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Greater Patagonian Trail

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|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
|Tipo de Extensión Imagen=jpg
|Imágen Principal=Greater_patagonian_trail.jpg
|ComentariosImagen=GPT16: [[Volcán Mocho]] on the background.
|m=https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1V2GeP8KRhSqxmYlheFtKN8nS_CXbuN6B
|KMLZ=GPT_Minimized_NOT_FOR_HIKING_AND_PACKRAFTING.kmz
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{{Table all GPTs}}
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. 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 on the Greater Patagonian Trail.
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==Introduction and General Information==
[[File:GPT28-Rio_Palena.jpg|thumb|500px|GPT28: Packrafting the Río Palena. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
====The Feature Film “Unbounded”====
In the hiking season 2016/17 four novice hikers from North America and Europe walked parts of GPT to create a travel documen¬tary. The result of this endeavour is the 74-minute feature docu¬mentary “Unbounded” by Garrett Martin. This work of art displays fascinating impressions from the trail and highlights their cultural experience with the settlers and the natives along the route.   I highly recommend watching this film to all prospective hikers as part of their preparation. You can download or stream this film from [https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/unbounded/id1371038057?mt=6&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 iTunes], [https://www.amazon.com/Unbounded-Garrett-Martin/dp/B07C26DK8L/%3Ftag%3Dfire-knd-20 Amazon] or [https://vimeo.com/ondemand/unbounded Vimeo]. This film focuses on the individual experience of these four hikers and does not aim to provide a comprehensive introduction to the GPT. Starting under-prepared and over-loaded they learned their lessons and gradually adopted to this challenging trail network. To draw the right conclusions for your hike read my comments to this film either before or better after watching.
====Publications to the GPT by other Hikers and Packrafters====
===Understanding the Terrain===
If you are considering exploring the Greater Patagonian Trail and wish to enjoy the experience, you must be open to experiencing the unknown diversity of this region.   If your expectation of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonia Patagonia] is based on a brief Google search and a few articles about Patagonia than you probably have seen primarily these three heavily hyped tourist magnets:
* the national park Torres del Paine
* the surrounding of El Chalten with Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.
These are three truly amazing spots on the eastern edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and are internationally known highlights of Patagonia. But these three frequently pictured attractions do not represent the Patagonian variety. If your primary interest is visiting the heavily trod, famous places of Patagonia then stick to the national parks and bus in between.  Don't assume that the Greater Patagonian Trail is more of the same. Only towards the finish, near the southern ends in El Chalten and on the last three sections (GPT38, GPT39 and GPT40) will you walk through this kind landscape of glaciers and skyscraper mountains.  The GPT is much more than this. The Greater Patagonian Trail is rather rather like a gourmet menu of different courses that allow you to experience different tastes and textures. The menu contains some world famous dishes, but mainly courses of unknown exotic ingredients in unexpected combinations. So this gourmet menu is nothing for someone who just wants to eat a burger or a steak. 
====Limits of Patagonia====
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 publish¬ing it 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 as fuzzy as the imaginations of many when they hear “Pata¬gonia”. There are some core ideas that most people connect with “Patagonia” like vast¬ness, wilderness and solitude but few have precise knowledge.
So are the limits of this region and this makes it impractical to state where the GPT actually gets into Patagonia. If taking the administrative limits of Argentina than you gets in casting distance of Patagonia at the end of section GPT05 where you can view for the first time over the border into Argentina into the province Neuquén. But with a different understanding you enter Patagonia on section GPT13 where you ford the Río Biobío or on section GPT16 where you walk into the Chilean administrative region XIV (Región de los Ríos). You can be certain to have reached Patagonia on section GPT22 where you arrive at the first Patagonian fjord: the Estuarió de Reloncaví. For more information to this subject see [#Remark to the Limits of Patagonia|Remark to the Limits of Patagonia] in the Appendix.
For me this discussion about the limits of Patagonia is irrelevant as long as I can walk and paddle through pristine and varied terrain. Actually the little known region north of Patagonia is for me the one most attractive for hiking. Here you walk more distance high up in the mountains with broad views, here you find the more attractive trails and cross country routes and here you meet the arrieros and native Pehuenche people. Also the climate is more favorable for hiking. During summer rain is infrequent and short and you can mostly enjoy sunny weather.  In contrast when reaching "real Patagonia" get ready for frequent and enduring rain. Also don't expect to walk high up in the mountains as there are simply no continuously high mountain ranges. In Patagonia high mountains are rather like islands that rise out of a wild sea of dense tempered rain forest. These island-like mountains are separated by wide valleys that were carved by giant glaciers during past glacial periods.  Therefore "real Patagonia" is best traveled by packraft. You find more to this subject in chapter [#Packrafting on the GPT|Packrafting on the GPT].
====Diversity of Greater Patagonia====
'''GPT05 to GPT12: From latitude 35° S to 39° S'''
 
South of Curicó the Andes drop in altitude but remain a continuous high mountain range. Summits rarely exceed 4000 m but most passes are still above 2000 m. Here the Andes are much more suitable for hiking. Therefore the trail follows the main mountain range close to the continental divide. Also here the continental divide constitute the border between Chile and Argentina so the trail is mostly close to the international limit but remains on the Chilean side. In this area a large number of route options provide many hiking choices. You can often opt between lower trails and higher more demanding routes that get you in very remote areas of the Andes. Climate during summer is still quite hot and dry but provides sufficient precipitation to maintain a relatively open forest in the valleys. In spring while the snow is melting torrential rivers make this area nearly impassable.
 
'''GPT13 to GPT40: South of latitude 39° S'''
 
South of Temuco you do not find any more a continuous high mountain chain. Numerous valleys and depressions break partly deep breaches into the main mountains range creating natural low passes between Chile and Argentina. These depressions and valleys were created by immense glaciers during past ice ages and remain partly filled by lakes. Many of these breaches are lower than 1000 m, some are just 200 m above sea level.
These deep gaps in the cordillera (Spanish for mountain range) shift the continental divide in some areas far to the east and cause a partly significant offset between the main mountain range and the continent divide. This offset was one reason for more than a century of border disputes between Chile and Argentina that are still not fully resolved.
The mountains of the Patagonian Andes are like large islands that are separated by these "channels" of lowland. The higher summits reach mostly an altitude of 2000 m to 3000 m. Only few peeks exceed the 3000 m mark. Below the tree line frequent rain maintains a very dense, nearly impenetrable, forest that is also called Valdivian temperate rain forest. Due to this geography the GPT goes up and down between the depressions and the island-like mountains and provides a very attractive and varied hiking at least to the finish of section GPT22. Here having a packraft becomes very beneficial in particular from section GPT17P to GPT39 where you can use your inflatable boat on 40% of the distance.
'''GPT22 to GPT40: South of latitude 41° 30’ S'''
 
South of Puerto Montt the Chilean Central Valley "sinks" below sea level and the Patagonian fjords begin. These fjords and channels form a vast network of waterways with countless islands and peninsulas. In this rugged region hardly any road or trail was built along the coast. The mountains rise directly out of the sea and rarely leave sufficient suitable space for a land connection and the impenetrable tempered rain forest amplifies this challenge.
In this region of Chile even the most important road; the Carretera Austral; has a 50 km wide gap that can only be crossed by ferry. There is not even a horse trail or a foot path that bridges this gap; just impenetrable dense forest and cragged mountains. Here most land routes are further inland in the valleys and depressions that cut through the Patagonian Andes. Due to this geography the GPT crosses on section GPT22 into Argentina and does not return to Chile until section GPT26. Only passionate and highly experienced packrafters may try the very challenging investigation routes GPT30P, GPT76P and GPT77P that provide a water connection through the fjords and channels on the Chilean side. In Central Patagonia in particular from GPT28H to GPT31H hiking is less attractive because several historic horse trails have been upgraded to dirt roads. But packrafting in this area is just stunning. Here you can paddle over crystal clear mountain lakes and float down long mostly calm rivers with impressive mountains on either side of your inflatable raft until reaching on these rivers the Patagonian fjords.
'''GPT35 to GPT40: South of latitude 46° 30’ S'''
 At the latitude of Lago General Carrera and south of it are two large ice fields, the Northern Patagonian Ice Field and the Southern Patagonian Ice Fields. Here ice completely fills the depressions between the island-like mountains to an altitude of about 1500 m. These are the two remnant parts of the much larger Patagonian Ice Sheet that covered most of Patagonia during previous ice ages.  In this area the GPT guides you first though the mountains about 100 km east of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field. Here you can opt between attractive hiking and attractive packrafting routes but weather is volatile and distances between settlements are substantial. Towards the current southern terminus of the GPT you reach the eastern edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field what makes an impressive finish. From GPT38 to GPT40 you can walk and paddle through a rough wind battered land full of milky glacier lakes that get constantly refilled by immense streams of ice that flows from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
===Future Extensions of the GPT===
====Northbound====
Santiago de Chile is a suitable northern start (or finish) point and I’m not contemplating a further northern extension. The last metro/subway station Puente Alto provides an easy access and minimizes walking through an overcrowded mega-city. Santiago de Chile as the northern terminus is the point that provides the best possible contrast to the southern terminus of the GPT. It’s from metropolis to the back of beyond; it’s from semi-desert to ice fields.
 
I leave it to others to create a new trail that may start in Santiago and explores the Andes northbound. The Precordillera in the vicinity of Santiago offers some very attractive trails. There are even passes to cross the Andes from Chile into Argentina but creating a longer northbound trail that starts at Santiago or on a similar latitude in Argentina seems a bigger challenge than creating the GPT; at least if based on the same principles that I applied to the GPT: feasible and attractive for hiking and minimal road walking on routes with transit traffic. North of Santiago the Andes are very high and you either need to climb into really thin air and rocky terrain or you evade to the east or the west into the deserts on either side of the Andes. In my research I could simply not find similar suitable trails and the existing gravel roads are no option for me. North of Santiago water deficiency becomes an enormous challenge. Therefore most hikers that set themselves the goal to cross Chile or Argentina took primarily roads and this is what cautions me. But the challenge is out. You may go for it!
====Southbound====
The southern terminus of the GPT stands at the shore of Lago Viedma on the eastern edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. There are attractive and suitable trails and packraft routes south of Lago Viedma but there are three logistical challenges that currently impede a feasible and continuous southern extension of the GPT without significant road walking:
 
* There is no ferry service over Lago Viedma. This lake is also far too wind-exposed and therefore to my current knowledge too dangerous to be packrafted.
Overcoming these challenges is not impossible but attempting a continuous southbound extension makes out of an already very challenging long distance hike a bureaucratic and probably quite expensive expedition. An alternative is giving up continuity and bus around these obstacles without connecting footsteps.
I have an approximate route in my mind and I already reserved section numbers (GPT41 to GPT50) for this southbound extension to the most southern continental point of Americas: Cabo Froward. An extension of the GPT to Tierra del Fuego and Isla Navarino is also under consideration but crossing Tierra del Fuego will probably require substantial road walking.  But for now this southbound extension is not on the top of my agenda. Before personally focusing on it I wish to consolidate the GPT between Santiago and Lago Viedma by investigating relevant optional routes and updating the trail documentation.
===Become a Contributor to the GPT===
===Packrafting on the GPT===
When I started planning my first long hike through Patagonia in 2013 I could not find a continuous hiking route south of Coñaripe (GPT16) because dense forest hides most of the trails on satellite images. But I could see calm rivers and lakes that bridged the gaps and wondered if there exists a light enough boat to be carried in a backpack to traverse these waters. I googled and found the packraft. This is the cause for all the packrafting options of the GPT: insufficient planning information. It was not until after our first hike that I could add additional hiking routes that render a packraft expendable but not less beneficial.
 
In retrospect I’m so happy that I had such insufficient planning information at that time. Otherwise I would probably not have discovered the packraft as the ideal hiking partner for Patagonia. A packraft does not carry only your backpack but it carries you! What matters in this “partnership” is a good balance; you don’t want to carry your packraft most of the time but benefit from it as much as possible. And this is the case on sections GPT17 to GPT39. Here the packraft carries you on up to 40% of the distance and this makes it a brilliant deal. Further north on sections GPT01 to GPT16 a packraft is more burden than benefit and I would only recommend packrafting if you specifically plan to explore a certain lake and the surrounding area.
When packrafting on lakes and rivers we normally do not exceed hiking speed so the packraft does not make us faster. In contrast, all the packing and unpacking and the extra weight slows us down. But speed is not our objective. What we seek is diversity and a packraft opens up some of the most epic routes through Patagonia.
The required packrafting gear adds about 5 kg to a solo hiker’s pack or 4 kg if shared in between two. You need a boat, paddles, a dry suite, a PFD (personal flotation devise), an inflation bag and repair gear. A sail is optional. For an ultra-light hiker this is an unimaginable extra weight but if considering that the backpack weight drops on 40% of the distance to zero then this extra weight on 60% of the distance is a fair deal.  What you need when packrafting is a dry suite; not only for comfort but as a life insurance. In Patagonia weather is volatile and water temperatures are normally low. Hypothermia can cause complete exhaustion and unconsciousness in less then 15 minutes if you get into a glacier lake with a water temperature at the freezing point. A dry suite can help protecting you in such situations. We were several times surprised by heavy wind, rain and even snow during lake crossings and the dry suite was our layer of defense till we reached a suitable landing shore. Without a dry suite your body temperature drops in minutes in such an adverse situation and with this you loose your capability to act properly. Chill makes dumb and numb and transforms you into silly zombie regardless how experienced and prudent you are at normal "operation temperature".
The extra weight of a dry suite is not that much if you replace your normal rain gear with it. And a dry suite is so much better than any rain gear, also when hiking. It keeps you completely dry and warm even when fording glacier rivers. No rain gear does this. When we need to walk in cold rain or snow we put on our dry suite and we don't take it off until we have cooked our dinner and can slide in our sleeping bag or quilt.
If I can choose on a rainy day between hiking or packrafting than I do not need a blink of an eye to make my choice. Sitting in my boat protected by my dry suite make out of a nasty rainy day an enjoyable day on the water. Without a backpack on my back and with only moderate exertion I’m not sweating nor freezing, provided that I wear appropriate cloth below my dry suite. Protected with proper gloves and a cap only the face is exposed to the elements. What stops us packrafting is only too strong wind, but not rain.
 
