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{{IndexadaIndexed}}[[category:KMZconTrack]]{{RutaForm2RutaForme
|Actividad=Trekking
|País=Argentina, Chile
|CiudadesArgentina=El Bolsón
|CiudadesChile=CuricóSantiago
|BellezaEscenica=Impresionante
|Atractivos=Vistas panorámicas, Glaciar, Bosque, Flora atractiva, Fauna atractiva, Lago, Laguna, Río, Fiordos, Formación Geológica, Cascada, Parque Nacional
|DuraciónDuracion=más de 90 días|Dificultad Física=Exigente|Dificultad Técnica=Alta
|Sendero=Tramos sin sendero
|Señalizacion=Insuficiente
|Infraestructura=Inexistente
|ComparteIdayRetorno=Cruce
|Latitud1=-38
|Longitud1=-73
|Distancia=30000003035000|MetrosAscenso=100000116000|MetrosDescenso=100000116000|Comentarios distancia=Regular Hiking Trail Route (Hiking-Only-Option and Packraft-Packrafting Option on landwithout Exploration Sections)|AltitudMedia=1000900
|Primer Autor=Jan Dudeck
|Imágen Principal=Greater_patagonian_trail.jpg
|ComentariosImagen=Greater Patagonian Trail Section GPT16. : [[Volcán Mocho]] on the background. |KMLZ=GPT01-40+70-78TracksGPT_Minimized_NOT_FOR_HIKING_AND_PACKRAFTING.kmz|ComentariosMapa={{colores|red|Regular Hiking Trail (Hiking-Only-Option and Packraft-Option on land)}}{{colores|magenta|Optional Hiking Trail i.e. climbs to summits, short cuts, exits and alterantive routes for investigation (all on land)}}{{colores|orange|[[#Trail Extensions|Proposed Hiking-Only Extension]] (Entire route on land, no packraft required)}}{{colores|cyan|[[#Trail Extensions|Proposed Extension for Packraft]] (Hiking parts of Packraft-Option on land in Cyan, Packraft Parts on Water in Blue)}}{{colores|blue|All Packraft Parts on Water (Regular Route, Optional Route and Proposed Extension for Packraft)}}|width=600|height=1800
|TipoDeMap=HYBRID
|ComentariosMapa=GPT SAMPLE Minimized (NOT FOR HIKING AND PACKRAFTING) {{colores|red|Trail.}}{{colores|blue|Packraft.}}{{colores|blue|Packraft.}}
}}
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==Introduction==Packrafting====[[File:River_Packrafting.jpg|thumb|500px|River Packrafting on GPT23 on Río Carrenleufú. Image: Jan Dudeck]][[File:Packraft_Sailing.jpg|thumb|500px|Packraft Sailing on GPT22 on Lago Las Rockas. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
The Greater Patagonian Trail (GPT) is a long-distance route network in the southern Andes that spans from the outskirts of Santiago all the way to southern Patagonia.
Continuing, you will dive into the twilight of lush green temperate rainforest lined by snow covered mountains. Numerous passes and high plains get you above the tree line into barren terrain with broad views. Crystal clear rivers descend from these mountains and feed deep blue lakes along the way. If you packraft you can paddle over lakes and float down rivers all the way into the Patagonian fjords where the Pacific Ocean hits the ragged coast.
Eventually you reach the Southern Patagonian Icefield, one of the world's largest extra-polar Icefields. Here giant rock towers stab into the sky and enormous glaciers calve colossal blocks of ice into wind battered lakes.
There are also various volcanoes and other summits along the route that can be ascended without rock climbing gear. I have also included optional tracks that get you literally into the last valley on the border between Chile and Argentina. These remote corners of the southern Andes are of particular interest to hikers that love to venture into remote back-country.
