Patagonia Adventure Expeditions
Patagonia Adventure Expeditions was created on the
banks of the Baker river in the tiny village of Puerto Bertrand. Jonathan
Leidich, after climbing on the northern ice cap, decided he needed
to find a way of staying here. With a recent history of river guiding
in Colorado and the chance to study in Santiago, Jon decided a small
rafting company doing half day trips on the Baker would be the ideal
way to finance his summers in Patagonia. Jon teamed up with Andrés
Pincheira, a young lawyer from Punta Arenas who put together the legal
side of the company. A rapid but organic metamorphosis took place which
led, 4 years later, to a more extensive infrastructure being necessary
in order to provide the level of service and support that the complicated
logistics of the companies new growth area – multi
day expeditions- required. At this point, in 1999, Ian Farmer came
on board. After directing Chile´s Centro de Educación
al Aire Libre (CEAL outdoor education centre) for the previous 6 years,
Ian had moved to Patagonia. Jon and Ian had previously coloborated
on a number of expedition projects so the decission to work together
and combine talents was easily taken.
The Coyhaique office was opened in 2000. It is from here that the companies are
managed. All comunication goes through this office and expedition planning, logistical
arrangements and ground operations of all expeditions are coordinated from here.
In summer time we also offer a series of single day, guided activities in the
surrounding hills and on local rivers and provide an extensive information service
for adventurous travellers.
The majority of expedition groups go through our office in Puerto Bertrand en-route
to the mountains and valleys surrounding the northern ice cap. This office serves
as the focal centre for guiding, expedition preparation and the hub of group
programs. Our house, with garden and excellent kitchen and food serve as a central
meeting point and information centre for hikers, bikers and boaters as well as
our expedition guests and a good part of the summer visitors to the town who
arrive specifically to raft with us on the rio Baker.
It is from Puerto Bertrand that we are working most directly on our biggest project
to date, the Aysen Glacier Trail. This incredible Hut to Hut trail begins in
Puerto Bertrand where 40% of the local work force are currently involved in construction
work on the trail.
Work on the trail began in 2003 when, with the help of PatagoniaAysen, a government
sponsored devolpment program of CORFO, we completed the feasibility studies for
the Aysen Glacier Trail. A year later we began the building work of cutting trail,
developing hut sites and installing infrastructure. The aim is to provide the
best hut to hut hiking circuit in Patagonia.
The partners of the company are:
Jonathan Leidich: Born and raised in Colorado, 30 years old, lives between Colorado
and Patagonia.
Andrés Pincheira: Born and raised in Punta Arenas, 30 years old, lawyer
practicing in Coyhaique.
Jim Leidich: Jon`s father, lives in New Mexico, now retired.
Ian Farmer: Originally from England, 39 years old and lives in Coyhaique.
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