The Last Wild Trail
“We humans are inherently explorers. Everywhere and at all times we are looking to expand the limits and follow our craziest thoughts, which are usually related to the things we love and enjoy the most doing”. It has always been a dream of mankind to discover the hidden gems, the secret places, buried in the furthest corners of the world. One of these wild destinations is called Patagonia. Generally speaking, the name Patagonia instantly brings pictures of features like Cerro Torre, The Fitz Roy or Torres del Paine but this “area” is much more than just those iconic sectors. To be precise, Patagonia is about 2500 km in length and most of this distance is either inaccessible or just unknown. We want to change that. This is our invitation letter to you, to your brand, to come with us and reach the end of the world to find “The Last Wlild Trail”.
My name is Andrés Beregovich and, if you’re reading this page, means that you have an adventurous spirit and your inner explorer is already curious. Among other things, I’m a sport & and adventure photographer for brands like: Goal Zero, Millet and The DAV. I’m originally from Chile and most of the times; my country is a synonym of something far and unknown (a rare condition these days). Although every year –more and more- people travel to some of the best destinations in the country, the majority of what makes this place absolutely majestic remains in the shadows and only some locals -with appropriate knowledgeget to enjoy it.
wheels before, developing an outstanding journey through Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, all the way to Cape Horn, where we will make the first ride around one of the islands at the southernmost area of the continent. The journey is to be documented –charging all on solar power- and transformed into a short film (Blog, Instagram, Facebook posts, etc.) as we cruise half of the country, hitting the best and most impressive places for this discipline, starting at the capital and ending with our bike frames, facing towards the mythical and feared waters of the Drake Passage.
This idea was instantly accepted and triggered a chain of events, leading us to this precise moment, where the time has come for us to hand pick a group of As a Mountain Bike [Enduro] Enthusiast, few months committed brands to join us, giving us the final support ago, I came to the people of Goal Zero (whit whom I to make this happen and be part of this incredible and share similar passions) with the dream of setting our dreamy adventure. wheels where no other person has ever set a pair of
The Adventure
Why Enduro?
Because is one of the hardest disciplines in the mountain bike world. Also, because this format adapts the best to the purpose of our travel, where will combine special stages along with long distance sections, allowing us to show the incredible variety of conditions the country has to offer, without thinking that our bikes might not be suitable for some terrains. We need versatility and Enduro calls exactly for that. Several experts in this category and others call Chile a paradise for mountain biking. This condition has been given based on 10% of the places one could ride along the country, and Patagonia... well, Patagonia is just a paradise on its own, and that is reason enough, but, on the other hand we have locals in our team (including me) with an extensive knowledge of this gorgeous area, which will help us unveil its secrets.
Chile is synonym of far and unknown, so, in order to better understand our adventure, the journey will be divided into different stages.
3rd Special Stage - Corra Enduro track from the to a volcano through a mille monkeytail tree fo 2st Special Stage - Nevados de Chillรกn: Enduro track from the top of a volcano in a Ski resort.
1st Special Stage - La Parva: The longest Enduro - Downhill track in the world.
Distance Covered by Car Distance Covered by Bike Distance Covered by Boat
alco: op of enial orest
7th Stage - 150 km of trail ride from Torres del Paine National Park to Pto. Natales
4th Special Stage - Pucon: Last volcano trail and through the cold jungle.
10th Stage Cape Horn Ride 9th Stage Australis Ship
8th Enduro Stage 400 kmTierra del Fuego
5th Enduro Stage - 1200 km of trail ride through the “Austral Road�.
6th Enduro Stage Torres del Paine 350 km
11th Stage - Navigation by ferry through the Patagonian Fjords using Navimag.
The Places
Aiming for uniqueness
Some of the places we intend to visit have perfect conditions for the practice of this sport, some others; have never seen a bike before (that’s why some images only show nature). Above all, we will ride in stunning environments, hidden trails surrounded by hanging glaciers and waterfalls. Our journey will combine the best nature has to offer as we cruise through wild and virgin paths as much as properly groomed areas where biking is just a pleasure. Our ultimate goal is to reach the southernmost piece of land in South America: Cape Horn and -if the weather allows- be able to ride where no one else has.
Sunset view of the Cape and the Lighthouse of the end of the world.
1st Stage - La Parva
Longest Downhill In The World
La Parva is well known as a ski center close to the city of Santiago. Its quality slopes and winter during the winter have -for decades- provided astonishing conditions for the practice of white sports. However, with the rise of the mountain bike culture and the opportunity of keeping the lifts open during summer season, La Parva has become a mandatory experience to those who enjoy enduro and downhill. On the beginning of 2015 a group of motivated riders developed the longest trail this sport has ever seen. Then, what better way to start out journey than shredding this course under perfect conditions?
2nd Stage - Nevados de Chillan
The Volcano
As we progress further into the south of the country, vegetation changes, the landscape becomes more green and we leave behind the high altitude trails we will find at 3000m to hit the slopes of our first volcano ride. Nevados the Chillan offers quality trails amidst the Chillรกn volcano ski center. Going fast from the top of the massif to the bottom through the native forest. Home of the enduro-world cup, Chillรกn will only raise the level of our trip, preparing us for what is coming.