If this introduction quickened your appetite to explore this network of trails then don't stop reading here and don't pack your backpack yet. The GPT is quite different from what you might expect. Especially if you have thru-hiked the famous long-distance trails in the US (i.e. the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail or the Continental Divide Trail) or if you walked on the European pilgrimage trails (i.e. the Camino de Santiago) don't assume that the GPT will be a similar experience and that you are already prepared for it. This region and this route network is unequal in nature. Some best practices and habits that are important on established trails in the US and Europe would be foolish in Patagonia. Other skills and aptitudes are essential to truly appreciate the Greater Patagonian Trail.
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==Zones and Sections of Information to the GPT==
===The GPT SectionsFacebook Group===The current main trail is divided into 40 connecting sections. These 40 sections are between 36 km and 200 km long. Every of these section connects seamless with the following section and starts and ends near a road or village with public transportation. Therefore each section can be hiked individually or several sections can be combined into a longer journey with connecting footsteps.
The GPT Facebook Group is a communication platform for past, present and prospective GPT adventurers. Here all hikers can announce their intended plans, seek other hikers to form small groups, post brief summaries after completing a section or simply ask questions.
And what is more important: use the Facebook group to alert other hikers after running into a problem that may also affect others. Do this by first adding your description and suggestions to the relevant Wikiexplora GPT section article. Then either duplicate this information in the Facebook group or simply refer and link to your update in the Wikiexplora article.
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===Packrafting Including Exploration Options=The GPT Route Network==
[[File:GPT Evaluation PGPT36H-Ruta_de_los_Pioneros.pngjpg|thumb|1050px500px|left|Greater Patagonian TrailGPT36H: Poorly maintained historic horse trail "Ruta de los Pioneros". Image: Section Evaluation (Packrafting including Exploration Options)Jan Dudeck]][[File:GPT Trail Type PGPT16-Quetrupillan.pngjpg|thumb|1050px500px|left|Greater Patagonian TrailGPT16: Circling the volcano Quetrupillan with the volcano Villarica in the background. Image: Trail Type Distribution (Packrafting including Exploration Options)Jan Dudeck]]<br style="clear:both" />
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[[File:Pat_map.PNG|thumb|400px|Limits of Patagonia. Image: [https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonia Wikipedia]]]
[[File:Historic_Map_Patagonia.jpg|thumb|400px|Historic map of Patagonia. Image: [https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonia Wikipedia]]]
The GPT offers much more than this. The Greater Patagonian Trail is rather like a gourmet menu of different courses that allow you to experience the different tastes and textures of Patagonia. It connects the semi-desert of Precordillera with the Patagonian Icefields and the barren volcanos with the damp green rain forest.
The Greater Patagonian Trail crosses most of Patagonia and the adjacent regions to the north. For this reason I named the trail “Greater Patagonian Trail” when I started publishing in 2014. I coined the term "Greater Patagonia" to combine Patagonia in its traditional limits with the adjacent regions like "Greater London" includes the city of London and the surroundings.
The limits of Patagonia are somewhat blurry. This makes it impractical to state where exactly the GPT gets into Patagonia. If taking the administrative limits of Argentina, than you get in throwing range of Patagonia at the end of section GPT05 where you can look over the Argentinian border into the province Neuquén. But with a different understanding you enter Patagonia on section GPT13 where you ford the Río Biobío. Others argue that Patagonia starts with the Chilean administrative region XIV (Región de los Ríos) what makes section GPT16 the gateway into Patagonia. You can be certain to have reached Patagonia on section GPT22 where you arrive at the first Patagonian fjord: the Estuarió de Reloncaví.
In contrast, when reaching Patagonia, get ready for frequent and enduring rain. Also, don'''Laguna Mondaca''': I was recently advised t expect to walk high up in the mountains in the heartland of Patagonia as there is simply no continuously high mountain range. In Patagonia high mountains are rather like islands that a signpost was place at are surrounded by dense temperate rainforest in the pass between the Laguna Las Animas west and a semi-desert-like Pampa in the Laguna Mondaca denying access to the Laguna Mondacaeast. These island-like mountains are separated by wide valleys that were carved by giant glaciers during past glacial periods. If you want to avoid a discussion The wide valleys are now partly filled with an overeager guard at this lake you may take the short cut lakes that leads you directly to drain their water in powerful rivers into the hot springs “Termas de Asufre”Patagonian fjords. Otherwise Therefore, “real Patagonia” is best traveled by packraft because a packraft gets you may be asked to continue on the regular trail after having reached the lakethese lakes, rivers and fjords.
