Piuquenes Pass (Andes Crossing)

Following the historic path used by the Army of the Andes in 1817, this 6-day trans-Andean expedition traverses the central cordillera from Mendoza, Argentina, to the Cajón del Maipo in Chile. The route crosses two significant high-altitude barriers—Portillo Argentino (4,330m) and Paso Piuquenes (4,030m). Hikers move through a high desert landscape of volcanic rock, vast glacial valleys, and the powerful Tunuyán River. The terrain consists primarily of rocky mountain paths, loose scree on the steeper pass approaches, and high-altitude plateaus where exposure to wind and sun is constant.

The GR70, universally known as the Stevenson Trail, traces the historic 1878 journey of Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson and his donkey, Modestine. This 270km linear hike begins in the volcanic hills of the Haute-Loire, crosses the granite plateau of Mont Lozère, and descends through the forested valleys of the Cévennes National Park to finish in the Gard. It is a premier literary trail passing through ancient chestnut forests and traditional stone villages of the Massif Central. Note: Compiled from public sources — not a field report.