When we started investigating the GPT we had no pre-experience with packrafting or kayaking; we were complete novices. Looking back now I would probably have taken some packrafting or kayak lessons, just to get some practice and a better feel for such a water activity. While we lacked experience at the beginning we were very careful even with small rapids and did not paddle larger lakes. But we grew with every river and lake and 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 mortal rapids are often downstream even if you don’t see or hear them at the last exit point. Streams change constantly with rising and falling water levels, riverbeds alter over time and the weather in Patagonia is volatile. The fact that someone took a particular water route before does not mean that it is safe 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 or porter around.
Packrafting gear is not cheap. If you don't have it expect to spend at least 2000 EUR or USD to buy the full set. That's a considerable investment but it's a lasting one if you treat it with care. Before attempting to hike on the GPT evaluate careful what sections to travel and if carrying a packraft or not. For this you need to study in detail the sections evaluation and trail type composition to make a smart choice that fits your capabilities and expectations. Thanks to the length of the GPT it is easy to fill an entire hiking season either with pure hiking or with a balanced combination of packrafting and hiking.
===Understanding the Host Nations===
[[File:Bethany_and_Lauren.jpg|thumb|500px|GPT13: Bethany and Lauren with the Pehuenche family of Olga and Geronimo near Icalma. Image: www.her-odyssey.org]]
====Bethany Hughes and Lauren Reed====
*Hiked: Ushuaia to Uyuni (Bolivia) and still going ... *Hiked on the GPT: Northbound GPT39 to GPT01 (other routes instead of GPT26, GPT22 to GPT20) *Packrafting: No *Link: [https://her-odyssey.org her-odyssey.org]
Bethany and Lauren are on their way to traverse the length of the Americas by non-motorized means to connect stories of the land and its inhabitants. They started in December 2015 in Ushuaia on the southern tip of the continent and were the first to walk the entire length of the GPT. We got in touch before they commenced their endeavor and while they walked northbound I developed the trail southbound. This resulted in a very fertile exchange of ideas and routes. Bethany and Lauren “gound-truthed” and recorded several of the hiking sections of the GPT in central Patagonia based on my drafts. This was a very important support since I traveled with my wife primarily the packraft options in central Patagonia. The following year, around October 2016, they asked me for my advice how to continue their journey north which led me to develop the fife northern section of the GPT extending the trail all the way to Santiago. Independently from Gerald Klamer they investigated and recorded these fife sections in the Precordillera (GPT01 to GPT05).
I’m deeply grateful for their contributions. They did not only provide important GPS records to get the tracks updated. Both were essential to get the message to prospective hikers right on how to approach this trail. Bethany and Lauren continue to support me in updating this wikiexplora article. I strongly recommend to read first Bethany's general advise to the GPT: [https://her-odyssey.org/2016/12/26/so-you-wanna-hike-the-gpt/ Blog: so-you-wanna-hike-the-GPT] . In addition you should read the blogs of Bethany and Lauren to the sections that you are planning to walk. Just browse their blogs to find what is relevant for you: [https://her-odyssey.org/blog/ Blog of her-odyssey.org]
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====Gerald Klamer====
*Hiked on the GPT: Southbound all sections from GPT01 to GPT11 *Packrafting: No *Link: [http://geraldtrekkt.blogspot.it/2017/04/greater-patagonian-trail-1-santiago-coya.html geraldtrekkt on blogspot]
Gerald is a highly experienced hiker who walked in many remote areas around the world. He learned about this trail though a common friend (Christine Thürmer, the German author of the book “Laufen, Essen, Schlafen”). When we got in touch I told him about the newly drafted but unverified fife northern sections (GPT01 to GPT05). He loved the idea to be the first to investigate and record them and so he did! When he reached the already verified part of the GPT he did not continue on the “path of least resistance” by following the already well documented regular route but instead he kept investigating and recording the more remote and mountainous options that I drafted mainly based on satellite images and descriptions from local arrieros. He liked it so much that he now prepares the continuation of his hike on the GPT in the coming season.
[[File:Piia_and_Oliver.jpg|thumb|500px|GPT23: Piia and Oliver after a tough bush bashing part towards the end of their trip. Image: Oliver Barker]]
====Piia Kortsalo and Oliver Barker====
*Hiked on the GPT: Southbound all sections from GPT06 to GPT22*Packrafting: No*Link: [https://www.nothingtwowrite.com/blog nothingtwowrite.com]
Packrafting: No Link: [https://www.nothingtwowrite.com/blog nothingtwowrite.com] Piia and Oliver, a Finnish-Canadian couple, walked sections GPT06 to GPT22 in about two month. Like Gerald Klamer they maximized their time on the trail by minimizing resupply stops, a strategy that we also apply and suggest. Combining several sections into longer legs is beneficial where you do not have a village with a shop at the section end but where you need to take a bus to a town far off the trail. Such a resupply bus trip can easily cost you two or three days until you are back on the trail. To efficiently cover longer multi-section legs Piia and Oliver paid a great deal of attention to gear weight and function. They applied a lot of the ultra-light principals but not so much to go fast but to get far. They normally got food for about 10 days each time they resupplied and then walked as far as feasible. I’m impressed how they moved on even when they got in overgrown terrain and how they managed the sometimes unpredictable nature of the GPT. Where others turned around they just kept going but in a respectful and humble manner; a key attitude on the GPT.
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[[File:Unboundedthefilm.jpg|thumb|500px|Robyn, Aljoscha and Anthony. Image: Garrett Martin]]
====Garrett, Robyn, Aljoscha and Anthony====
*Hiked on the GPT: GPT06 (partly), GPT07, GPT10-GPT12, GPT17, GPT18 (partly), GPT19, GPT22 (partly) *Packrafting: Yes *Link: [http://www.unboundedthefilm.com/journal/ unboundedthefilm.com] Garrett Martin, together with three other hikers came with the intention to create a documentary along the trail. Badly overloaded with camera gear, recording equipment and packrafts they started on section GPT06 but did not make it very far. But in contrast to others that started with similar intentions they did not give up but learned their lessons and adapted slowly to the trail. They downscaled but did not scrap their plans and picked the most attractive sections along the northern half of the GPT. In this way they still record several of the highlights of the GPT and took the time to meet the people along the trail. I have not seen yet the documentary but I’m looking forward to watch their work.
Garrett Martin, together with three other hikers came with the intention to create a documentary along the trail. Badly overloaded with camera gear, recording equipment and packrafts they started on section GPT06 but did not make it very far. But in contrast to others that started with similar intentions they did not give up but learned their lessons and adapted slowly to the trail. They downscaled but did not scrap their plans and picked the most attractive sections along the northern half of the GPT. In this way they still record several of the highlights of the GPT and took the time to meet the people along the trail. I have not seen yet the documentary but I’m looking forward to watch their work.There is one lesson that I learned from Garrett (and also others that are not cited here). If someone intents to make a documentary or film along the trail then I will strongly recommend to first come one season without much camera gear to simply get to know the trail, the region and in particular the people. Be a silent observer first before speaking up to others!
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| Maule (VII)
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT_6:_Volcán_Descabezado]]. See also: [[Sendero del Cóndor extendido]] and [[Travesía de los Volcanes]]
|-
| GPT07
| Maule (VII) Bío Bío (VIII)
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT 7: Laguna Dial]]
|-
| GPT08
| Bío Bío (VIII)
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT 10: Laguna El Barco]]
|-
| GPT11
| Bío Bío (VIII) Araucanía (IX)
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT 11: Cerro Dedos]]
|-
| GPT12
| Araucanía (IX)
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT12: Río Rahue]]
|-
| GPT13
| Araucanía (IX)
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT 14: Laguna Icalma and Volcán Sollipulli]]
|-
| GPT14
| Araucanía (IX)
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT 14: Laguna Icalma and Volcán Sollipulli]]
|-
| GPT15
| Araucanía (IX)
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT 15: Curarrehue]]
|-
| GPT16
| Araucanía (IX) Los Ríos (XIV)
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT 16: Volcán Quetrupillan]]
|-
| GPT17H
| Los Ríos (XIV)
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT 17 (trekking): Liquiñe]]
|-
| GPT17P
| Los Ríos (XIV)
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT 18: Lago Pirihueico]]
|-
| GPT19
| Los Ríos (XIV) Los Lagos (X)
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT 19: Volcán Puyehue]]
|-
| GPT20
| Los Lagos (X)
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT 20: Volcán Antillanca]]
|-
| GPT21
| Los Lagos (X)
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT 21: Lago Todos Los Santos]]
|-
| GPT22
| Los Lagos (X) Chubut
| Published and Verified
| [[GPT 22: Cochamó]]
|-
| GPT23
(...) For these reasons it is advisable to carry at least an extra day worth of food on many sections of the GPT.
<!--
==Images==
Here you find a selection of [http://www.panoramio.com/user/7876187?show=best images from the Greater Patagonian Trail] that are uploaded to Panoramio and displayed on Google Earth.
 
==Used Trails==
Not all hiking options are recorded yet by GPS since the author investigated the Greater Patagonian Trail with a packraft. There is also a shorter part that could not be hiked because one area was closed at the time of the investigation due to a large wild fire. These '''to be verified''' trails may therefore be imprecisely shown in this trail description and by the KMZ/GPX files. But the author has reliable information that these trails exist and have been hiked recently. At this time the author has simply no precise GPS record and the route is not sufficiently visible on satellite images.
 
Wherever possible the Greater Patagonian Trail incorporates '''lake''' crossings, '''river''' downstream floats and even paddeling on '''fjords''' with a [[#Packraft|packraft]].If not carrying such a light-weight inflatable boat or if the weather does not permit paddling then all these water sections can be bypassed on foot, by ferry or with private boat transfers. The river downstream floats do not include white-water rivers with large rapids.
 
==Expected Duration==
The complete trail can be hiked in one summer season and requires approx. 90 to 120 days if walking with a moderate pace. This inculdes some rest days, resupply bus trips to nearby towns and an occasional day lost to bad weather. One "high-speed-hiker" has done sections 1 to 16 in about 50 days so you can be faster, but I suggest to take some time to enjoy the trail and allow yourself some lesure time while hiking in this pristine region.
 
If you do not have the time to hike the entire trail then you can customize your trail by selecting some sections only.
==Trail Sections==
The entire trail consists currently of 18 sections that require between 2 to 10 days each. The sections are between 35 km and 150 km long. Every 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 as an individual trail or several sections can be combined to a longer trip.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" | Section Name
! style="text-align: left;" | Number
! style="text-align: left;" | Country and Region/Province
! style="text-align: left;" | Next City or Town
! style="text-align: left;" | Start
! style="text-align: left;" | Character
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Volcán Descabezado
| GPT01
| Chile, Maule (VII)
| Curico, Molina
| Radal
| Volcanic Terrain, Lakes, Hot Springs
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Laguna Dial
| GPT02
| Chile, Maule (VII) and Bío Bío (VIII)
| Talca, San Clemente
| Ruta 115, El Melado (Near La Mina)
| Mountain Pastures, Rivers, Lake, Hot Springs
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Volcán Chillan
| GPT03
| Chile, Bío Bío (VIII)
| San Carlos, San Fabian de Alico
| Pichirrincón, El Inglés
| Mountain Pastures, Mountain Ridge, Volcanic Terrain, Rivers, Hot Springs
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Volcán Antuco
| GPT04
| Chile, Bío Bío (VIII)
| Los Angeles, Antuco
| El Abonico, Centro de Esquí Antuco
| Volcanic Terrain, Lake, Mountain Pastures
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Laguna El Barco
| GPT05
| Chile, Bío Bío (VIII)
| Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ralco
| Trapa Trapa, Puente Ñirehueco
| Araucaria Forest, Mountain Pastures, Lake
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Guallali
| GPT06
| Chile, Bío Bío (VIII) and Araucanía (IX)
| Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ralco
| Guallali, Puente Lomin
| Araucaria Forest, Mountain Pastures, Rivers, Mountain Ridge, Hot Spring
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Laguna Marinanqui
| GPT07
| Chile, Araucanía (IX)
| Temuco, Lonquimay
| Ranquil, Carabiñeros
| Araucaria Forest, Mountain Pastures, Rivers, Mountain Ridges
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Volcán Sollipulli
| GPT08
| Chile, Araucanía (IX)
| Temuco, Lonquimay
| Liucura, Aduana Pino Hachada
| Araucaria Forest, Mountain Pastures, Rivers, Lakes, Indigious Settlements
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Curarrehue
| GPT09
| Chile, Araucanía (IX)
| Villarica, Pucon, Currarehue
| Reigolil
| Araucaria Forest, Mountain Pastures, Rivers, Indigious Settlements
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Volcán Quetrupillan
| GPT10
| Chile, Araucanía (IX) and Los Ríos (XIV)
| Villarica, Pucon, Currarehue
| Puesco or Currarehue depending on route
| Volcanic Terrain, Lakes, Araucaria Forest
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Liquiñe or Neltume
| GPT11
| Chile, Los Ríos (XIV)
| Villarica, Coñaripe
| Reyehueico, Puente Reyehueico (Near Liquiñe)
| Rivers, Lakes, Temperate Rain Forest, Hot Springs
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Lago Pirihueico
| GPT12
| Chile, Los Ríos (XIV)
| Panguipulli
| Puerto Fuy
| Lake, Temperate Rain Forest
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Volcán Puyehue
| GPT13
| Chile, Los Ríos (XIV)
| Los Lagos, Futrono
| Puerto Maihue
| Volcanic Terrain, Lake, Temperate Rain Forest
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Volcán Antillanca
| GPT14
| Chile, Los Lagos (X)
| Osorno, Entre Lagos
| Ruta 215, Conaf Anticura (Near Aduana Pajaritos)
| Volcanic Terrain, Lake, Temperate Rain Forest
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Lago Todos Los Santos
| GPT15
| Chile, Los Lagos (X)
| Osorno
| Lago Rupanco, Las Gaviotas (Near Puerto Rico)
| Lakes, Fjord, Temperate Rain Forest
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Cochamó
| GPT16
| Chile, Los Lagos (X) and Argentina, Chubut
| Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, Ensenada
| Cochamó
| Lakes, Rivers, Temperate Rain Forest
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| PN Lago Puelo
| GPT17
| Argentina, Chubut
| El Bolson
| Lago Puelo
| Lakes, Rivers, Forest
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| PN Los Alerces
| GPT18
| Argentina, Chubut
| El Bolson, Esquel
| Villa Rivadavia (Previously La Bolsa)
| Lakes, Rivers, Forest
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Current Finish
| -
| Argentina, Chubut
| Esquel
| Villa Futalaufquen
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|}
 
See the [[#Section Information and KMZ Files|Section Information]] below with further detailed information to each section.
 
==Recommended Season==
[[File:GPT02-P0039.jpg|thumb|500px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 2: Crossing Río El Melado. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT02-2014-Pano-Pic046.jpg|thumb|500px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 2: Sudden weather change in mid-summer. File: Jan Dudeck]]
If you plan to hike the entire trail in the correct sequence starting with '''section 1''' than you should leave in December, ideally in the '''second half of December'''.
 
 
On the first three sections several rivers and high mountain passes need to be crossed. In particular high river-water-levels during snowmelt may make the river crossings difficult and dangerous until December. Therefore leaving before or in early December may put you in risk when crossing rivers or traversing still snow covered passes. But if you leave after December you may be surprised by the heralds of the winter before reaching the finish of the Greater Patagonian Trail if walking in a moderate pace.
 
 
If you do not insist in hiking all trail sections in the correct sequence then you have more options when and where to start. If you want to leave before December you may in example set out in '''late October or November''' with '''section 11''' in Liquiñe (Hiking-Only-Option) or in Reyehueico or Coñaripe (both Packraft-Option) as we did.
 
 
Coñaripe is a alternative start of section 11 for packrafters and the first of the 8 sections with significant packraft use. Starting with section 11 before December gives you the advantage of floating down the rivers with a comfortable high river-water-level during snow melt.
 
 
If you do not carry a packraft but wish to start in late October or November Liquiñe would be a good choice. Liquiñe is a village full of thermal springs and situated on the Hiking-Only-Option of section 11. This start avoids the potentially dangerous river-crossings of the first 3 sections and the rather high and exposed mountain passes of section 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 10. Once you reached the finish of section 18 you can travel by bus in about 3 days to the start of section 1 and hike all the way to the point from where you started the track.
 