3nd Stage - Corralco
The Ancient Forest
Foggy mystique, with trees that grow bigger than 50m, Corralco is a unique place. Narrow trails and passages through an endemic forest will provide a spectacular scenario, crowned by another volcano. Deep in the AraucanĂa region, this area hold one of the most beautiful environments in the country. With access to hundreds of kilometers of trails left by cattle movement, we know one or two secrets about this area that will absolutely blow your mind.
4th Stage - Pucón
The Ruka Pillán
Pucón is one of Chile’s most active cities when it comes to outdoor tourism. There are good reasons for it. Incredible cold jungle, waterfalls and volcanoes surround this mesmerizing place, but it also holds an intricate network of trails through the jungle that only locals know. We intend to explore those trails leading up the Villarica volcano (Ruka Pillán) and drop off one beautiful downhill line following the conic shape of this recently -very much alive- erupted monster.
5th Stage - The Austral Road
The Road to the Clouds
The Austral Road (Route 7) is the dream of many. This “highway” cost the life of several people in order to be constructed and it holds an incredible array of wonders along its 1200km. Thick jungle, steep mountains, hanging glaciers, pristine lakes and tiny -hidden- extremely remote towns decorate this capricious road towards the end of the continent. We will go its entire length from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins.
6th Stage - Torres del Paine
The World’s 8th Wonder
Torres del Paine has become one of the obligated places for every person to visit before dying. We posses a deep knowledge of this area, considering I have dedicated a few years of photographic work to this specific area. From unique landscape to the fact that we will ride on top of a glacier and to the base of the actual towers, we will document trails where tires have never been allowed.
7th Stage - Torres del Paine to Puerto Natalaes
The Milodon’s Road
Often overlooked, the road that connects the nearest town -Puerto Natales- and Torres del Paine offers a handful of wonders and beautiful corners. We will ride the trails that lead to the playing grounds of the Milodon (prehistoric creature) where we will stand inside ancient caves, shaped by the force of glaciers, thousands of years ago.
8th Stage - Tierra del Fuego
Darwin’s Range
Located at the very end of the Andes, Darwin’s range is mantled by more than 2.300 square kilometers of ice. Probably one of the most unexplored mountain groups in the planet, this portion of the country was recently named as Yendegaia National Park and it’s waiting to be explored!
9th Stage -Australis To Cape Horn
Australis To Cape Horn
In order to reach our final destination at Cape Horn, we will jump on board of the Australis Luxury Cruise. The vessel will take us to the final remote island and up to the beagle channel to explore glaciers, meeting the whales, sea wolves and penguins while carrying our bikes.
10th Stage -Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Known as the Island at the end of the world, Cape horn receives about 8.000 people per year -when the weather conditions allow to disembark- but has never seen bikes (as far as we know). Our intention is to reach this faraway place and land our two wheelers to make some incredible images in front of the Drake Passage.
11th Stage -Navimag Going Home
The Fjords
It’s time to go home, but it is also time to finish strong! Therefore, we will jump onto the Navimag ferry, to cross the Patagonian fjords fro some spectacular views and some much needed time to rest and organize the information and material we have made from this incredible adventure.
What we offer
We want your brand to be part of this unique journey, but also, we want your brand to get some great perks out of it. So, our offer to join us comes with the followiing prizes. Your brand will get:
- Exposure to our current network of 210.000 contacts + the contacts of your brand and the entire group of brands that will come on board for the completion of the project. (final reach number will be communicated as soon as ll the needed brands are on board)
- Access to exclusive HI-DEFINITION (Photos and Video) material developed by image professionals involving your brand and its products.
- Your brand as sponsor on the final micro-documentary video made for the journey.
- Your brand as part of our live social feed (facebook, twitter and instagram).
- Distribution rights over the material of your products for your brand to use.
- Report and review of your products in our official blog.
- The possibility of sending people of your brand along with us!
What we need
As a Goal Zero initiative, most of the important things related to production and arrangements are covered, but in order to pull this off, we need the help of your brand, not necessarily in the shape of cash (although it helps), but in the shape of the much-needed products that your company produces. This fundamental equipment will accompany us along the whole travel providing us the tools to play safe and also to make the most of the adventure. Also, this will conform the opportunity for us to test the goods and shoot the material your brand will get in return. Aside from that, the commitment to spread the word and help us show the result of this endeavor, therefore, benefiting your brand and the rest of the brands included. We only allow the participation of non-conflictive brands and this is something to ensure that you can use the material freely and that we will develop it specifically for your brand. The proposed dates for this epic adventure: 5 February 2016 to 25 March 2016
Who’s onboard
Only a select group of visionary brands will be able to join us, we hope to count with your help.
Your Brand
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Ekko
Your Bike Brand Here!
www.ekkoimages.com