Methods and Progression
> Route > Methode and progression > Security
The expedition route is to be done by foot and on kayaks by Christian Clot and Mélusine Mallender so as to respect the environment and the peace of the territories they will be crossing, on more than 2000 kilometers. There will be no external assistance.
Route
Round trip of Camp de Hielo Sur: Leaving from and coming back to Puerto Natales and moving along the Hielo Sur glacial mass.

A journey through fjords, rivers, lakes, forest, steppes, glaciers and passes, some reaching 1000 m, to cover around 2,000 km in 120 days. 900 km through natural canals, 700 km across rivers and lakes and 400 km pulling our kayaks on ground.

Main stops will be El Calafate, El Chalten, Villa O’Higgins and Puerto Eden, the latter being the last abode of the last Alakalufs.

Many incursions into the lesser known and accessible areas of the glaciers where kayaks still remain the best solution to approach them. Samples to be taken on the spot each time.
The route in a few words

> 120 kayaking day en navigant ou le tirant.

> More than 2200 km.

> Departure on february, 5 2009 from Puerto Natales.

> Arriving around June 5-10 juin 2009 at Puerto Natales.
Méthode de progression

Kayaks are the most obvious means of transport ! No other would allow such a circuit. Kayaks will not only take us across seas, lakes and rivers, but they can be pulled on land as would sleighs. With kayaks we can penetrate the fjords further and go where ships cannot enter. We will be able to discover unknown areas and access Hielo Continental territories that have been impossible to reach up to now.

Autonomous journey, without external assistance, his means no support team that would allow us to leave our kayaks and retrieve them later at a different point. The kayaks will follow our journey. Autonomous does not mean we hope to meet no-one, on the contrary. Just as we hope to find traces of Alakaluf ancient camping grounds we also hope to meet some of their rare descendants. We also expect to encounter sea and river fishermen and come across small settlements and camps. People to hopefully communicate with so as to understand better what living in Patagonia truly means.

250 kg is the load we will take with us. 120 kg of food for 45 to 50 days, 20 l of stove fuel, marine and security gear, camping gear, professional video and photographic equipment, all the necessary equipment to progress on alpine and glacier grounds.

Several incursions on the Hielo Sur glaciers. During the circumnavigation we will enter Hielo Continental territories which have hardly ever seen man. We will then leave our kayaks and take our alpine equipment to attempt a few summits and reach new glaciology study grounds. Both are in line with our global approach of South Patagonia and complete it.
Security

The whole of the Hielo Continental territory is marked down as «exploratory» territory. This means a territory where few dare to venture. Because of this there is no rescue system capable of responding the way our systems do in our countries. Our security is therefore our sole responsibility and entirely dependant on our ability to assess and adapt ourselves to the environment, our technical know-how and a good estimation of the terrain to cover as well as climatic conditions. It is our choice to make this exploration and we measure the potential risks it represents.

Should we have to call for rescue, Chileans would do anything to help us and possibly risk the lives of people who are not only untrained for these conditions but have no desire to be where we are. Because of this potential risk we have opted not to take a distress beacon with us outside marine areas.
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