 
On '''sections 5 to 10''' the trail crosses the distribution range of the [[#Traditional Food|Araucaria tree]]. '''Between February and April''' the cones of these trees can be harvested and provide plenty of nutritious free food that you do not need to carry on your back. If possible arrange to cross sections 5 to 10 between February and April. This is one more very good reason for an early start on section 11 because then you can finish in the Auracaria distribution range in late summer or early autumn and feed yourself like a food gatherer millennia’s ago.
 
 
Even if hiking this trail in the recommended season be prepared for [[#Weather|sudden weather changes]] with heavy snowfall, in particular when you are higher up in the mountains. Also rivers can swell anytime after heavy rain.
 
 
See the [[#Section Information and KMZ Files|Section Information]] below that provides an orientation when each section is best be hiked.
 
==Hiking Direction==
[[File:GPT08-P0032.jpg|thumb|500px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 8: Near volcano Sollipulli. File: Jan Dudeck]]
The generally recommended trekking direction is '''southbound''' even if most sections can be hiked in either direction.
 
 
Some sections require an [[#Entrance Permits and Challenges|entrance permit]] if you hike northbound. This limitation applies to section 1 and 12 and the long distance challange that directly connects section 2 and 3 (GPT02-03). Without an entrance permit you may be “kicked out” but if you walk southbound this means leaving the property in the direction that you are hiking anyway.
 
 
If you are hiking with a packraft then section 11, 17 and 18 need to be taken southbound. Only in this direction you can float down the rivers in your inflatable boat. When hiking without a packraft these section can be taken in either direction using the alternative hiking trails.
 
 
For section 15 the recommended trekking direction is also southbound. If you go south you can ask shortly before reaching the Lago Todos Los Santos a local settler for a private boat transfer. In the other direction this may not work as easy. So if you do not have a packraft or if you are unsure that you really want to cross such a rather large lake with a tiny boat, then hike the section 15 southbound.
 
 
See the [[#Section Information and KMZ Files|Section Information]] below with the recommended hiking direction(s) for each section.
<br style="clear:both" />
 
==Section Information==
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" " rowspan="2" | Section Name
! style="text-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
|-
! style="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'''
|-
|}
 
==Outdated Trail Files issued in 2015==
 
[[File:GPT03-2014-Pano-Pic040.jpg|thumb|700px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 3: On the ridge above Laguna de Las Lajas. File: Jan Dudeck]]
 
The KMZ file displayed on the satellite map above is optimized to provide a good overview but does not include any waypoints and shows only some of the optional routes. Therefore the files below in the next table should be downloaded and used if you actually plan to hike on the Greater Patagonian Trail. There are trail files for individual section and for the entire trial.
 
 
Different file formats are provide for reviewing the trail on a computer with Google Earth (KMZ) and for uploading the trails to a handheld GPS devise (GPX). All these file formats contain the same geographic information; mainly tracks and waypoints; but the different file formats have advantages and disadvantages when using them with different applications.
 
 
The '''KMZ file''' format is optimal for '''display and editing on a computer with Google Earth'''. In example tracks and waypoints can be organized in a folder structure what facilitates handling a large number of individual tracks and waypoints. Unfortunately a KMZ file cannot be uploaded directly to a Garmin GPS but needs to be converted first into GPX file (in example with the free Garmin "Basecamp" software). See also the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyhole_Markup_Language wikipedia article] for further information to the KMZ/KML file format.
 
 
The '''GPX file''' format is optimal for '''uploading the trail file(s) to a handheld GPS devise'''. This applies in particular to Garmin equipment. Also when using a handheld GPS devise it is of advantage to minimize the number of individual tracks. The Garmin devise that I use (GPSMap 62) is unable to display more than 200 individual track. Therefore numerous individual tracks that are in line were joined to minimize the number of tracks in the GPX files. See also the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS_Exchange_Format wikipedia article] for further information to the GPX file format.
 
 
Therefore: <br>
Reviewing and editing the trail on a '''computer''' in Google Earth: '''KMZ''' <br>
Uploading the trail file(s) to a '''handheld GPS''': '''GPX'''
 
 
The trail files for the hiking only options i.e. "GPT01-18'''H'''.kmz" have a '''H''' like "Hiking" in the file name. These trail files do not contain any of the packraft routes, neither the water parts itself nor the land hiking parts to the lakes and rivers from where you can continue only by packraft. This shall prevent that a hiker without a packraft takes by accident the wrong route and ends up on the shore of a lake or river from where he cannot continue on foot. So '''if you do not carry a packraft''' download the trail files for the '''Hiking-Only-Options'''.
 
 
In contrast the trail files for the packraft options i.e. "GPT01-18.kmz" contains all routes including all hiking routes. There might be good reasons i.e. strong wind or bad weather that make a hiker with a packraft opting for the hiking alternative to avoid in example a lake crossing under unfavourable conditions. So '''if you carry a packraft''' download the trail files for the '''Hiking-Only-Options AND Packraft-Options''' because these trail files show you all options.
 
 
For sections without any packraft parts only one section trail file is published (without an H in the file name).
 
 
Read also the [[#Comment to Trail Files|comment to the trail files]] after downloading to understand the structure and nomenclature of this file.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" rowspan="2" width="140" | Section Name
! style="text-align: left;" rowspan="2"| Number
! style="text-align: left;" colspan="6"| Hiking-Only-Options
! style="text-align: left;" colspan="7"| Hiking-Only-Options AND Packraft-Options
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | Distance
! style="text-align: left;" | Ascent
! style="text-align: left;" | Descent
! style="text-align: left;" | Days
! style="text-align: left;" | Time
! style="text-align: left;" width="80" | Trail File
! style="text-align: left;" | Distance
! style="text-align: left;" width="75" | On Water
! style="text-align: left;" | Ascent
! style="text-align: left;" | Descent
! style="text-align: left;" | Days
! style="text-align: left;" | Time
! style="text-align: left;" width="80" | Trail File
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Volcán Descabezado
| " rowspan="2" | GPT01
| 103 km
| 5000 m↑
| 4900 m↓
| 6-8 d
| 35 h
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT01.gpx| GPT01.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT01.kmz| GPT01.kmz]]
| " rowspan="2" " colspan="6" | See hiking option. Packraft may only be used on side trips.
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT01.gpx| GPT01.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT01.kmz| GPT01.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| ''Option: Summit Descabezado''
| 16 km
| 2000 m↑
| 2000 m↓
| 1-2 d
| 9 h
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Laguna Dial
| GPT02
| 143 km
| 5300 m↑
| 5300 m↓
| 7-10 d
| 44 h
| [[Media:GPT02H.gpx| GPT02H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT02H.kmz| GPT02H.kmz]]
| 141 km
| 9 km (6%)
| 4600 m↑
| 4700 m↓
| 7-10 d
| 42 h
| [[Media:GPT02.gpx| GPT02.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT02.kmz| GPT02.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Volcán Chillan
| " rowspan="2" |GPT03
| 129 km
| 6500 m↑
| 5900 m↓
| 7-10 d
| 44 h
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT03H.gpx| GPT03H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT03H.kmz| GPT03H.kmz]]
| 123 km
| 23 km (19%)
| 4800 m↑
| 4200 m↓
| 7-10 d
| 40 h
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT03.gpx| GPT03.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT03.kmz| GPT03.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| ''Option: Summit Chillan Viejo''
| 15 km
| 1300 m↑
| 1300 m↓
| 1 d
| 7 h
| " colspan="6" | -
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Volcán Antuco
| " rowspan="2" | GPT04
| 57 km
| 1400 m↑
| 1800 m↓
| 3 d
| 16 h
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT04H.gpx| GPT04H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT04H.kmz| GPT04H.kmz]]
| 59 km
| 9 km (16%)
| 1300 m↑
| 1700 m↓
| 3 d
| 17 h
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT04.gpx| GPT04.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT04.kmz| GPT04.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| ''Option: Summit Antuco''
| 9 km
| 1600 m↑
| 1600 m↓
| 1 d
| 6 h
| " colspan="6" | -
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Laguna El Barco
| GPT05
| 43 km
| 1500 m↑
| 1500 m↓
| 2-3 d
| 13 h
| [[Media:GPT05H.gpx| GPT05H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT05H.kmz| GPT05H.kmz]]
| " colspan="6" | See hiking option. Packraft may only be used on side trips.
| [[Media:GPT05.gpx| GPT05.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT05.kmz| GPT05.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Guallali
| " rowspan="2" | GPT06
| 50 km
| 2500 m↑
| 2300 m↓
| 3-4 d
| 17 h
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT06.gpx| GPT06.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT06.kmz| GPT06.kmz]]
| " rowspan="2" " colspan="6" | See hiking option. Packraft can not be used on this section.
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT06.gpx| GPT06.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT06.kmz| GPT06.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| ''Option: Summit Moncol''
| 3 km
| 200 m↑
| 200 m↓
| 0 d
| 1 h
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Laguna Marinanqui
| GPT07
| 82 km
| 2900 m↑
| 3000 m↓
| 5-7 d
| 25 h
| [[Media:GPT07H.gpx| GPT07H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT07H.kmz| GPT07H.kmz]]
| " colspan="6" | See hiking option. Packraft may only be used on side trips.
| [[Media:GPT07.gpx| GPT07.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT07.kmz| GPT07.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Volcán Sollipulli
| " rowspan="2" | GPT08
| 96 km
| 2600 m↑
| 2800 m↓
| 5-6 d
| 27 h
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT08H.gpx| GPT08H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT08H.kmz| GPT08H.kmz]]
| 93 km
| 9 km (9%)
| 2300 m↑
| 2500 m↓
| 5-6 d
| 26 h
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT08.gpx| GPT08.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT08.kmz| GPT08.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| ''Option: Summit Sollipulli''
| 11 km
| 1000 m↑
| 1000 m↓
| 1 d
| 5 h
| " colspan="6" | -
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Curarrehue
| GPT09
| 77 km
| 2500 m↑
| 2300 m↓
| 3-5 d
| 23 h
| [[Media:GPT09.gpx| GPT09.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT09.kmz| GPT09.kmz]]
| " colspan="6" | See hiking option. Packraft can not be used on this section.
| [[Media:GPT09.gpx| GPT09.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT09.kmz| GPT09.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Volcán Quetrupillan
| " rowspan="2" | GPT10
| 50 km
| 1700 m↑
| 2500 m↓
| 3-5 d
| 15 h
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT10H.gpx| GPT10H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT10H.kmz| GPT10H.kmz]]
| " rowspan="2" " colspan="6" | See hiking option. Packraft may only be used on side trips.
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT10.gpx| GPT10.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT10.kmz| GPT10.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| ''Option: Summit Quetrupillan''
| 13 km
| 900 m↑
| 900 m↓
| 1 d
| 5 h
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Liquiñe and Neltume
| GPT11
| 35 km
| 1800 m↑
| 1400 m↓
| 2 d
| 12 h
| [[Media:GPT11H.gpx| GPT11H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT11H.kmz| GPT11H.kmz]]
| 40 km
| 22 km (56%)
| 700 m↑
| 300 m↓
| 2 d
| 12 h
| [[Media:GPT11.gpx| GPT11.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT11.kmz| GPT11.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| " rowspan="2" | Lago Pirihueico
| " rowspan="2" | GPT12
| 71 km
| 2500 m↑
| 3000 m↓
| 4-5 d
| 22 h
| [[Media:GPT12H.gpx| GPT12H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT12H.kmz| GPT12H.kmz]]
| 86 km
| 22 km (26%)
| 2300 m↑
| 2800 m↓
| 4-6 d
| 26 h
| [[Media:GPT12.gpx| GPT12.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT12.kmz| GPT12.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| " colspan="13" | Based on two recent feedbacks the section between the waypoints "Diversion (GPT12-WP020)" and "Trail Start (GPT12-WP023)" is badly overgrown and very difficult pass. Therefore this section should only be attempted by a group of at least two persons with sufficent reserve food and time. A machete should be carried to clean the overgrown trail.
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Volcán Puyehue
| " rowspan="2" | GPT13
| 81 km
| 4200 m↑
| 3900 m↓
| 4-6 d
| 28 h
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT13H.gpx| GPT13H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT13H.kmz| GPT13H.kmz]]
| 71 km
| 10 km (14%)
| 3000 m↑
| 2700 m↓
| 4-5 d
| 23 h
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT13.gpx| GPT13.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT13.kmz| GPT13.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| ''Option: Summit Puyehue''
| 8 km
| 800 m↑
| 800 m↓
| 1 d
| 4 h
| " colspan="6" | -
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Volcán Antillanca
| GPT14
| 39 km
| 1800 m↑
| 2000 m↓
| 2-3 d
| 13 h
| [[Media:GPT14.gpx| GPT14.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT14.kmz| GPT14.kmz]]
| " colspan="6" | See hiking option. Packraft can not be used on this section.
| [[Media:GPT14.gpx| GPT14.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT14.kmz| GPT14.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Lago Todos Los Santos
| GPT15
| 59 km
| 2100 m↑
| 2200 m↓
| 4-5 d
| 18 h
| [[Media:GPT15H.gpx| GPT15H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT15H.kmz| GPT15H.kmz]]
| 85 km
| 40 km (48%)
| 1800 m↑
| 1900 m↓
| 5-6 d
| 25 h
| [[Media:GPT15.gpx| GPT15.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT15.kmz| GPT15.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Cochamó
| GPT16
| 151 km
| 5900 m↑
| 5700 m↓
| 7-10 d
| 47 h
| [[Media:GPT16H.gpx| GPT16H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT16H.kmz| GPT16H.kmz]]
| 145 km
| 33 km (23%)
| 4600 m↑
| 4500 m↓
| 7-10 d
| 45 h
| [[Media:GPT16.gpx| GPT16.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT16.kmz| GPT16.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| " rowspan="2" | PN Lago Puelo
| " rowspan="2" | GPT17
| 86 km
| 3600 m↑
| 3300 m↓
| 5-7 d
| 27 h
| [[Media:GPT17H.gpx| GPT17H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT17H.kmz| GPT17H.kmz]]
| 76 km
| 41 km (54%)
| 2200 m↑
| 1800 m↓
| 5-7 d
| 24 h
| [[Media:GPT17.gpx| GPT17.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT17.kmz| GPT17.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| " colspan="13" | Based on one recent feedback the ascent to the waypoint "Pass (GPT17-WP101)" is badly overgrown and very difficult pass. Therefore this section should only be attempted by a group of at least two persons with sufficent reserve food and time. A machete should be carried to clean the overgrown trail. Alternatively try a other trail shortly before the waypoint "Bridge (GPT17-WP010)" that remains in this valley. To the knowledge of the author this trail also becomes overgrown after 6 to 7 km but may connect after a difficult to pass part with the waypoint "Camp (GPT17-WP105)".
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| PN Los Alerces
| GPT18
| 58 km
| 2000 m ↑
| 2000 m ↓
| 3-4 d
| 17 h
| [[Media:GPT18H.gpx| GPT18H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT18H.kmz| GPT18H.kmz]]
| 72 km
| 71 km (99%)
| 0 m↑
| 0 m↓
| 3-4 d
| 21 h
| [[Media:GPT18.gpx| GPT18.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT18.kmz| GPT18.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" colspan="2"| Complete Trail without Summits
| 1407 km
| 56000 m↑
| 56000 m↓
| -
| 442 h
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT01-18H.gpx| GPT01-18H.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT01-18H.kmz| GPT01-18H.kmz]]
| 1432 km
| 290 km (20%)
| 46000 m↑
| 46000 m↓
| -
| 442 h
| " rowspan="2" | [[Media:GPT01-18.gpx| GPT01-18.gpx]] <br> [[Media:GPT01-18.kmz| GPT01-18.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" colspan="2"| Complete Trail with 7 Summits
| 1481 km
| 64000 m↑
| 64000 m↓
| -
| 478 h
| 1506 km
| 290 km (19%)
| 54000 m↑
| 54000 m↓
| -
| 479 h
|}
 
See the [[#Trail Sections|Section Table]] above with the recommended season, hiking direction, hiking options and resupply villages and towns.
 
