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{{Indexed}}[[category:KMZconTrack]]{{RutaForme
|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
|AltitudMedia=900
|Primer Autor=Jan Dudeck
|Imágen Principal=Greater_patagonian_trail.jpg
|ComentariosImagen=GPT16: [[Volcán Mocho]] on the background.
|KMLZ=GPT_Minimized_NOT_FOR_HIKING_AND_PACKRAFTING.kmz
|TipoDeMap=HYBRID|ComentariosMapa=GPT SAMPLE Minimized (NOT FOR HIKING AND PACKRAFTING){{colores|red|Trail.}}{{colores|blue|Packraft.}}{{colores|blue|Packraft.}}
}}
[[File:GPT01-P0115.jpg|thumb|500px|right|GPT06: The main route currently spans approximately 3'000 km volcanos Descabezado Grande and Cerro Azul with the entire route network including all options contains more than 15'000 km of tracksLaguna Caracol to their feet.Image: Jan Dudeck]] 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 expect. Especially if you have thru[[File:GPT08-hiked the famous long-distance trails in the US (i.eArriero. jpg|thumb|500px|GPT09: Arriero at the Appalachian Trail, base of the Pacific Crest Trail or the Continental Divide Trail) or if you walked on the European pilgrimage trails (iVulcano Antuco.e. the Camino de Santiago) then don't assume that the GPT will be a similar experience and that you are prepared for it. This region and this route network is unequal in nature. Some best practices and habits that are key for thruImage: Jan Dudeck]][[File:GPT06-hiking in the US would be foolish in Patagonia and other skills and aptitudes are essential to truly appreciate the Greater Patagonian TrailP0005. Since I started publishing the GPT I have seen around one hundred people attempting to walk major parts of the trail and I was jpg|thumb|500px|GPT11: Araucaria trees in contact with many of the them. The majority was absolutely amazed by the land and the people and their experience on the trail. But some hikers quickly aborted or changed their plans and missed the best parts of the trail in consequence. Interestingly, these were partly experienced hikers and athletic walkersPehuenche homeland.Image: Jan Dudeck]] In the following section of this Hiker’s Manual I try to rectify potentially incorrect assumptions and outline the essentials for hiking and packrafting on this trail network[[File:GPT13-P0028. You should also watch the feature documentary “Unbounded” and read the publications of other hikers and packrafters to learn from the diverse experiences of others jpg|thumb|500px|GPT18: Cross Country walking on the Greater Patagonian Trailvolcanic ash at Cordon Caulle after recent eruption. <br style="clearFile:both" />==Introduction and General Information==Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT28-Rio_Palena.jpg|thumb|500px|GPT28: Packrafting the Río Palena. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT_Glaciar_O'Higgins.jpg|thumb|500px|GPT38: Glaciar O'Higgins coming down from the Southern Icefield. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
Piia Kortsalo and Oliver Barker: "We’re filled with incredible memories of our time on the GPT, and the landscape and culture of the Chilean Andes will stay with us forever. While hiking the GPT was an incredible experience for us, we don't imagine this as the right trail for everyone. The GPT is closer to an idea of a route than an established trail; hikers setting out expecting a well-organized, continuous, marked hiking trail will inevitably be disappointed. The GPT really is a route for a very specific sort of hiker, one who's as interested in natural history and cultural experience as they are in trail miles."
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==Information to the GPT==Security, Police and Borders====In the b
* 1 Introduction and General Information,
* 2 Terrain and Section Information and
* 3 Appendix and Indices.
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==The GPT Route Network=Dangers and Annoyances===[[File:GPT01-P0050.jpg|thumb|450px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 1: Poor trail condition. File: Jan Dudeck]][[File:GPT02-P0087.jpg|thumb|450px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 2: River Crossing. File: Jan Dudeck]][[File:GPT04-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]]
The Greater Patagonian Trail is not a hiking trail. Yes, you read correctly so let me repeat one more time: '''The GPT is not a hiking trail.'''
