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Best place to cross the Andes? Best place to cross the Andes?
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  #1  
Old 1 Feb 2008
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Question Best place to cross the Andes?
By now most of the regulars know that we are on a maxi-scooter and don't do well with mud. There are several places to cross the Andes in Chile, but which one has the best surface? We intend to be in Ushuia for the Christmas meeting and would like to stay on tarmac all the way down if we can. So far, most of what I have read indicates riders on bikes that can handle dirt, mud, sand, or gravel. We are okay with dusty roads and gravel, just have to slow down a lot, but mud--we just sink. Which road offers the best chance for us, Valpariso.Vina Del Mar, then south at Mendoza, or go on down to Temuco and cross or ??????

Thanks for suggestions

Joe
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Old 1 Feb 2008
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Originally Posted by Hindu1936 View Post
By now most of the regulars know that we are on a maxi-scooter and don't do well with mud. There are several places to cross the Andes in Chile, but which one has the best surface? We intend to be in Ushuia for the Christmas meeting and would like to stay on tarmac all the way down if we can. So far, most of what I have read indicates riders on bikes that can handle dirt, mud, sand, or gravel. We are okay with dusty roads and gravel, just have to slow down a lot, but mud--we just sink. Which road offers the best chance for us, Valpariso.Vina Del Mar, then south at Mendoza, or go on down to Temuco and cross or ??????

Thanks for suggestions

Joe
I crossed a few weeks ago at Paso de Pino Hachado, after turning east off the PanAm at Victoria, Chile. Good pavement all the way, until the top of the pass at the actual border. About 4km of GOOD hardbased gravel down to the control point, then pavement again. I'm not a lover of gravel, but it was easy. Just take it carefully.

This crossing brings you out into Argentina near Zapala, from where you can go north, east or south as you wish.
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Old 1 Feb 2008
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..The best pass is Puente del Inca.. all pavement.. only problem is the favorite for every single truck.. too much traffic! But view is heartbreaking whit aconcagua mount in sign...
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Old 1 Feb 2008
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The pass between Osorno, Chile and Bariloche is paved the whole way. Only problem there is that you have to do a lot of Hwy 5 (PanAm Hwy) down through Chile. But on the plus side, you pass through much of the Lake District in Chile, and come out in a truly great area of Argentina. If you do Mendoza (Puente del Inca) you still have a lot of desert like country to pass through to get to Bariloche - and there's a stretch of Ruta 40 that isn't really paved. (it was paved, but that was long ago).
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Old 2 Feb 2008
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Talking
Thanks all. I am working 30 hours a week teaching privates (forced into retirement because of madatory retirement age) to put together the last few shekels needed for the long awaited RTW. Moved to a cheap apartment close to town into a very small complex of only 5 buildings. Still, there are 800 families so it wasn't hard to find 30 students. Nice is that I don't have to drive or ride anywhere to teach. The day is coming! More than 40 years of working, putting kids through college, etc., and now if I only don't get another goround with "C" or have a heart attack, we are on our way the end of this year. I hope to meet some of you who have so generously answered some of my idiot questions, and given me such good tips and advice. Oh, it's not over by any means. As time approaches I will likely be asking many more.

Thanks again.

Joe
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