Read also the [[#Distances, Ascents, Descents and Walking Times| comment to distances, ascents, descents and walking times]] to correctly understand the recording, calculation and relevance of these numerical values.
 
==Recommended Season==
See the GPT Hiker's Manual.
 
==Entrance Permits and Fees==
[[File:GPT13-P0026.jpg|thumb|500px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 13: Cordon Caulle. File: Jan Dudeck]]
The Greater Patagonian trail is not an official trail that is set up and managed by a government agency. Is simply a compilation of horse trails, minor roads and some cross country sections that pass over private properties and state owned land.
 
Nearly the entire trail can be hiked without entrance permits or paying entrance fees. And what is even better: many of the humble people that live along the trail will welcome you or even invite you to stay. Here hospitality matters!. But there are a few exceptions; some are already briefly mentioned above under [[#Hiking Direction|Hiking Direction]].
 
Unfortunately the public right of way is vague and sometimes ignored in Chile. By Chilean law the access to the coast, to lakes and to rivers is a public right but there are numerous locations where this gets disregarded. There are simply no penalties if someone unlawfully denies passage. I'm not sufficiently familiar with Chilean law to state if a similar public right of way applies to all the connecting trails and roads on private properties. But if it exists it’s occasionally disregarded. Some rich landlords with huge plots employ guards and instruct them to deny access to anyone.
 
===Entrance Permits and Challenges===
[[File:GPT01-AreaRestringida.jpg|thumb|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 1: Signpost that you do not see until you leave the resticted area if going southbound. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT02-03-P0018.jpg|thumb|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 2-3: Locked gate on southern entrance of Fundo Las Truchas. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT13-P0005.jpg|thumb|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 13: Locked gate on southern entrance of Fundo Carrán. File: Jan Dudeck]]
 
'''Section 1'''
 
'''Laguna Mondaca''': I was recently advised that a signpost was place at the pass between the Laguna Las Animas and the Laguna Mondaca denying access to the Laguna Mondaca. If you want to avoid a discussion with an overeager guard at this lake you may take the short cut that leads you directly to the hot springs “Termas de Asufre”. Otherwise you may be asked to continue on the regular trail after having reached the lake.
 
'''Hydropower Station Cipreses''': The Hydropower Station Cipreses is owned by Endesa and controls the valley between the Route 115 and the Laguna de La Invernada. Permanently manned gates control the northbound access from the Route 115 but there are no similar barriers when entering the property southbound over the mountains in example when coming from the volcano Descabezado. An access permit can be requested in advance and is normally granted. See the [http://www.wikiexplora.com/index.php/Laguna_y_Cr%C3%A1ter_Los_Hornitos#Permiso wikiexplora article "Laguna y Cráter Los Hornitos"] for further information.
 
'''Long Distance Challange that directly connects Section 2 and 3'''
 
'''Fundo Las Truchas''': The fundo Las Truchas is owned by a regional big farmer. When he purchased this ranch he first kept it open for public access to the attractive Laguna Las Truchas. Unfortunately some locals don’t treat their environment with respect and litter or fish without limits. The owner got annoyed and now denies public access in particular to local citizen. When entering the fundo Las Truchas northbound you may be send back by the guard, who lives 2 km south of the Laguna Las Truchas from late spring to autumn. If entering southbound you may be asked to leave the property in the direction you are hiking anyway.
 
'''Section 3 "Bad Weather Exit Route"'''
 
'''Hydropower Station El Toro''': The Hydropower Station El Toro is owned by Endesa and controls the valley Rio Polcura upstream of Abanico. A permanently manned gate controls the northbound access from Abanico. There are no similar controls when entering the property southbound from the Laguna de Las Lajas. An access permit may be requested in advance but no specific information are available where this can be done. Anyway, this restriction is not of much relevance since the regular trail on the ridge can be hiked in either direction. You only get to the Hydropower Station El Toro if get down from the ridge on the "Bad Weather Exit Route".
 
'''Section 12'''
 
'''Reserve Huilo Huilo''': During the later days of the Pinochet Regime large parts of the state owned forest around the Lago Pirihueico were sold under obscure circumstances to the German immigrant Victor Petermann. He later converted the forest into a “private for profit natural reserve”. The emphasis seems to be the profit and not so much the natural reserve. Permanently manned gates now limit access to guests of the luxury resorts on this immense property. Wood logging continues in more hidden parts of the “profit reserve”. When we attempted to take the former public road from Puerto Fuy to Pirihueico we were turned back on several of the gates. For this reason we took the ferry over the lago Piriheuco and walked the same road but from the other side where we did not encounter any manned gates or objections. See the wikipedia article to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complejo_Forestal_y_Maderero_Panguipulli Complejo Forestal y Maderero Panguipulli.]
 
'''Fundo Chihuio''': The fundo Chihuio is situated north of the Termas de Chihuio and owned by a rich businessman. The guard lives at the southern entrance to the ranch. He is instructed to deny access to the former public road towards Puerto Fuy and Pirihueico. When hiking southbound you will leave the property at the entrance where the guard lives.
 
'''Section 13'''
 
'''Fundo Carrán''': The Fundo Carrán is located south of the Lago Maihue. We crossed the Lago Maihue southbound by packraft and entered the fundo Carrán unknowingly from the shore of the Lago Maihue. We than walked about 5 km until we reached a locked gate just before a public road. We could easily climb over the locked gate to continue on the public road. On this locked gate is a signboard that prohibits public access.
 
===Entrance Fees===
[[File:GPT13-P0083.jpg|thumb|650px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 13: Volcano Puyehue. File: Jan Dudeck]]
'''Section 13'''
 
'''Southbound Access to Cordon Caulle''': A very fiendly and helpful older couple lives at the northern access to the Cordon Caulle and volcano Puyehue. They own the forest with the road that provides access to volcanic area where 2011 a major eruption occured. They offer shelter if the weather does not permit a crossing of the volcanic plateou. In 2013 they charged a 6'000 CLP entrance fee.
 
'''Northbound Access to Cordon Caulle''': The restaurant "El Caulle" is situated at the southern access to the Puyehue and Cordon Caulle. They maintain the refuge higher up on the foot of the volcano Puyehue. In 2013 they charged a 10'000 CLP entrance fee but no "exit fee".
 
===Conclusion===
 
When challenged on the trail explain friendly that you are just a hiker and that you do not want anything else than passage to the next road or town. Hikers are rarely seen on most of the route and some people may suspect other interests because they simply don't know the concept of hiking. You may explain how far you already walked to gain the sympathy and respect of the guard or land owner. Guarantee that you will carry all your waste and that you will not leave any traces.
 
What we experienced on the trail seems to mirror the attitude of the Chilean society: The humble poor people on the trail opened the doors to their houses to give us shelter and they literally shared their bread with us without asking for money. But some of the super-rich denied passage over their immense properties on which they normally don’t even live when kindly asking for permission to pass.
 
==Logistical Considerations==
[[File:Piniones2.jpg|thumb|350px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 7: Harvesting piñones. File: Meylin Ubilla]]
[[File:HowToOpenPinones.jpg|thumb|350px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 6: Opening piñones. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:Piniones3.jpg|thumb|350px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 7: Selecting piñones. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:Piniones1.jpg|thumb|350px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 7: Boiling piñones. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:Piniones4.jpg|thumb|350px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 6: Eating piñones. File: Jan Dudeck]]
 
===Tourist Visa===
 
The vast majority of citizens from Europe and North-America do not need a visa to visit Chile as a tourist. These citizens receive a tourist permit that allows them to stay up to 90 days in Chile. With an [[#Expected Duration|estimated duration]] of 90 to 120 days it is possible to complete the first 16 sections on Chilean soil in 90 days but leaves little margin for rest days or weather related delays.
 
The easiest way to renew your permit is travelling to Argentina before completing your 90 days and returning a few days later to Chile. On re-entry you will normally be granted another 90 days. Such a trip can be combined with a resupply stop in a nearby town.
 
Recommendable "visa trips" with public transportation are:
* Section 9: From Curarrehue in Chile to Junin de Los Andes or San Martin de Los Andes in Argentina
* Section 13: From Osorno in Chile to San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina
 
Alternatively you can request a tourist visa extension in Chile. This can be done in any of the 54 provincial capitals of Chile. Los Angeles, Temuco and Puerto Montt are 3 possible choices but none of the provincial capitals are conveniently close to the trail. Here you find a full list of the Chilean provinces with its capitals: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Chile Wikipedia: Provinces of Chile].
 
If you do not start the trek at section 1 but do sections 11 to 18 first you will cross the border from Chile to Argentina on foot on section 16 and renew your tourist permit when returning to Chile. This will give you enough time to hike sections 1 to 10 in a comfortable pace.
 
If you insist in not taking any bus or motorized vehicle during the entire trek you have three options:
* You hurry up to cross into Argentina on section 16 within 90 days counted from your arrival in Chile.
* You can walk on foot from Icalma in Chile to Villa Pehuenia and back (Section 8, 16 km one way).
 
===Importation of Food===
Chile is very cautious when it comes to importing food, plants and animals. To minimize the risk of introducing pests, invasive plants and animals such imports are highly regulated and controlled. Therefore individuals are strictly banned to bring fresh fruits, vegetables, raw milk or meat products to Chile. Only processed sterile food can be imported in concealed packing’s, in example all heat treated canned items in closed containers. Thorough checks are performed by the SAG (Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero) on the airport and the border checkpoints from neighbouring countries.
 
*Example of strictly banned items:
** Fresh and dried fruits
** Fresh cheese
** Raw meat and raw meat products like ham and sausages
** Honey
 
*Example of normally accepted items:
** Bread, cookies and other baked items
** All canned items even if containing milk and meat products
** Sweats like chocolate, candies and cereal bar
** Cereals, corn flakes and chocolate powder
** Pasta, rice, flour and dehydrated potato puree
** Instant meals like dehydrated trekking food in concealed bags
 
When crossing the border to Chile you need to fill in a declaration if you are carrying any plant or food products. On this declaration the definition for plant or food products is very wide and includes all the permitted items as well. Therefore the best and only correct thing is to always state YES. If ask explain that you are aware of the restrictions and that you carry processed food and give examples.
 
If you state NO but something banned is found you will be charged a high fine.
 
You should also clean your boots from visible mud since mud may contain seamen of invasive plants.
 
Theoretically the same rules apply when crossing into Argentina but controls are often much more relaxed and you do not need fill and sign a declaration.
 
===Resupply at Nearby Towns===
There are no proper shops along the first seven sections of the trail. The first regular food store on the trail comes after 600 km at the finish of section 7. But there is a road with public transportation at the end of each section that gives you the opportunity to take a bus and to travel to the next village or town to resupply. See the table under [[#Section Information|Section Information]] with suitable resupply villages and towns.
 
In the larger cities, in example in Santiago, Talca, Chillan, Los Angeles, Osorno and Puerto Montt you find "Jumbo" supermarkets. To our impression these supermarkets offer the widest range of dehydrated food that is suitable for hiking. These supermarkets have typically a section of imported food items from Europe and North America. Here we found in example well-seasoned couscous imported from Canada, potato fritters that comes as a powder imported from Germany and dehydrated deserts that you just need to mix with cold water and milk powder to make in example a very tasty chocolate cream after your dinner. If you are fancy on good cooking in the wild then take your time and stroll through the aisle of the supermarket and try something new.
 
===Resupply by Bus===
The product range in smaller villages and towns is limited. In particular dehydrated trekking food may not be offered at all. If you prefer to have some special stuff that you find only in Santiago or that you bring with you from overseas you have the following option: You pack a box with food and other gear in Santiago and send the box with one of the mayor bus companies to a town where you plan a resupply stop. To send the box you do not need any address in this town; all you need to do is making yourself the recipient of your own package. The bus company will ship your box to this town in 1 or 2 days and store it until you pick it up. There you can take out of your box whatever you need and resend the box with the remaining stuff to the next resupply town where it will be stored again. Storage of up to 30 days is free of charge. This transport service by busses is called "encomienda" and functions like a postal service. Unfortunately this service is only available in larger cities. Therefore this service cannot be used to ship resupplies directly to the trail.
 
'''I advise you not to use this service offered by JAC.''' They lost one of our packages and were incredible poorly organized and ignorant to give us at least the legally required minimum refund (which was far less than the actual value). Turbus made at least a more organised impression when compared to JAC. Anyway, you should better not send valuable items i.e. a packraft but only items whose loss does not jeopardize your trip. If you plan to send valuable items anyway you should have at least the original purchase receives of these items with you. If you present these receipts before sending the package you may increase the refund value in case of loss to a substantially higher value. Without such a receipt only a rather small value can be declared (50,000 to 100,000 CLP depending on the company) and gets refunded in case the shipment is lost by the company.
 
Suitable resupply towns with bus cargo stations are (bus company in brackets):
* Talca (Turbus)
* San Carlos (Turbus)
* Chillán (Turbus)
* Los Angeles (Turbus)
* Pucon (Turbus)
* Osorno (Turbus)
* Puerto Montt (Turbus)
* Puerto Varas (Turbus)
 
See also the table with the [[#Section Information|Section Information]] for a full listing of resupply towns on or near the trail.
 
A true thru-hike without resupply bus trips would require the setup of food depots on strategic points along the route.
 
===Food Supply on the Trail===
[[File:109447130.jpg|thumb|350px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 15: Shopping in the super market of El Poncho. File: Jan Dudeck]]
On this trail, in particular on the first seven sections you will meet herdsman on the summer pastures with their livestock, which are mainly cattle, sheep, goats and horses. Depending on the altitude and the snowmelt they migrate up between October and January and return to their winter quarters in April or May. These herdsman, locally called "Puestero", live in improvised permanent shelters, called "Puesto". They bring large quantities of food with their horses and mules up into the mountains. You may ask them for food, in particular for flour and bread or whatever they are willing to sell. With flour, dry yeast and salt you can bake your own fresh bread on the trail. If you are desperate for meat they may sell you a goat or a sheep but be aware, the smallest quantity for sale is typically half an animal (Spanish: "Medio Canal"). To communicate with the locals you need to speak Spanish.
 
On section 5 to 10 you will cross the distribution range of the impressive Araucaria trees, which are ancient evergreen coniferous trees. What we liked on these living fossils were not just the imposing figure, but the nutritious female seed cones that are rich in carbohydrates. These fruits or "piñones" were the main staple food for the indigenous Pehuenche people and they taught us how to harvest and prepare them. You can gather these starchy Araucaria "piñones" between February and April.
 
[[File:Tortilla_de_Rescoldo.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Tortilla de Rescoldo. File: Jan Dudeck]]
 
===Traditional Food===
[[File:Sopapilla.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Making Sopaipillas. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT14-MakingBreadAndPizza.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Our way of baking fresh bread and pizza. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:Cordero_al_Palo.jpg|thumb|Cordero al Palo. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:Mate.jpg|thumb|Trinking Mate. File: Jan Dudeck]]
 
This is not a listing of all the standard trekking foods like pasta and cereals. If you attempt this long distance trail you should know all this by heart. This section lists and describes selected traditional food items that are typical for this region but may be less known outside or named differently.
 
