valley. Further in it became even more desolate as I crossed yet another moraine without any sign of a lake and I was glad of a moment's company when a group of hikers came the other way, rainjacket hoods up against the increasing cold wind, but a little off to my left as the trail was indistinct over pebbles and stones with yet another riff of moraine crossed to reveal no lake yet. Distance in Patagonia can be deceptive. Eventually, I cross a final moraine riff and the lake opens up before me and by the shore someone has built a stone wall shelter which I rush to.

The desolate upper valley with the north side of Fitzroy

Back near Piedra Fraile there's an increase in vegetation with plenty of firebushes

I didn't stay long. It was now 14.30 and I calculated I could make it to Poincenot Camp (the base camp for Fitzroy) by evening so as to get up early in the morning to see the sunrise on mount Fitzroy, so I double back. Approaching Piedra Fraile I discover the macro feature on my phone camera and experiment with it taking some floral shots.

This is a shrub which I had to hold steady with my other hand because of the wind. Bill suggests it Redclaws

It was a long march back and I reach Poincenot at around 20 hrs. The campsite is fairly full but I manage to find a spot between two plots as the bivouac doesn't need much space. Quick supper of instant mash topped by can of tuna and drink two cups of wine. I was going to write but by nine it is too cold, so get into the bivouac and soon sleep.

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