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==Dangers and Annoyances==[[Filehttps:GPT01-P0050//en.jpg|thumb|450px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 1: Poor trail conditionwikipedia. File: Jan Dudeck]][[File:GPT02org/wiki/Thru-P0087.jpg|thumb|450px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 2: River Crossing. File: Jan Dudeck]][[File:GPT04hiking Thru-P0039.jpg|thumb|450px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 4: Near Laguna de Las Lajas where 45 soldiers died in 2005 during a snow storm. File: Jan Dudeck]Hiking]the GPT==
'''This trail was not created to thru-hike Patagonia, it's a route network for immersion-hiking. The GPT does not get you through Patagonia but gets you deep into Patagonia.'''
With the 2021 extension the GPT spans about 5000 km in often difficult and slow terrain. This makes the GPT too long to be safely thru-hiked in one season . An experienced thru-hiker may disagree as 5000 km is just 15% longer than the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) but the varied and unpredictable terrain makes this comparison inadequate.
Therefore, I do not recommend attempting a thru-hike of the GPT. This focus would require rushing and taking less attractive short cuts, in example deviating from GPT to walk on main roads instead of following the trails. It inhibits slowing down to fully appreciate the land and share time with the people along the route. And more importantly, someone who tries to thru-hike the GPT in one season is forced to hike some sections off season. This results in unreasonable risks by attempting to cross torrential rivers and climbing to high elevations when fierce blizzards can kill. And remember, when walking these trails, you are just a guest on the land of others. Just the idea of racing through strangers’ backyards is regarded a rude in these remote regions.
'''For respectful explorers the GPT is much more than a long-distance trail.''' It’s a wide network of routes with many hiking options and packrafting in a diverse landscape. A unique blend of people lives along the trails making the hike more of a cultural experience. If approached with respect and interest, then these welcoming people will share much more than just the right-of-way regardless where you are coming from and where you are walking to. On this trail your willingness and capability to immerse yourself in this culture will be more relevant than the weight of your backpack.
Attempting to thru-hike the GPT is like trying to memorise every word of a book that is still in the making with the first drafts informally shared for peer reviews. It’s pretty pointless and assigns this evolving route network far too much authority. But this unfinished nature of the GPT makes it possible to investigate new routes and become co-authors of the GPT. This is a unique difference to established long-distance trails. You are not limited to just follow a given trail, but you can contribute to the GPT by adding your part to this unfinished story.
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==Other notable Long Distance Trails and HikesPackrafting the GPT=====Long Distance Trails=======[[Huella Andina]]====The [[Huella Andina]] is a long distance trail on the Argentine side of the Patagonian Andes with a combined total length of 564 km. This trail is a mostly signposted and marked hiking trail and substantially less demanding when compared with the Greater Patagonian Trail. The Huella Andina was developed considering that hiking novices may walk this trail. Therefore neither optimal equipment nor plenty of hiking experience are a precondition to take this route. The Huella Andina provides a resupply point at least on every second day. A GPS is not required to follow this trail. To the knowledge of the author of this article no full GPS record nor detailed hiking maps are published yet for the Huella Andina but trail descriptions are available on [http://www.wikiexplora.com/index.php/Huella_Andina Wikiexplora].
[[File:GPT_Fjord_Packrafting.jpg|thumb|500px|GPT28: Reaching the sea after paddling down the Río Palena. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
==Questions and Feedbacks==
If you read this article to this point then you should definitely download the [http://bit.ly/GPTguide Hikers’ Manual from Dropbox] now. Should you have questions that are not answered in the Hikers’ Manual than you may write the author an email. Also feedbacks are welcome.
Email of author: gpt.jan.dudeck@gmail.com
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{{Trekkings Chile}}
[[category:Greater Patagonian Trail]]
[[category:Parche Greater Patagonian Trail]]