'''Piñones''': As already mentioned under [[#Recommended Season|Recommended Season]] and [[#Food Supply on the Trail|Food Supply on the Trail]] you can become a gatherer on sections 5 to 10 and collect a good part of your food yourself along the trail if you pass this area between February and April. You just need to get the timing right and carry a strong string to harvest the mature cones of the female Araucaria trees. According to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araucaria_araucana Wikipedia] the name Araucana is derived from the native Araucanians who's main staple food were the nuts or seeds of the Araucaria tree. A group of Araucanians living in the Andes, the Pehuenches, owe their name to their diet based on harvesting of the Araucaria seeds. Pehuen means Araucaria and che means people in the native language Mapudungun.
 
The natives use a lasso to harvest the mature cones. As a hiker you probably will not carry a rather heavy lasso but you may bring a strong string with you. By trial and error we eventually choose to connect long sticks in example branches, bamboo grass and/or our hiking poles to lift a sling over a single cone and then break the cone off by pulling against the growth direction. Once you have the cone down you can open the cone with a wedge and a stone as shown on the picture above. The seeds then need to be separated and boiled for about 30 minutes with the husk. Once boiled the husk can be easily removed. Just squeeze the husk and the eatable seed will slip out easily. You can eat the seed simply cooked or fry them later.
 
'''Harina Tostada''' (Chile) or '''ñaco''' (Argentina) is toasted ground wheat and the staple food of the herdsmen. It comes as a brownish powder and tastes like corn flakes but it needs to be mixed first with a liquid to eat. The most common form is mixing with water but also beer, wine or juice can be used. Also sugar may be added if mixed with water. Depending on the mixing ratio it will be a thick paste or a liquid and makes a perfect snack during the days. Try yourself and find out how you like it most. You can buy it in all rural stores but also the big super markets sell it. It's the perfect trekking food because it's nourishing and takes little space in the backpack. See the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gofio wikipedia article] for more information to this versatile staple food.
 
'''Tortilla de Rescoldo''' is a white bread that was backed in the hot ash of a fire. Most puestos don't have a proper oven to bake bread but use the accumulated ash of the fireplace instead. The dough is made as usual with wheat flour, salt and (dry) yeast. After the dough was prepared and given the typical rest the dough is gently put in a pit in the hot ash and then also covered with hot ash. After about 10 to 15 min the bread is turned and covered with hot ash again to bake it evenly on both sides. To not burn the bread the hot ash must be free of glowing charcoal. It requires quite some experience to get the temperature and the timing right. Also the fireplace must be in use for days or weeks to accumulate sufficient ash. A typical campfire will not work because the fire itself is to hot and amount of ash is insufficient.
 
To make fresh bread on the trail our self we used our two stainless steel pots and the lid. With some self-made wire clips we suspended the slightly smaller pot within the bigger pot. This creates a small but fully functional oven because the air gap between both pots protected the content from burning when placed in or next to the fire. With this oven we did not only bake fresh bread but also pizza and an onion pie. It needs some trial and error to learn how to get the temperature right and regular turning help to bake the content evenly.
 
'''Sopaipilla''' (Chile) or '''Torta Frita''' (Argentina) is fried white bread. The same standard dough made with wheat flour, salt and (dry) yeast and given the typical dough rest period of 15 to 30 minutes. Round flat dough-cakes are formed with a hole in the middle and gently put into a pot of hot oil of fat over a fire. The hole in the middle is required to move and removed the Sopapilla with a stick.
 
'''Chivo or Cordero al Palo''': Puesteros occasionally butcher a male goat or sheep when they meet with other herdsmen or when they receive a visit to share an abounded and delicious meat feast. Female animals are normally preserved to maintain the flock so mainly the male goat get sacrificed(a rare example of male discrimination). The skinned and cleaned animal is cut into pieces and stack on a wooden pole ("palo" in Spanish). The pole is then placed next to the fire and regularly turned until the meat is ready to eat. It's crucial that the meat is well cooked to kill all potential parasites. You need to be lucky to arrive just in time for such a feast. Alternatively you may ask the puesteros along the route if they have some meat left or if they are willing to sell one animal and butcher and prepare it with you. The smallest quantity for sale is typically half an animal ("medio canal"). Once the meat is well cooked over the fire you can carry the left overs and consume it during the next two or three days.
 
'''Yerba Mate''' is a energizing caffeine-rich hot drink. You fill about half a cup with the tee-like "yerba", pour hot water over it and drink it with a special straw that acts at the same as an filter. This straw is called "bombilla". You can pour again and again water over it to keep drinking. Sharing mate with other people is a common ritual in these region. You will certainly be offered this rather bitter drink when you meet and chat with the locals. See also the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mate_%28beverage%29 wikipedia article to Mate] for more information.
 
'''Mote''' are wheat grains, which were boiled and removed from its husk and then dried again for long term storage. Mote is probably not an optimal trekking food because it needs to be soaked in water for several hours before boiling. But settlers and herdsmen often carry mote and use it as an ingredient for stews and other meals.
 
==Recommended Equipment==
[[File:GPT16-2014-Pano-Pic007.jpg|thumb|600px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 16: Lago Puelo. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT11-P0026.jpg|thumb|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 11: Floating down the Río Cuacuá. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT14-ChargingBatteries.jpg|thumb|Solar Charger from GoalZero. File: Jan Dudeck]]
 
===Packraft and Drysuite===
A packraft is a light-weight inflatable boat designed to be carried in the backpack when not needed but to carry the backpacker and his backpack over lakes and rivers when he needs it. A packraft is not required for this trail but quite beneficial on sections 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17 and 18. It may also be used on sections 2, 3, 4 and 8. On section 1, 5, 7 and 10 it can be used for smaller side trips on lakes that are located next to the trail.
 
Here you find some [http://www.panoramio.com/user/7876187/tags/Packraft images of our packraft]. We use the "Explorer 42" from [http://www.alpackaraft.com/ Alpackaraft.] The total weight of the two-person-boat with paddles, two drysuites, waterproof bags and water gear is approx. 8 kg or 4 kg per person if shared. <!-- Recently new manufacturer entered this market, i.e. MRS and Nortik, offering similar suitable packrafts. In particular the "MRS - Adventure X2" is probably a good choise for a group of two hikers. You find these inflatable boats in the German [http://www.packrafting-store.de/Packrafts:::43.html Packrafting-Store]. Also several other packraft related items are sold by this specialized online store and can be shipped internationally.-->
 
I strongly recommend the use of a drysuite whenever paddeling in this area regardless of the size of the river, lake of fjord. This is the only suiteable protection against hypothermia in case you get wet or you get out of the boat on the water. Be aware that water temperatures are often quite low. Wind can suddenly increase and build up high waves in a matter of minutes that splash you wet with cold water or even flip your boat. Also on most rivers, lakes and fjords that are included in the packraft route suitable exit points are scarce. So don't rely on getting quickly out of the water when needed. The first two years we paddled without using a drysuite but I consider this now a beginner's mistake.
 
The packraft did not made us faster but made our trip much more diverse. It is just great to walk to the shore of a lake or river, take the backpack down, inflate the boat, store the gear, take a seat and paddle off. A packraft brings an other "dimension" into the trip.
 
Section 1 to 20: At two larger lakes you can alternatively take a daily ferry (Lago Pirihueco) or a private boat transfer (Lago Todos Los Santos). For all other lakes and rivers alternative trails, which circumvent the water are included in the [[#Trail Files for GPS and Google Earth|Trail Files for GPS and Google Earth]] above. So you can bypass on foot all paddle parts if you do not have a packraft or if i.e. wind and weather do not permit the crossing of a lake with a rather tiny boat.
 
Section 21 to 27: In Palena the Hiking-Only-Option and the Packraft-Option of the Greater Patagonian Trail take a completely different routes. Both option rejoin briefly on Section 26 in the area of Cerro Castillo. When taking the Packraft-Option you do not have an easy connection to the Hiking-Only-Option so be well prepared to paddle long distances when taking this route.
 
Enter lakes, fjords and rivers with your packraft only in suitable weather conditions. Note that on sunny days wind typically increases substantially around noon and often blows very strong till the evening. Therefore packrafting on lakes and fjords is something for early risers.
 
Most but not all lakes have a predominant wind direction. The route is choosen in way that you have more likely favourable wind from the back than wind against you but on some lakes the predominant wind will blow you right into face. Most but not all river sections are relatively well wind-shilded. In particular the last part of Río Palena and Río Ibañez are quite exposed to wind.
 
If weather is unsuitable for packrafting take the alternative hiking options around the water or simply wait for better weather but do not jeopardize yourself.
 
The Packraft-Option also enters two fjords that are connected with the Pacific; the Estuario de Reloncaví on Section 16 and the Fjordo Pipiplena on Section 22. Here tides strongly affect water levels and currents. Understand the the tide cycles and get a current tide chart before before you enter these waters. In certain areas of these fjords tidal currents can outpace your packraft. Both fjords are best entered with a falling tide just after high tide. Also be very cautious when camping on the shore of these fjords and better avoid it. Make sure that you camp above the spring tide level. The trift wood on these shores can indicate you to what level the water may rise.
 
===GPS and Electronic Map===
The trail is mostly unmarked and only smaller fractions are documented with maps. Long stretches of the trail are only vaguely visible and frequently the trail peters out or divides into several branches. Therefore a GPS is absolutely essential for navigation. You need a handheld GPS devise to which you can upload the trail files. Spare batteries or recharge options are required to keep the GPS devise functional long enough.
 
In addition an electronic topographical map is recommended.
 
We used a Garmin GPS with the Garmin TOPO Chile Deluxe electronic map (TOPO Chile Deluxe sold for 80 USD). The topographical profile, rivers, lakes, road and towns are precisely mapped. Only smaller streams, smaller lagoons and some trails are partly incorrecly placed on this electronic map. The Garmin TOPO Chile Deluxe is more precise than the TOPO Andes (see below) and has more details but covers only Chile and is good for section 1 to 16 only.
 
Garmin now offers also an electronic topographical map that covers all Chile, Argentina and Bolivia (TOPO Andes sold for 100 USD). If you are planning to hike the entire trail and future extensions to the south then the TOPO Andes map is the suitable choice.
 
I do not recommend the purchase of paper maps. The Chilean Instituto Geográfico Militar (IGM) offers topographic maps with a scale of 1:50'000 for the entire Chile but these maps often do not contain the trails and may be outdated. There are a few hiking maps for some popular areas showing some but not all trails that are used by the GPT. So the extra cost and additional weight of paper maps do not justify to my opinion the minor benefit of paper maps.
 
If you are looking for an backup devise to your handheld GPS you may consider the inReach Explorer from Delorme which is not only a satellite tracker but can also be setup as navigator. I do not recommend this devise as a substitude for a handheld GPS due to the small screen, the limited battery life the limited number of tracks and waypoints that can be uploaded. But in case your handheld GPS fails, gets damaged or lost the inReach Explorer is a suitable backup if setup with the route and selected waypoints before starting the trip.
 
===Satellite Tracker===
The Greater Patagonian Trail leads partly through rather isolated uninhabited areas with no mobile phone coverage at all. In case of an accident a satellite based emergency communication devise may contribute to your survival.
 
 
* SPOT offers a light weight emergency beacon that when pushing an emergency button submits a distress signal via satellite with your GPS position to a rescue centre. This devise can also be set up to regularly send the GPS position in 10 minutes intervals and to display the hiked track on a map in the internet. We carried such a personal satellite tracker and our families and friends stayed much more relaxed because they could see us move day by day through the mountains. Unfortunately this devise is not particular reliable in Patagonia due to the satellite coverage. Based on our experience only 5% to 20% of the position signals are submitted successfully when hiking in this area. Therefore if you wish to keep your family and friends updated with a SPOT you need to purchase and activate the tracking option while hiking. This ensures that at least some positions are submitted successfully every day. In theory you can manually submit an "OK" message without purchasing the tracking option but this may result in rather long "black-out" periods since many signals don't get submitted successful and the devise itself does not provide any feedback if the signal was transmitted correctly or not. The other limitation of this devise is, that is cannot receive any messages or send messages written on the trail. SPOT requires you to choose one of the annual satellite data contracts so if you need it only for a few weeks or a few months you are forced to pay for more than you acetaully need. You find further information to this devise on the [http://international.findmespot.com/ SPOT manufacturers homepage.]
 
* InReach from Delorme offers a similar devise but without the above mentioned limitations. The inReach uses the more reliable Iridium satellite network that covers in particular the area towards the poles much better what favours its use in Patagonia. This devise also always provides a feedback if the position signal or message was send successful or not and keeps trying until the information is actually received. This devise can send position signals in regular intervals for display on an online map, the inReach is able to send and receive 160-character text messages with the GPS coordinates to mobile phones or email addresses and it can post updates to social media. And when pushing the emergency button a distress message is send via satellite with your GPS position to a rescue centre. The InReach itself is more expensive than a SPOT and it drains the batteries sligthly faster but the InReach is clearly the more reliable option. In contrast to a SPOT devise you do not need to opt for an annual data contact but you can choose the satellite data contract only for the months you really need it. Therefore I consider the InReach from Delorme a much better choice if compared with the SPOT. If you opt for the InReach Exporer and you set it up with the route before the trip than you also have a backup devise for your handheld GPS. See the [http://www.inreachdelorme.com/ inReach manufacturers homepage] for more information.
 
===Solar Battery Charger===
The partly long stages and the limited supply along the trail requires a proper power management for the GPS, the camera and all other electronic gear you may carry with you. We opted for a solar power panel to recharge all our batteries while hiking. Carrying regular batteries for up to 3 weeks would have meant a substantial extra weight. We choose the model [http://www.goalzero.com/p/79/guide-10-plus-solar-kit Nomad 7 from GoalZero with the Guide 10 Plus Power Pack.]
 
==Required Skills and Capabilities==
[[File:GPT06-P0028.jpg|thumb|450px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 6: Cross Country at "Las Monjas". File: Jan Dudeck]]
The Greater Patagonian Trail requires endurance not only because of the total trail lenght but the rather long trail sections. The first three sections exceed 100 km each without regular resupply points on the route. If combining sections the distances become even larger and can reach or exceed 300 km.
 
Hiking this trail requires a detailed planning and preparation before and during the hike. The gear needs to be reduced to what is essential. Before each section the correct type and quantity of food needs to be selected and carried.
 
The isolation of some parts of the trail demand a self-reliant attitude and cautious behaviour. The hiker needs to feel confident and move safely in various terrains, that reach from snow covered mountains passes to dense tempered rain forests.
 
Sudden weather changes may happen anytime in this mountainous region. The hiker needs to be prepared and equipped to master in example an surprising snow storm and closing in clouds while crossing a mountain pass.
 
Good navigational skills are essential since the route is mostly unmarked. The hiker needs to recognize and follow the often only vaguely visible trails that frequently peter out or divides into several branches. Here the hiker needs follow his "sixth sense" while verifying and comparing the taken route with the recommended GPS tracks. Good knowledge in setting up and using a GPS is compulsory.
 
This trail should only be attempted with at least some Spanish knowledge and practice. You need to be able to introduce yourself, explain what you are doing, buy food and other supplies and organize your bus trips to and from the trail. Hardly anyone along the trail speaks or understands even a few words in English.
 