So, what is it then?
The GPT is an informal route network that consists mostly of trails, roads and cross-country routes that were not created with hikers in mind. Most of the trails were made by the local population to serve their purposes, e.g. to drive animals to summer pastures, to get to remote settlements and outposts or to extract wood from the forest. The routes that the GPT is composed of include:
On many of these trails a customary right-of-way applies but some routes cross private land and you often can’t distinguish the difference. Therefore, when you venture onto the GPT you are mostly an unexpected guest on trails that were not made for you, and you will trespass over private property. So be at least a respectful and friendly trespasser that can explain in Spanish what you are doing there.
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====Packrafting Including Exploration Options==The GPT Terrain: Greater Patagonia==
[[File:GPT Evaluation PPat_map.pngPNG|thumb|1050px400px|left|Greater Patagonian TrailLimits of Patagonia. Image: Section Evaluation (Packrafting including Exploration Options)[https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonia Wikipedia]]][[File:GPT Trail Type PHistoric_Map_Patagonia.pngjpg|thumb|1050px400px|left|Greater Patagonian TrailHistoric map of Patagonia. Image: Trail Type Composition (Packrafting including Exploration Options)]]<br style="clear[https:both" />/es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonia Wikipedia]]]
In contrast, when reaching Patagonia, get ready for frequent and enduring rain. Also, don'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 are surrounded by dense temperate rainforest in the west and a semi-desert-like Pampa in the east. These island-like mountains are separated by wide valleys that were carved by giant glaciers during past glacial periods. The wide valleys are now partly filled with lakes that drain their water in powerful rivers into the Patagonian fjords. Therefore, “real Patagonia” is best traveled by packraft because a packraft gets you on these lakes, rivers and fjords.
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==Section Information=={| class="wikitable"|- style="vertical-align[https:top;"! style="text//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thru-align: left;" " rowspan="2" | Section Name! style="texthiking Thru-align: left;" " rowspan="2" | Number! style="text-align: left;" " rowspan="2" | Best<br>Season! style="text-align: left;" | Hiking-<br>Only-<br>Option! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="2" | Packraft-Option! style="text-align: left;" " rowspan="2" | Additional Hiking Options! style="text-align: left;" " rowspan="2" | Villages and towns '''on ] the trail''' or ''near the finish'' for resupply|-! styleGPT="text-align: left;" | Direction<br>Options! style="text-align: left;" width="85" | Packraft<br>Usage! style="text-align: left;" | Direction<br>Options|-style="vertical-align:top;"| Volcán Descabezado| GPT01| Dec-Apr| South ↓| Side trips only| South ↓| Summit Descabezado, Hidden Lakes| ''On the way to the start: Santiago de Chile, Curicó, Molina <br> After section finish: San Clemente, Talca''|-style="vertical-align:top;"| Laguna Dial| GPT02| Dec-Apr| Any ↑↓| May be used| Any ↑↓| Laguna del Maule and El Troncoso, Laguna las Truchas| ''San Fabian, San Carlos, Chillán''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| Volcán Chillan| GPT03| Dec-Apr| Any ↑↓| Experts only| Any ↑↓| Summit Chillan Viejo, Laguna las Truchas, Rio Nuble and Las Aguilas, Eastern Side of Laguna de Las Lajas | ''Antuco, Los Angeles''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| Volcán Antuco| GPT04| Nov-May| Any ↑↓| Experts only| Any ↑↓| Summit Antuco, Around Antuco, Eastern Side of Laguna de Las Lajas| ''Ralco, Santa Bárbara, Los Angeles''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| Laguna El Barco| GPT05| Dec-Apr| Any ↑↓| Side trips only| Any ↑↓| -| ''Ralco, Santa Bárbara, Los Angeles''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| Guallali| GPT06| Dec-Apr| Any ↑↓| Not used| Any ↑↓| Summit