Cambios

When we started investigating the GPT we had no pre-experience with packrafting or kayaking; we were complete novices. Looking now back I would probably have taken some packrafting or kayak lessons, just to get some practice and a better feel for such a water activity. Lacking While we lacked experience at the beginning we were quite very careful even with small rapids and did not paddle larger lakes in the first two years. But we grew with every river and lake that we paddledand gained slowly confidence.

What is essential when packrafting is knowledge and respect of the hazards of water and good judgment. Great care must be taken to leave a river latest at the last recommended exit point because fatal mortal rapids are often downstream even if you don’t see or hear them at the last exit point. Rivers Streams change constantly with rising and falling water levels, rivers bed change riverbeds alter over time and the weather in Patagonia is volatile. The fact that someone took a particular water route before does not mean at all that it is save anytime later. Therefore the track file for GPS is only an approximate guide and each packrafter needs to assess the situation himself; i.e. judge wind, waves and weather before attempting a lake or fjord crossing or scout a river rapid to decide if to paddle through or walk porter around.

Before attempting to hike on the GPT evaluate careful what sections to hike choose and if carrying a packraft or not. For this you need to study in detail the [[#Section Evaluation and Trail Type Composition Charts|sections evaluation and trail type composition]] to make smart choice that fits your capabilities and expectations.