The following skills are NOT required:
* Rock climbing
* White water rafting
* Any super-man-capabilities
 
==Other notable Long Distance Trails and Hikes==
===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].
 
The project was initiated by Estefania Chereguini and Walter Oszust in 2008. During their leadership of the project most stages were defined and marked. Read the Spanish articles [http://www.senderodechile.cl/opiniones/huella-andina-un-sueno-de-caminos-y-horizontes-patagonicos-hecho-realidad/ [[Huella Andina]]: Un sueño de caminos y horizontes patagónicos hecho realidad] and [http://senderoslatinoamericanos.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/FUND-TECNICOS-S-LARGO-REC-HUELLA-ANDINA-Chereguini-Oszust.pdf Fundamoentos Técnicos de Senderos de Larga Recorrido Huella Andina] for more information to this ambitious and promising long distance trail project.
 
Unfortunately when the Argentine Ministry of Tourism took control of the project it came practically to a halt. At this time no initiative is visible to close the remaining gaps and transform the [[Huella Andina]] in a continuous long distance trail. Currently many but not all of the 42 day stages are connect with each other. The longest continuous sections spans 166 km. There remain 3 larger and several smaller gaps making this an uncontinuous long distance trail. Here you find an [http://huellaandina.desarrolloturistico.gov.ar/mapa overview map of the Huella Andina].
 
The [[Huella Andina]] and the Greater Patagonian Trail join each other at the shore of the Lago Puelo where section 16 of the GPT finishes and section 17 starts. From this point the Hiking-Only-Option of the GPT follows for about 13 km the [[Huella Andina]] (See [http://huellaandina.desarrolloturistico.gov.ar/etapas/chubut/33-pn-lago-puelo-el-desemboque [[Huella Andina]] Section 33]). The following part of section 17 connects the Lago Puelo with Lago Cholila and contains some challenging cross-country hiking. The founders of the [[Huella Andina]], Estefania Chereguini and Walter Oszust, guided us through this difficult terrain, so only thanks to them this key piece of section 17 could be logged by GPS and published. The Hiking-Only-Options of section 18 of the GPT follows again the [[Huella Andina]] and corresponds with section 35 to 39 of the [[Huella Andina]] (See [http://huellaandina.desarrolloturistico.gov.ar/etapas/chubut Huella Andina Sections 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39]). Therefore even if the Hiking-Only-Options of section 18 is not recorded yet by GPS route finding should be rather easy since the [[Huella Andina]] is a marked trail.
 
If the development of the Huella Andina is continued than both trails; the Huella Andina and the Greater Patagonian Trail; may form the basis of a trail network in the Patagonian Andes that offer multiple hiking options from rather easy trails suitable for beginners to quite challenging routes for self-reliant hiking experts.
====Sendero de Chile====
In the year 2000 the Chilean government announced the plan of creating a continuous trail that spans all Chile from the northern most tip all the way to the southern end of the country. The total length of this hiking trail was projected to be between 8000 and 9000 km.
 
By now, 15 years later, the objective has shifted. Instead of a continuous trail that spans the entire country numerous smaller mostly unconnected trails are published. These trail are spread over the entire country to promote and facilitate access into the Chilean countryside for the local population. In July 2015 a total of 135 trails with a combined lenght of 2663 km are published on the [http://www.senderodechile.cl/rutas-y-senderos/ Homepage of "Sendero de Chile"]. The average trail lenghs is 19.7 km and two trails exceed the 100 km mark. Most of these trails are established routes that are used for decades by the local population in the foodhills of the Andes close to the main population centers. But some of these routes are in the main Andes mountain range. The Greater Patagonian Trail incorporate some of these routes.
 
See also the [http://www.senderodechile.cl/ homepage of the "Sendero de Chile"] foundation for further information.
 
===Noteable Long Distance Hikes===
====Settlement of the Americas====
The most impressive long distance hike in this region was without any doubt the prehistoric settlement of the Americas. These first settlers did not had any trail to follow, there was no resupply shop to refill the backpack with pasta an rice nor did these adventurers poses a maps or GPS to guide them. They could not shop any state-of-the-art ultralight gear online before leaving on their trip; all they had was MYOG (Make Your Own Gear) created from whatever they could gather and hunt. But they made it all the way to the southern tip of Tierra de Fuego and into the inhospitable Patagonian channels. Compared with this truly epic journey any hike now looks like stroll through a town. See also [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Settlement_of_the_Americas Wikipedia: Settlement of the Americas].
 
====George Meegan: Across Americas====
George Meegan is a British adventurer born in 1952. From 1977 to 1983 he crossed Americas from the southern tip of South America to the northernmost part of Alaska at Prudhoe Bay in an unbroken walk. He completed this 30,608 km km long journey on foot in 2,425 days and documented this truly epic hike in his book "The Longest Walk" (1988). See also [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Meegan Wikipedia: George Meegan].
 
====Deia Schlosberg & Gregg Treinish: Across the Andes====
Gregg Treinish and Deia Schlosberg, two adventurers from the US, hiked between 2006 and 2008 from the Ecuadorian capitol Quito all the way to the southern tip of Tierra del Fuego. In a little under two years they walked 12,500 km covering 55 degree of latitude. In 2008 they were honoured by National Geographic as “Adventurers of the Year” for their achievement. The trip journal and the approximate route are published on their homepage [http://www.acrosstheandes.com/ "Across the Andes"].
 
====Jeannette Leenders & Arlen Hoebergen: Across Chile====
Jeannette Leenders and Arlen Hoebergen, two Dutch athletes, walked in 2011 and 2012 from Visviri, the most northern settlement in Chile to Cabo Forward, the most southern mainland point of South American continent. They covered 6,242 km during this 290 day journey. In contrast to most hikers they did not carry a backpack but pulled a two-wheel-wagon on their trip and followed mostly roads. Your can read more about their hike on their homepage [https://caminarenchile.wordpress.com/ "El desafío mas largo del mundo"].
 
==Creation of the Greater Patagonian Trail==
[[File:GPT12-P0006.jpg|thumb|1050px|none|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 12: Lago Pirihueico. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT07-P0098.jpg|thumb|350px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 7: Dirt Road without transit traffic. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT01-P0019.jpg|thumb|350px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 1: Horse trail that is well visible on satellite images. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT16-P0057.jpg|thumb|350px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 16: Horse trail. File: Jan Dudeck]]
 
===Idea for the Trail===
I did my first hike in Patagonia in 2002 and returned several times in the following years. As most casual hikers I used a trekking guide book (Lonely Planet: "Trekking in the Patagonian Andes") and ventured only onto trails described by books or printed on maps. It did not even appear to me to go beyond.
 
A few years later I was recommended the "Adventure Handbook Central Chile" from Franz Schubert and Malte Sieber. This booked introduced me to the often overlooked area between the Chilean capital Santiago and Patagonia. Before reading this book I always passed this area without seriously considering to stop before reaching Patagonia.
 
In 2011 my girlfriend and I planned to do the hike to the Laguna las Truchas that is recommended in the "Adventure Handbook Central Chile". But before we set out we were told by locals that the landlord does not let pass any backpackers. The locals recommended a different trail instead for which we had no guide books, no maps and no guide willing to lead us. After long considerations we eventually took our backpacks and hiked on our own to the impressive Laguna Dial. We were surprised to walk on well maintained trails where maps are simply blank. In the following months and years we repeated this experience and learned that there are plenty of perfectly hikeable trails where maps show nothing but wilderness. When I reviewed our hikes on Google Earth I also noticed with surprise that these trails are often visible on the satellite images, in particular in areas without dense forest. This showed me a new method how to plan further hikes.
 
Two years later in 2013 I was wondering how far you can possibly walk through the Andes using the few published the many undocumented trails. More out of curiosity I started searching for a continuous trail in Google Earth trying to incorporate the best trails that I hiked so far. In a lengthy tedious search using Google Earth and all other material available to me I planned a constantly growing trail. I finally had a route that I estimated to be 1400 km.
 
===Planning of the Trail===
The Greater Patagonian trail is not an official trail that was planned and set up by a government agency. It’s better: it’s a compilation of the most beautiful and diverse hiking and horse trails, minor roads and cross country sections through the Patagonian Andes selected by a passionate hiker.
 
This genesis prevented that the routing of the trail was compromised and deformed by local interests and political constraints. The track could be chooses freely on either side of the border; on the Chilean side and the Argentine side of the Andes. There were also no “must-include” towns, villages or places because influential local politicians decided so. Simple the most attractive hikeable route could be selected, without any influence or other interests.
 
 
The route planning and trail selection conditions were:
* The trail leads through the heart of the Andes along the main mountain chain of the cordillera
* The most beautiful and diverse existing tracks are selected for this long distance trail
* Hiking paths and horse trails are preferred over roads with transit traffic even if this means a reasonable detour
* All included cross country sections are feasible for hiking without climbing gear or a machete
* The route is continuous without any gaps
* The track can be hiked legally without unauthorized border crossings
 
The trail was planned in 2013 by Jan Dudeck using:
* Google Earth satellite images (and later verified using Bing Maps satellite images)
* Hiking trails and horseback trips previously done by the author
* Hiking maps and guides books that document and describe trails in some selected areas
* Geotagged Panoramio images displayed on Google Earth
* Internet trail exchange platforms in particular: [http://www.wikiexplora.com/index.php/P%C3%A1gina_principal wikiexplora.com], [http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/home.do wikiloc.com] and [http://www.trekkingchile.com/EN/trekking-my_hike.php trekkingchile.com]
 
===First Hike of the Trail===
On November 12, 2013 I started with my girlfriend Meylin Ubilla in Coñaripe at the alternative starting point of section 11. We both had no previous long distance hiking experience and never used a packraft before.
 
During the hike we had a few moments of doubt because the route disappeared several times in impenetrable forest. But we always managed to find passable trail even if it meant returning a day’s hike. After about half the trail I became a bit concerned that we may run out of time before reaching our goal. But we kept going with a steady pace without worrying too much.
 
On February 23, 2014 we finally arrived again in Coñaripe were we set out a 104 days before. Our GPS summed up roughly hiked 1'600 km and 50'000 m climbed. We actually walked on 80 days with the remaining time used to resupply, rest and to travel from the end of section 16 to the start of section 1.
 
About one year later, from December 18, 2014 to February 9, 2015 we returned to the Greater Patagonian Trail and refined sections 3, 10 and 11 and hiked most of section 17 and 18 to extend the trail further south. We also crossed Laguna Dial (section 2) and Lago Pirihueico (section 12) by packraft what we did not dare the year before because we lacked at this time the packraft experience. And for the years to come we plan more hikes and packraft trips to [[#Trail_Extensions|extent the trail even further]].
 
===Trail Name===
[[File:Pat_map.PNG|thumb|350px|Traditional limits of Patagonia. File: Wikipedia]]
[[File:GPT13-P0028.jpg|thumb|350px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 13: Cross Country on Cordon Caulle. File: Jan Dudeck]]
 
While hiking the trail I have long thought how to name this trail. I was looking for a precise but well descriptive name.
 
The trail crosses various regions that are rather unknown outside of Chile and Argentina. Few people have ever heard about Maule or Bio-Bio and might associate whatever with these words but not an outstanding trekking region. Therefore naming the trail after the actual regions seamed not a good choice.
 
On the other side naming the trail after the Andes like "Andes Trail" would be a huge exaggeration because the trail spans only a smaller part of this 7000 km long mountain range.
 
Naming the trail after Patagonia like "Patagonian Trail" would be incorrect, because most of the trail is actually not located in Patagonia at least when applying the traditional limits of this region. Most of the trail is on the Chilean side where only the regions Aysén and Magallanes further south are traditionally considered part of Patagonia. See the map: "Traditional limits of Patagonia".
 
To be precise and well descriptive at the same time I decided to use the geographic term "Greater Patagonia" that includes Patagonia in its traditional limits and the surrounding area like "Greater London" includes the city of London and the surroundings. On the Argentine side Patagonia reaches much further north than on the Chilean side and has it's limit at the Río Colorado with its spring near the Laguna del Maule. This is the latitude where section 1 ends and section 2 starts. So "Greater Patagonia" applies very well to the entire trail region because all parts of the route are located not more then 100 km outside of the traditional limits of Patagonia.
 
The name "Greater Patagonian Trail" seams a good choice because:
* with more than 1500 km length it’s a greater trail than all other published trails in Patagonia,
* the trail is without doubt one of greater trails in respect of beauty and diversity,
* the trail is located completely within "Greater Patagonia",
* the name remains correct while the trail gets extended further south and
* the name embraces the legend of Patagonia and may become a legend itself.
 
===Publishing of the Trail===
The trail was first published in 2014 on wikiexplora after completing the long distance hike. Also more than one thousand images were geotagged and uploaded to Panoramio for display on Google Earth with a reference to this wikiexplora trail description. The tracks are also uploaded to Wikiloc.
 
The trail was published without any commercial interests. The motives for publishing were:
* Share this trail with other interested hikers to promote this first long distance trail in South America and the Andes
* Attract contributors that perfect and extent this trail
* Promote hiking in the rather unknown parts of the trail to create an additional source of income for the humble people still living along the trail
* Protect and maintain this trail by making it well-known and more frequently used
 
Before publishing the trail I have long considered if publishing may have also negative consequences for the affected area. I personally do not see that this trail will become overrun like in example "Torres del Paine". The trail is simply too long and demanding to attract large crowds. And even if a larger number of hikers seek this challenge they will be distribute over a rather long trail. The principle risk of publishing this trail is that this attracts irresponsible people that litter and don't have the necessary care when making camp fires. This may indeed cause severe damage and destruction. To promote a responsible behavior I plead that all hikers respect the Code of Conduct of the trail.
 
On the other side I have seen plenty of evidence that settlers give up and retreat from this gorgeous but challenging area along the trail. But if the settlers that created these trails vacate their land then the trails will soon be overgrown, become invisible and be destroyed by weather without being repaired and maintained. So by creating an addition source of income for these tough herdsmen and mountain farmers they will have one more reason to stay. And if they stay the trail will be maintained and remain accessible for hikers like you and me.
 
===Future Development of the Trail===
This trail is not finished yet. There is plenty of terrain left till this trail finally reaches the southern tip of Patagonia and ends either on Cabo Forward at the shore of the Magellan street or even on Tierra del Fuego. Also a few smaller sections need to verified and recorded and additional alternatives may be aggregated. Read the chapter [[#Trail Verifications, Trail Extensions and Additional Options|Trail Verifications, Trail Extensions and Additional Options]] to see how you can contribute to perfect and extent the Greater Patagonian Trail.
 
<!--
 
==Comment to Outdated Trail Files from 2015==
The trail files contain the geographic information of the trail and can be opened in Google Earth or uploaded to most current GPS devices. See [[#Trail Files for GPS and Google Earth|Trail Files for GPS and Google Earth]] for an introduction to the two available file formats (KMZ and GPX) and a table with the trail files for download.
 
 
All trail files contain two basic elements: Tracks and Waypoints.
 
 
The '''tracks''' in the trail files are continuous lines defined by a chain of geographic points that reassemble an actual part of the hiking route. Tracks have always a start and an end point and have therefore a given direction. Since the regular hiking direction of the Greater Patagonian Trail is southbound all tracks are defined in this direction even if they can be hiked in either direction. Tracks cannot branch into two options or different routes. Therefore most trail files consist of various tracks to document all hiking and packraft options.
 