Moncol| ''Lonquimay''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| Laguna Marinanqui| GPT07| Dec-Apr| Any ↑↓| Side trips only| Any ↑↓| Laguna Escondida and Laguna Verde| '''Liucura on the trail''', ''Lonquimay''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| Volcán Sollipulli| GPT08| Oct-May| Any ↑↓| May be used| Any ↑↓| Summit Sollipulli, Icalma| '''Icalma and Reigolil on the trail''', ''Curarrehue, Pucon'' |- style="vertical-align:top;"| Curarrehue| GPT09| Oct-May| Any ↑↓| Not used| Any ↑↓| Fundo Huililco | '''Curarrehue on the trail''', ''Pucon''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| Volcán Quetrupillan| GPT10| Dec-Apr| Any ↑↓| Side trips only| Any ↑↓| Summit Quetrupillan, Valle Termal| ''Liquiñe, Coñaripe, Pucon'' |- style="vertical-align:top;"| Liquiñe (Hiking)| GPT11H| Oct-May| Any ↑↓| May be used| Any ↑↓| -| '''Liquiñe and Puerto Fuy on the trail'''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| Neltume (Packraft)| GPT11P| Oct-May| -| Required| South↓| -| '''Neltume and Puerto Fuy on the trail'''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| Lago Pirihueico| GPT12| Nov-May| South↓| Beneficial| South↓| -| '''Chabranco on the trail''', ''Llifén, Futrono''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| Volcán Puyehue| GPT13| Dec-Apr| Any ↑↓| Beneficial| South↓| Summit Puyehue, Hot Spring| ''Entre Lagos, Osorno''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| Volcán Antillanca| GPT14| Dec-Apr| Any ↑↓| Not used | Any ↑↓| "La Plaza"| ''El Poncho, Puerto Rico, Panguipulli''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| Lago Todos Los Santos| GPT15| Oct-May| South↓| Experts only| South↓| -| '''Ralún and Cochamó on the trail''', ''Puerto Varas, Puerto Montt''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| Cochamó| GPT16| Oct-May| Any ↑↓| Beneficial| Any ↑↓| -| '''Llanada Grande on the trail''', ''Lago Puelo, El Bolson''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| PN Lago Puelo| GPT17| Dec-Apr| Any ↑↓| Beneficial| South↓| -| '''Villa Rivadavia on the trail'''|- style="vertical-align:top;"| PN Los Alerces| GPT18| Dec-Apr| Any ↑↓| Beneficial| South↓| -| '''Villa Futalaufquen on the trail'''|-|}
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.
'''From a thru-hiking perspective the GPT is less than a long-distance trail.''' There is no clearly defined and well-marked single trail to blaze along, there is no thru-hiking community to trail talk and there are no “trail angels” providing “trail magic”. On the GPT hikers have no domiciliary rights; they are just unexpected guests. Also, the packrafting options do not benefit thru-hiking as they do not make a traverse faster.
And what might be the biggest disappointment for some thru-hikers on the GPT: There is no trail community and thru-hikers do not receive any special admiration because nobody along the trail distinguishes between thru-hikers, section-hikers, day-hikers, or tourists in general.
'''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.
If you find Triple Crown Thru-Hikers more credible to speak about thru-hiking the GPT than read in the Hikers' Manual how Lauren Reed (Neon) and Christine Thürmer (German Tourist) experienced the GPT in comparison with the renowned US long distance trails. Lauren was the first hiker to walk the entire length of the GPT in two seasons together with Bethany Hughes (Fidgit).
Someone who wants to explore the entire length of GPT should split this adventure into various seasons. This also facilitates hiking lightly where a packraft would just be a burden and to packraft were the extra weight really pays off. Having more than one season also gives the extra time to take some of the more demanding but rewarding options.
There is one more reason why a thru-hike of the GPT in the literal sense is not viable. Thru-hiking means walking a complete long-distance trail with connecting footsteps from start to finish typically in one season. This is only possible on a well-defined trail with a set start and finish point. This simply does not apply to the GPT.
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[[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]]