Cambios

Hardly any of the trails of the GPT was made for hiking or especially prepared for hikers. This distinguishes this trail network from many other long distance trails. The Greater Patagonian Trail is composed out of existing routes that were mainly made by the local settlers to serve their purposes. This makes the GPT so authentic and diverse but also so inconsistent and challenging in parts.

'''Horse or Hiking <u>Trails</u> (TL)'''

When planning the Greater Patagonian Trail the first choice were the horse trails that traverse the remote valleys and mountain passes in the heart of the Andes close to the border between Chile and Argentina. Most of these trails are created and maintained by local herdsmen to drive livestock to their summer pastures and by settlers that live in the solitary of the Andes.

In the GPS file the tracks for such '''T'''rai'''l'''s have the two-letter-code '''TL'''.

The second choice were rarely traveled minor roads and two-track roads. Such minor roads typically provide access to isolated settlements or villages without attracting any transit traffic.

The two-letter-code for '''M'''inor '''R'''oads is '''MR'''.

In some areas the Greater Patagonian Trail crosses through open terrain without a visible trail. Some of these routes lead through steep and exposed terrain above the tree line but do not require technical climbing. These cross country routes often belong to the finest parts of the Greater Patagonian Trail because they provide access into barely visited areas high up in the Patagonian Andes with wide open views.

'''CC''' is the two-letter code for such open '''C'''ross '''C'''country tracks.

On a few shorter stretches you need to hike through overgrown terrain and do some bush bashing. In some parts this cannot be avoided because old unused trails became overgrown or simply no trail was ever made.

In the GPS file the tracks of such '''B'''ush '''B'''ashing in overgrown terrain have the two-letter-code '''BB'''.

Public roads with transit traffic were avoided wherever possible. On such primary and paved roads you may find some moderate traffic but they are safe to hike. If you do not insist in "connecting footsteps" you may try to hitch-hike on these primary roads. Some drivers will even stop without being asked and offer you a ride as this is part of the back-country culture in this region.

The two-letter-abbreviation for '''P'''rimary and paved '''R'''oads is '''PR'''.

There are several lakes along the route that cannot be walk around on a suitable hiking route. When thru-hiking the entire trail along the regular route in two or three hiking seasons than you need to cross 4 lakes by ferry and you require 4 boat transfers over rivers and lakes. So you cannot walk the entire length of the trail without any non-motorized travel.

'''FY''' is the two-letter-code for such '''F'''err'''y''' and boat transfer routes.

[[File:River_Packrafting.jpg|thumb|500px|River Packrafting on GPT23 on Río Carrenleufú. Image: Jan Dudeck]]

When you take the packraft route and the weather does not permit paddling then some but not all of these water sections can be bypassed on foot, by ferry or with private boat transfers. Therefore plan with additional reserves when taking the packraft route.

The incorporated river sections are mostly relative clam flat water floats and do not require serious white-water paddling. But along these rivers sections you may encounter some minor rapids. In most places you can land on a river beach before and either walk around the rapid or take them by packraft after inspecting them carefully. The longest river paddle section is on the Río Palena and permits you and unbroken 180 km water ride.

The two-letter-code for '''RI'''ver packrafting is '''RI'''.

Along the entire route are more than 50 lakes that can be packrafted. Some lake paddle sections are up to 25 km long. The majority of the lake crossings are oriented in the typical wind direction. We carry a sail that we open on lakes when we have favorable wind and we can recommend such a sail to every packrafter on the GPT. But if the wind is not with you then you may be forced to wait or take an alternative route therefore plan with sufficient reserves when taking the packraft route.

The two-letter-code for '''L'''a'''k'''e Packrafting is '''LK'''.

A few fjords in northern and central Patagonia are incorporated in the regular packraft route and can be paddled as part as optional side routes. Here you will depend highly on the wind and the tides and precaution is needed to not venture into the these water in adverse conditions.