 
The '''waypoints''' are geographic points defined by a latitude and longitude. Waypoints can be situated on or near the trail and document relevant locations i.e. camp sites, river crossings or mountain passes.
 
===Waypoints===
The waypoints are named with the item of interest at the waypoint. A alphanumeric code is added in brackets to be able to refer in the trail description to specific waypoints. The GPS normally displays the entire waypoint name with the code.
 
 
Example waypoint name: '''Start (GPT01-WP001)'''
 
* '''Start''': Item of interest, in this case the start of section 1
* '''(GPT01-WP001)''': Alphanumeric code in brackets
** '''GPT''': Abbreviation for '''G'''reater '''P'''atagonian '''T'''rail
** '''01''': Section number, in this example section 1
** '''-WP''': Abbreviation for '''W'''ay'''P'''oint
** '''001''': Running number
 
 
Used waypoint categories are:
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" width="148" | Item
! style="text-align: left;" | Comment
! style="text-align: left;" width="160" | Example Images
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Border
| Point where the trail crosses the actual border between Chile and Argentina. The border control is typically in a different location. The offical trail of section 10 trespasses briefly through Argentine territory. This seams to be tollerated.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109520781 Marked Border], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109172901 Unmarked Border]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Border Control
| Location where the police performs the exit and entry control. If you plan to cross the border you need to actively seek the police at the border control. You will not be given an entry step without getting the exit stamp first.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109520758 Chilean Border Control], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109520801 Argentine Border Control]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Bridge
| Pedestrian or vehicle bridge. May be in poor state.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108358730 Bridge], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108603542 Bridge], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109045385 Bridge], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109045027 Bridge]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Bus Stop
| Marked or unmarked bus stop. In most places buses will stop at any location if you clearly signal the driver that want to take a ride. Ask locals for the bus frequency and times.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/106799162 Bus Stop]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Cable Car River Crossing
| At larger rivers that cannot be crossed by food cable cars are ocasionally installed. Ask the locals how to operate them to cross the river.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/15784577?source=wapi&referrer=kh.google.com Cable Car River Crossing]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Camp
| Location suitable for camping. If not stated otherwise the camp site can be used free of charge and water and fire wood is available nearby. Pay camp sites are marked with an "$". To camp sites without water or wood "w/o water" or "w/o wood" is added. In areas with plenty of suitable locations only the most inviting paces are marked.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108431086 Camp], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108830230 Camp], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109046993 Camp], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109520581 Camp]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Carabineros
| Chilean local police. To control remote border area small partly improvised police posts are setup and manned during the summer. Whenever you pass such a police post report to them and explain your plans. We were always treated very nicely.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108320981 Carabiñeros], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108321083 Carabiñeros]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| CONAF
| Corporación Nacional Forestal manned post. Conaf is the governing body of all natural areas protected by the state (national Parks, National Resersves and Natural Monuments, or SNASPE) in Chile, including those without forest or major vegetation.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109047116 CONAF park entrence]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Diversion
| Location where the trails splits or where attention is needed to no miss the correct trail.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109046666 Diversion]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Ferry
| Public ferry.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109276151 Ferry], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109447143 Ferry], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109447433 Ferry]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Food
| Location where you may get food or a meal. This may be a settlers home or a puesto.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109520617 Food], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109447350 Food], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108321078 Food]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Gate
| Gate that may be locked. We several times climbed over such gates. Leave the gate in the state you found if. If it the gate was open leave it open. If the gate was closed then close it again.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108321410 Closed Gate], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108358683 Locked Gate], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109046547 Locked Gate]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Hot Spring
| Geothermal hot spring. May be an unspoiled natural pool or a pool enclosed by a contruction. Hot springs that charge an entrance fee are marked with an "$".
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/106655277 Natural Hot Spring], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108664304 Natural Hot Spring], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108430892 Enclosed Hot Spring], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109173521 Enclosed Hot Spring]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Hotel
| There are not many hotels along the trail so if you get there it's rare opportunity to pamper yourself.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109387285 Hotel]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Lake
| Fresh water lake.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/106853115 Lake], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108603536 Lake]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Lodging
| Accommodation of any type that is not a hotel. May be a simple room in a private house with a family (hospedaje familiar) or a bungalow (cabaña).
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109046567 Lodging], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109447350 Lodging]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Mini Shop
| Small shop or kiosk with a limited product range. If closed ask at the houses nearby for attention.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108664120 Mini Shop], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108321020 Mini Shop]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Pass
| Mountain pass. The pass elevation is normally added.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/106853250 Pass]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Puesto
| Improvised shelter or house in a remote area that is temporary used during the summer. If locked do not enter except in emergencies. If open you may use the shelter if needed with the appropriate respect.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108321078 Puesto], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108321299 Puesto], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108830309 Puesto], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109387147 Puesto]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Refuge
| Shelter that is open for public use.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/106618187 Refuge], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109520631 Refuge]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Restaurant
| Restaurant. Expect a filling meal but not sophisticated cuisine.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108479184 Restaurant]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| River Crossing
| River crossing without a bridge or a cable car. Water levels may change significant with snow melt, rain and daytime. If the river is feed by snowmelt water levels are normally lowest in the morning. Since rivers can change their bed look for the optimal spot where to cross and do not rely on the waypoint but your own judgment. River crossings are also locations where drinking water can be collected.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108321073 River Crossing on foot], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108321404 River Crossing on foot], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109447274 Easy River Crossing], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109387309 River Crossing by horse]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Sea
| Access to the sea.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109447503 Sea]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Settlement
| Group of permanently inhabited houses.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108479373 Settlement]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Settler
| Single permanently inhabited house. Here you may ask for food or shelter in case of bad weather.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109269700 Settler], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109520591 Settler]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Shop
| Shop with a wider product range. If closed ask at the houses nearby for attention.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109045124 Shop], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109447130 Shop]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Start
| Starting point of a section. The start is at the finish of the previous section. Since this is not an official trail these starting points are not marked consistently and often not marked at all.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109172574 Start Signpost], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109269517 Start in Town], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/106799162 Start at Bus Stop]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Summit
| Summit of a volcano along the trail that can be climbed on an optional side trip.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108479103 Summit], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109354945 Summit]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Trail Head
| Location where a trail starts on a road. Attention is needed to no miss this trail. Some trail heads have a signpost, others not.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108431004 Trail Head]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| w/o Water
| Camp or Puesto without drinking water nearby. If you plan to camp at such a location you should carry sufficient water for one night.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108664195 Puesto w/o Water]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| w/o Wood
| Camp or Puesto without fire wood nearby. If you plan to camp at such a location you should either carry a camping stove or sufficient fire wood for one night.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108430723 Camp w/o Wood]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Water
| Location where you can get drinking water. The water may need to be filtered, boiled or chemically treated to be fit for drinking.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108430628 Water]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| $
| Camp or Hot Spring where you need to pay.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108430903 CONAF Camping]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|?
| Not verified waypoint. The unconfirmed waypoints are based on satellite images, maps or tales from locals. Whenever you can confirm or correct such a waypoint, you are welcome to send the waypoint with a comment to the author of this trail for update of the GPS File.
| -
|}
 
The waypoint nomenclature is the same in the KMZ file and the GPX file.
 
===Tracks===
====Track Nomenclature of the KMZ File====
The route of each section is broken into smaller segments to differentiate between different trail types and to incorporate options and alternatives. Each section consists of up to 30 trail segments. Each track is named with a unique alphanumeric code.
 
 
Example track name: '''GPT01-TR006-RR-1'''
 
* '''GPT''': Abbreviation for '''G'''reater '''P'''atagonian '''T'''rail
* '''01''': Section number, in this example section 1
* '''-TR''': Abbreviation for '''TR'''ack
* '''006''': Running track number
* '''-RR''': The penultimate two-letter code shows the '''Route Type''', in this example its the regular route for hiking and packrafting (see the tables below for used codes)
* '''-1''': The last alphanumeric digit indicates the '''Trail Type''', in this exmaple its a hiking trail or horse trail (see the tables below for used codes)
 
 
Used '''Route Types''' are:
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" width="145" | Route Type
! style="text-align: left;" | Code
! style="text-align: left;" | Comment
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''R'''egular '''R'''oute
| RR
| Regular route for hikers and packrafters.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''R'''egular '''H'''iking (Route)
| RH
| Regular hiking route that avoid the packraft water sections. If you do not carry a packraft take these tracks.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''R'''egular '''P'''ackraft (Route)
| RP
| Regular route for packrafters including the hiking parts to and from the water parts. If you do not carry a packraft do NOT take these tracks.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''O'''ptional '''H'''iking (Route)
| OH
| Optional hiking route that returns to the regular route. The optional route may incorporate additional scenic areas or simply provide an alternative.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''O'''ptional '''P'''ackraft (Route)
| OP
| Optional packraft route that requires a packraft in at least one part of the option. The optional route may incorporate additional scenic areas or simply provide an alternative or just a packraft fun trip on a lake near by.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''S'''hort '''C'''ut
| SC
| Alternative shorter track that leads back to the regular route but misses a scenic area on the regular route.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''EX'''it (Route)
| EX
| Shorter or less demanding or less weather exposed hiking track that leaves the regular route to return to civilization. The end point of the exit route may be a village, a road with a bus stop or or a refuge where ground transport may be organised.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''SU'''mmit (Route)
| SU
| Route that leads up to a summit of a near by mountain or volcano. The climb may be physically demanding but should not require special climbing gear.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''I'''n'''V'''estigation (Route)
| IV
| Trail investigation project that may result in an alternation of the regular route or addition of a new option to the Greater Patagonian Trail. To each investigation project the motive and the requirements will be outlined in the investigation project description and should be read before attempting the investigation. Such an investigation may seak an unconfirmed or not yet recorded trail that minimzes road usage or passes a particular scenic area.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|}
 
 
Used '''Trail Types''' are:
 
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align: left;" width="145" | Trail Type
! style="text-align: left;" | Code
! style="text-align: left;" | Comment
! style="text-align: left;" width="320" | Example Images
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Cross Country
| 0
| Track that passes through open terrain without a visible trail.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109354646 Cross Country (volcano)], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109276394 Cross Country (forest)], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109354728 Cross Country (snow)], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108664280 Cross Country (steep)], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108664283 Cross Country (rocks without technical climbing)], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109387186 Cross Country]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Hiking or Horse Trail
| 1
| Mostly visible trail on any terrain.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/106655302 Horse Trail], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109172851 Hiking Trail], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109520354 Trail], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109520267 Trail], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109447182 Trail]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Minor Dirt Road
| 2
| No or light traffic only. Can also be an abandoned road or a private road that is not open for public use.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108479259 Dirt Road with Light Traffic], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108830469 Minor Public Dirt Road], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108430920 Minor Non-Public Dirt Road], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/108603527 Minor Private Road], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109276260 Unused Road], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109387151 Abandoned Road]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Mayor Dirt Road
| 3
| Public dirt roads with transit traffic.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109045206 Mayor Dirt Road]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Paved Road
| 4
| Only few shorter segments at the start or finish of a sections.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109447485 Paved Road]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''L'''ake (Packraft)
| L
| Alternative options available if not carrying a packraft.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109269773 Lake]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''R'''iver (Packraft)
| R
| Alternative options available if not carrying a packraft.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109269737 River]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''S'''ea (Packraft)
| S
| Alternative options available if not carrying a packraft.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109447491 Sea]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''F'''erry
| F
| Alternative ferry over lakes if not carrying a packraft.
| [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109276151 Ferry], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109447143 Ferry], [http://www.panoramio.com/photo/109447433 Ferry]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| To be verified
|?
| Trail type needs to be verified when hiked and recorded by GPS. Applies to route investigations only.
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|}
 
====Track Nomenclature of the GPX File====
 
Unfortunately a KMZ file cannot be uploaded directly to a Garmin GPS but needs to be converted first into GPX file. Also when using a handheld GPS devise it is of advantage to minimize the number of individual tracks. The Garmin devise that I use (GPSMap 62) is unable to display more than 200 individual track. Therefore numerous individual tracks that are in line were joined to minimize the number of tracks in the GPX files. This results unfortunately in some loss of information, i.e. the Trail Type gets lost, but the file itself becomes more user friendly.
 
 
The nomenclature of the GPX file tracks is based on the nomenclature of the KML file tracks but simplified to shorten the track names.
 
 
Example track name of a regular hiking or packraft route: '''GPT01-RR'''
 
* '''GPT''': Abbreviation for '''G'''reater '''P'''atagonian '''T'''rail
* '''01''': Section number, in this example section 1
* '''-RR''': The two-letter code at the end shows the '''Route Type''', in this example its the regular route for hiking and packrafting (see the tables above for used codes)
 
 
Example track name of a optional or investigation route: '''GPT01-TR4A-OH'''
 
* '''GPT''': Abbreviation for '''G'''reater '''P'''atagonian '''T'''rail
* '''01''': Section number, in this example section 1
* '''-TR''': OPTIONAL: Abbreviation for '''TR'''ack (not used for regular hiking or packraft routes)
* '''4''': OPTIONAL: Running track number base on the equivalent KMZ file track number i.e. a 400 becomes a 4 (not used for regular hiking or packraft routes)
* '''A''': OPTIONAL: Running letter (not used for regular hiking or packraft routes)
* '''-OH''': The two-letter code at the end shows the '''Route Type''', in this example its a optional hiking route (see the tables above for used codes)
 
