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Between 1900 and 1902 a Chilean-Argentine
company, based in Cochamo at the fjord Reloncavi, built an oxcart road
through the Cochamo valley. This 3m (10ft) wide and 79kms (45m) long
road was made of 5 millions of Alerce logs and leads to "La Junta"
through the Alerce forest "El Arco", passing "Los Morros", heading "Lago
Vidal" to "Paso Leon" and further to Argentina. In these pioneer days
existed yet a telephone line, which ran along the trail from Puerto
Montt to Argentina. Steam machines produced electricity. Until 1921
the trail was used by ox wagons pulling dried and smoked fish, salted
meat and animal fat through the Andes. Afterwards the transportation of
goods on this path had to be stopped.
Indians, missionaries, cowboys from Argentina and the legendary Butch
Cassidy and Sundance Kid drew their cattle down from Argentina to
Cochamo. Still today huasos bring their cows down in autumn and up in
spring on this old cattle track, where only some parts of the original
trail still exists.
This path can only be used as a horse trail and has to be protected. By
riding the old cattle track Campo Aventura is working to rescue this
cultural good.
Every year after big rains during wintertime the Campo Aventura team
cleans, maintains and rebuilds parts of the trail.
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