Cambios

# '''Do you have some reasonable good conversational Spanish skills? ''' <br> Could you explain to a local resident in Spanish what you are doing there on his land and keep up in a more confrontational conversation if necessary?

# '''Do you have extensive Outdoor experience? ''' <br> Long distance hiking experience is not required but being competent in moving and living under the sky in different landscapes is crucial on this trail (tundra, forest, steppe, desert-like landscapes).

# '''Do you really look for a demanding unpredictable discovery hike? ''' <br> Can you deal with being unable to plan your trip in detail? Are you willing to backtrack if a route turns out impassible? If you have very specific expectations than this indicates that you probably don’t want to discover.

# '''Do you have at least six weeks in Chile and Argentina available? ''' <br> If you have less time available than taking some of the established hiking routes is more appropriate and effective to see several parts of Patagonia.

# '''Do you have a monthly budget of 1000 USD (or as bare minimum 800 USD) after having paid your gear and the airfare? ''' <br> Don’t undermine the cost of living in Chile and Argentina. With some cost saving strategies you may get along with a little less but 800 USD per month per person is the bare minimum.

You can opt for the more established trails in the national parks. Check out the available trekking guide books i.e. the "Lonely Planet Trekking in the Patagonian Andes" from Carolyn McCarthy. This is how I started and what inspired me years later was the foundation to investigate the GPTyears later.

# '''Do you want to hike a continuous part of the GPT with connecting footsteps or do you want to visit several selected sectionsseparated parts? ''' <br> For some hikers connecting footsteps are an essential concept and motivator to stay on track while others don’t mind to bridge a less attractive part by public transportation or hitchhiking. Choose what is appropriate for you. And please do not look down on others but respect individual choices. Hike your hike.

# '''Do you want to follow the regular route or will you attempt in some areas more remote investigation options? ''' <br> The answer to this question is really a matter of personal interest and capability. I have intentionally created the GPT as a wide network with as many options as feasible because I’m fully aware that my way of walking with my personal preferences is not everyone’s best choice. For hikes that are accustomed to follow a single trail this might be irritating but for such hikers the GPT is probably not right trail anyway. You will finally need to take these decisions on the trial but you need to get prepared before you leave. Therefore start your hike in Google Earth by looking at these options to make educated choices later on the trail. One hiker summarized this variety with these words: “The GPT is a mosaic out of which everyone needs to assemble his trail.”

# '''What sections do you want to hike or packraft? ''' <br> Select the sections that you plan to hike carefully. But don’t fill your plate with more than what you can reasonably eat. Get prepared and plan your route but leave it open end.

# '''When and for how long do you want to hike or packrafttravel on the GPT? ''' <br> Understand the suitable timing of the different sections and align your travel plans accordingly. Certain sections became passable relatively early in the season while others can only be hiked safely after most of the snow is molten and the river levels normalized. Don’t assume wrongly that you will face more restrictions in the south. It’s the opposite; the more mountainous northern sections have the smaller seasonal window while the generally lower southern section’s permit an earlier start or later finish even if the climate is generally more volatile in the south. If you have an entire season then plan sections for the end that are less restricted by the climate.

# '''In what direction do you want to travel? ''' <br> If you packraft than several key sections are only floatable southbound what determines the generally recommended packrafting orientation. But some optional packrafting routes can only be taken northbound. Verify your choices carefully otherwise you may reach a river that just flows in the “wrong” direction! If you are hiking you are freer to choose and change your direction of travel. Only at certain section you might run into permit and permission issue if have made a wrong choice.