Cristian Donoso

In 2007-2008, Cristian Donoso will lead an ambitious, five-month expedition to western Patagonia. His transpatagonia Expedition will cover 2,039km in a pristine and difficult environment. Canal Baker, Chile, 2006

Donoso and his team will travel mainly by sea kayak, a shallow, easy-to-manoeuvre craft. The expedition will demand rigorous physical, technical and mental preparations. Canal Baker, Chile, 2006

Chilean lawyer Cristian Donoso, an avid explorer of western Patagonia, has ventured into the region more than 30 times over the past 14 years. Canal Baker, Chile, 2006

Western Patagonia is bordered to the east by the peaks of the Andes. Donoso’s expedition will cross glaciers and ascend four summits that have never been explored. Lake General Carrera, Chile, 2006

Donoso hopes his expedition will gather new knowledge of western Patagonia that could contribute to its preservation and to the development of ecotourism in villages such as Tortel that border the region. Tortel, Chile, 2006

Donoso and his team will travel like the ancient, indigenous Kaweskars did, seeking out the few places on land where they can bivouac. Canal Baker, Chile, 2006

Travelling by sea kayak allows Donoso to enter the narrowest fjords and explore little-known areas that cannot be reached by any other craft. Canal Baker, Chile, 2006

Donoso will explore diverse and largely uncharted territory that has snow-covered peaks, rocky islands covered by dense vegetation, narrow channels of frigid water and icy fjords. Canal Baker, Chile, 2006

Donoso plans to study western Patagonia’s largely unknown environment and geology, and will collect fossils, soil and rock samples to be analysed by scientists. Canal Baker, Chile, 2006

Much of the time, western Patagonia is drenched by heavy rainfall and swept by hurricane-force winds. Donoso will face these harsh conditions for the five months. Canal Baker, Chile, 2006