====GPX Track List====
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align: left;" |GPX Track
! style="text-align: left;" |Distance
! style="text-align: left;" |On Water
! style="text-align: left;" |Ascent
! style="text-align: left;" |Descent
! style="text-align: left;" |Time
! style="text-align: left;" |Comment
|-
| GPT01-RR
| 103 km
| -
| 4967 m↑
| 4873 m↓
| 35 h
| -
|-
| GPT01-TR1-SC
| 8.0 km
| -
| 293 m↑
| 822 m↓
| 3 h
| -
|-
| GPT01-TR2-SU
| 16 km
| -
| 2034 m↑
| 2034 m↓
| 9 h
| -
|-
| GPT01-TR3-EX
| 32 km
| -
| 1171 m↑
| 1862 m↓
| 10 h
| -
|-
| GPT01-TR4A-OH
| 6.4 km
| -
| 445 m↑
| 376 m↓
| 2:30 h
| -
|-
| GPT01-TR4B-OH
| 2.4 km
| -
| 54 m↑
| 377 m↓
| 0:50 h
| -
|-
| GPT01-TR5-EX
| 11 km
| -
| 69 m↑
| 254 m↓
| 3 h
| -
|-
| GPT02-RH
| 143 km
| -
| 5297 m↑
| 5335 m↓
| 44 h
| -
|-
| GPT02-RP
| 141 km
| 9.0 km (6%)
| 4643 m↑
| 4681 m↓
| 42 h
| -
|-
| GPT02-TR1-OH
| 28 km
| -
| 917 m↑
| 704 m↓
| 8 h
| -
|-
| GPT02-TR2-OH
| 0.8 km
| -
| 28 m↑
| 3 m↓
| 0:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT02-TR4-OH
| 107 km
| -
| 3853 m↑
| 3431 m↓
| 32 h
| -
|-
| GPT02/03-OH-LONG
| X km
| -
| X m↑
| X m↓
| X h
| -
|-
| GPT02/03-TR1-OH
| X km
| -
| X m↑
| X m↓
| X h
| -
|-
| GPT02/03-TR2-OP
| X km
| -
| X m↑
| X m↓
| X h
| -
|-
| GPT03-RH
| 129 km
| -
| 6473 m↑
| 5867 m↓
| 44 h
| -
|-
| GPT03-RP
| 123 km
| 23 km (19%)
| 4818 m↑
| 4211 m↓
| 40 h
| -
|-
| GPT03-TR1-EX
| 6.0 km
| -
| 384 m↑
| 804 m↓
| 3 h
| -
|-
| GPT03-TR2A-EX
| 29 km
| -
| 434 m↑
| 1549 m↓
| 8 h
| -
|-
| GPT03-TR2B-EX
| 2.9 km
| -
| 34 m↑
| 15 m↓
| 0:40 h
| -
|-
| GPT03-TR2C-EX
| 12 km
| -
| 107 m↑
| 622 m↓
| 3 h
| -
|-
| GPT03-TR2D-EX
| 4.0 km
| -
| 80 m↑
| 312 m↓
| 1:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT03-TR3-SU
| 15 km
| -
| 1334 m↑
| 1334 m↓
| 7 h
| -
|-
| GPT03-TR4-OH
| 2.8 km
| -
| 128 m↑
| 318 m↓
| 1:00 h
| -
|-
| GPT03-TR5A-OH
| 2.4 km
| -
| 139 m↑
| 150 m↓
| 0:50 h
| -
|-
| GPT03-TR5B-OH
| 3.5 km
| -
| 284 m↑
| 284 m↓
| 1:30 h
| -
|-
| GPT03-TR8-IV
| 24 km
| -
| 1032 m↑
| 551 m↓
| 8 h
| -
|-
| GPT03-TR9A-IV
| 41 km
| -
| 1812 m↑
| 1614 m↓
| 13 h
| -
|-
| GPT03-TR9B-IV
| 19 km
| -
| 847 m↑
| 1864 m↓
| 7 h
| -
|-
| GPT03-TR9C-IV
| 6.1 km
| -
| 75 m↑
| 184 m↓
| 1:30 h
| -
|-
| GPT03/04-IV
| X km
| -
| X m↑
| X m↓
| X h
| -
|-
| GPT04-RH
| 57 km
| -
| 1377 m↑
| 1772 m↓
| 16 h
| -
|-
| GPT04-RP
| 59 km
| 9.2 km (16%)
| 1303 m↑
| 1698 m↓
| 17 h
| -
|-
| GPT04-TR1A-OH
| 12 km
| -
| 622 m↑
| 107 m↓
| 4 h
| -
|-
| GPT04-TR1B-OH
| 4.0 km
| -
| 312 m↑
| 80 m↓
| 1:30 h
| -
|-
| GPT04-TR3-OP
| 18 km
| 2.5 km (14%)
| 257 m↑
| 115 m↓
| 5 h
| -
|-
| GPT04-TR4-SU
| 8.7 km
| -
| 1561 m↑
| 1561 m↓
| 6 h
| -
|-
| GPT04-TR5-OH
| 14 km
| -
| 932 m↑
| 633 m↓
| 5 h
| -
|-
| GPT04-TR6-OH
| 0.6 km
| -
| 16 m↑
| 24 m↓
| 0:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT05-RR
| 43 km
| -
| 1485 m↑
| 1499 m↓
| 13 h
| -
|-
| GPT05-TR1-OH
| 3.0 km
| -
| 76 m↑
| 76 m↓
| 0:50 h
| -
|-
| GPT05-TR2A-IV
| 12 km
| -
| 220 m↑
| 503 m↓
| 3 h
| -
|-
| GPT05-TR2B-IV
| 3.9 km
| -
| 87 m↑
| 201 m↓
| 1:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT05-TR2C-IV
| 2.4 km
| -
| 19 m↑
| 61 m↓
| 0:30 h
| -
|-
| GPT05-TR3-OP
| 8.3 km
| 8.3 km (100%)
| 0 m↑
| 0 m↓
| 2:20 h
| -
|-
| GPT06-RR
| 50 km
| -
| 2525 m↑
| 2266 m↓
| 17 h
| -
|-
| GPT06-TR1-SU
| 3.4 km
| -
| 197 m↑
| 197 m↓
| 1:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT07-RR
| 82 km
| -
| 2882 m↑
| 3042 m↓
| 25 h
| -
|-
| GPT07-TR1-OH
| 1.0 km
| -
| 7 m↑
| 23 m↓
| 0:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT07-TR2-OH
| 0.6 km
| -
| 4 m↑
| 41 m↓
| 0:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT07-TR3A-IV
| 32 km
| -
| 878 m↑
| 1356 m↓
| 9 h
| -
|-
| GPT07-TR3B-IV
| 15 km
| -
| 357 m↑
| 573 m↓
| 4 h
| -
|-
| GPT07-TR3C-IV
| 5.8 km
| -
| 110 m↑
| 301 m↓
| 1:40 h
| -
|-
| GPT07-TR4-IV
| 4.0 km
| -
| 117 m↑
| 55 m↓
| 1:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT07-TR5-OP
| 1.0 km
| 1.0 km (100%)
| 0 m↑
| 0 m↓
| 0:20 h
| -
|-
| GPT08-RH
| 96 km
| -
| 2610 m↑
| 2804 m↓
| 27 h
| -
|-
| GPT08-RP
| 93 km
| 8.8 km (9%)
| 2293 m↑
| 2487 m↓
| 26 h
| -
|-
| GPT08-TR1A-OH
| 24 km
| -
| 343 m↑
| 256 m↓
| 6 h
| -
|-
| GPT08-TR1B-OH
| 1.6 km
| -
| 7 m↑
| 17 m↓
| 0:20 h
| -
|-
| GPT08-TR1C-OH
| 1.8 km
| -
| 19 m↑
| 9 m↓
| 0:30 h
| -
|-
| GPT08-TR3-IV
| 6.7 km
| -
| 482 m↑
| 171 m↓
| 2:30 h
| -
|-
| GPT08-TR4-OH
| 1.9 km
| -
| 51 m↑
| 81 m↓
| 0:30 h
| -
|-
| GPT08-TR5-IV
| 3.2 km
| -
| 144 m↑
| 118 m↓
| 1:00 h
| -
|-
| GPT08-TR6-OH
| 2.8 km
| -
| 156 m↑
| 131 m↓
| 1:00 h
| -
|-
| GPT08-TR7-OH
| 1.0 km
| -
| 118 m↑
| 0 m↓
| 0:30 h
| -
|-
| GPT08-TR8-SU
| 11 km
| -
| 1009 m↑
| 1009 m↓
| 5 h
| -
|-
| GPT09-RR
| 77 km
| -
| 2483 m↑
| 2304 m↓
| 23 h
| -
|-
| GPT09-TR1-SC
| 11 km
| -
| 382 m↑
| 238 m↓
| 3 h
| -
|-
| GPT09-TR2A-IV
| 4.4 km
| -
| 182 m↑
| 50 m↓
| 1:20 h
| -
|-
| GPT09-TR2B-IV
| 3.9 km
| -
| 135 m↑
| 0 m↓
| 1:00 h
| -
|-
| GPT09-TR2C-IV
| 6.0 km
| -
| 464 m↑
| 374 m↓
| 2:30 h
| -
|-
| GPT09-TR2D-IV
| 11 km
| -
| 159 m↑
| 696 m↓
| 3 h
| -
|-
| GPT10-RR
| 50 km
| -
| 1701 m↑
| 2484 m↓
| 15 h
| -
|-
| GPT10-TR1-SU
| 13 km
| -
| 860 m↑
| 860 m↓
| 5 h
| -
|-
| GPT10-TR2-EX
| 1.9 km
| -
| 1 m↑
| 234 m↓
| 0:30 h
| -
|-
| GPT10-TR3-EX
| 35 km
| -
| 747 m↑
| 2120 m↓
| 10 h
| -
|-
| GPT10-TR5-OH
| 14 km
| -
| 456 m↑
| 477 m↓
| 4 h
| -
|-
| GPT10-TR6-OP
| 4.9 km
| 4.9 km (100%)
| 0 m↑
| 0 m↓
| 1:20 h
| -
|-
| GPT10-TR7A-IV
| 35 km
| -
| 1884 m↑
| 494 m↓
| 11 h
| -
|-
| GPT10-TR7B-IV
| 14 km
| -
| 801 m↑
| 639 m↓
| 5 h
| -
|-
| GPT10-TR7C-IV
| 5.9 km
| -
| 247 m↑
| 46 m↓
| 1:50 h
| -
|-
| GPT11-RH
| 35 km
| -
| 1792 m↑
| 1420 m↓
| 12 h
| -
|-
| GPT11-RP
| 40 km
| 22 km (56%)
| 719 m↑
| 347 m↓
| 12 h
| -
|-
| GPT11-TR1-OH
| 3.2 km
| -
| 120 m↑
| 104 m↓
| 1:00 h
| -
|-
| GPT11-TR2-OH
| 3.4 km
| -
| 232 m↑
| 253 m↓
| 1:20 h
| -
|-
| GPT11-TR4-OP
| 24 km
| -
| 280 m↑
| 295 m↓
| 6 h
| -
|-
| GPT12-RH
| 71 km
| -
| 2460 m↑
| 2970 m↓
| 22 h
| -
|-
| GPT12-RP
| 86 km
| 22 km (26%)
| 2283 m↑
| 2794 m↓
| 26 h
| -
|-
| GPT12-TR2-OP
| 3.4 km
| 3.4 km (100%)
| 0 m↑
| 0 m↓
| 1:00 h
| -
|-
| GPT12-TR3-OH
| 14 km
| -
| 458 m↑
| 589 m↓
| 4 h
| -
|-
| GPT13-RH
| 81 km
| -
| 4206 m↑
| 3931 m↓
| 28 h
| -
|-
| GPT13-RP
| 71 km
| 9.7 km (14%)
| 2980 m↑
| 2704 m↓
| 23 h
| -
|-
| GPT13-TR2A-OH
| 11 km
| -
| 743 m↑
| 564 m↓
| 4 h
| -
|-
| GPT13-TR2B-IV
| 14 km
| -
| 475 m↑
| 475 m↓
| 4 h
| -
|-
| GPT13-TR3-SU
| 7.5 km
| -
| 836 m↑
| 836 m↓
| 4 h
| -
|-
| GPT13-TR4-EX
| 18 km
| -
| 174 m↑
| 354 m↓
| 4 h
| -
|-
| GPT14-RR
| 39 km
| -
| 1795 m↑
| 2034 m↓
| 13 h
| -
|-
| GPT14-TR1-OH
| 0.3 km
| -
| 16 m↑
| 42 m↓
| 0:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT14-TR2A-EX
| 5.4 km
| -
| 152 m↑
| 332 m↓
| 1:40 h
| -
|-
| GPT14-TR2B-EX
| 1.1 km
| -
| 161 m↑
| 2 m↓
| 0:30 h
| -
|-
| GPT14-TR3-EX
| 8.8 km
| -
| 0 m↑
| 0 m↓
| 1:50 h
| -
|-
| GPT14-TR4-EX
| 10 km
| -
| 288 m↑
| 290 m↓
| 3 h
| -
|-
| GPT14-TR5-IV
| 7.5 km
| -
| 0 m↑
| 981 m↓
| 2:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT15-RH
| 59 km
| -
| 2140 m↑
| 2232 m↓
| 18 h
| -
|-
| GPT15-RP
| 85 km
| 40 km (48%)
| 1814 m↑
| 1906 m↓
| 26 h
| -
|-
| GPT15-TR4-OP
| 17 km
| 14 km (82%)
| 55 m↑
| 94 m↓
| 5 h
| -
|-
| GPT15-TR5-OH
| 8.8 km
| -
| 0 m↑
| 0 m↓
| 1:50 h
| -
|-
| GPT15-TR6-OH
| 10 km
| -
| 290 m↑
| 288 m↓
| 3 h
| -
|-
| GPT16-RH
| 151 km
| -
| 5896 m↑
| 5738 m↓
| 47 h
| -
|-
| GPT16-RP
| 145 km
| 33 km (23%)
| 4646 m↑
| 4488 m↓
| 45 h
| -
|-
| GPT16-TR1-IV
| 1.6 km
| -
| 133 m↑
| 6 m↓
| 0:40 h
| -
|-
| GPT16-TR2-OH
| 14 km
| -
| 326 m↑
| 357 m↓
| 4 h
| -
|-
| GPT16-TR8-OP
| 5.7 km
| 5.7 km (100%)
| 40 m↑
| 41 m↓
| 1:40 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-RH
| 86 km
| -
| 3624 m↑
| 3275 m↓
| 27 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-RP
| 76 km
| 41 km (54%)
| 2181 m↑
| 1847 m↓
| 24 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-TR1A-IV
| 12 km
| -
| 165 m↑
| 133 m↓
| 3 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-TR1B-IV
| 2.8 km
| -
| 1185 m↑
| 0 m↓
| 3 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-TR1C-IV
| 1.4 km
| -
| 26 m↑
| 7 m↓
| 0:20 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-TR1D-IV
| 0.9 km
| -
| 23 m↑
| 6 m↓
| 0:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-TR1E-IV
| 0.9 km
| -
| 6 m↑
| 8 m↓
| 0:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-TR1F-IV
| 2.7 km
| -
| 153 m↑
| 17 m↓
| 0:50 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-TR3-EX
| 1.2 km
| -
| 15 m↑
| 0 m↓
| 0:20 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-TR4-OP
| 4.7 km
| 3.3 km (70%)
| 17 m↑
| 31 m↓
| 1:20 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-TR5A-OH
| 2.1 km
| -
| 32 m↑
| 32 m↓
| 0:30 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-TR5B-OP
| 3.8 km
| 3.8 km (100%)
| 27 m↑
| 27 m↓
| 1:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-TR6-OH
| 0.6 km
| -
| 3 m↑
| 5 m↓
| 0:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-TR7-IV
| 0.3 km
| -
| 11 m↑
| 1 m↓
| 0:10 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-TR8-OH
| 8.1 km
| -
| 91 m↑
| 68 m↓
| 1:50 h
| -
|-
| GPT17-TR9-OH
| 15 km
| -
| 0 m↑
| 0 m↓
| 3 h
| -
|-
| GPT18-RH
| 58 km
| -
| 2007 m↑
| 2012 m↓
| 17 h
| -
|-
| GPT18-RP
| 72 km
| 72 km (99%)
| 26 m↑
| 7 m↓
| 21 h
| -
|-
| GPT18-TR2-OP
| 3.7 km
| 3.7 km (100%)
| 0 m↑
| 0 m↓
| 1:00 h
| -
|-
| GPT18-TR3-OP
| 1.2 km
| -
| 0 m↑
| 16 m↓
| 0:20 h
| -
|}
 
===Custom Map with GPX2IMG===
 
An interesting and suitable option to transfer all the tracks and waypoints to an GPS is creating a customs map. This evades handling a large number of tracks on a small GPS which is not without problems with some handheld GPS devices.
 
 
I have recently "discovered" the free software GPX2IMG and used it with success to convert more than 500 track and 1500 waypoints into a custom map and upload it to my GPS without any problem. This simple to use software creates a transparent custom map so all converted tracks and waypoints are displayed i.e. on top of a topographic map without hiding the information of the topographic map. In particular with the trail extension and a rising number of tracks this will be a more suitable method to transfer and display all the entire trail with all the options on a GPS.
 
 
The free software can be found and downloaded here: [http://www.gpx2img.com/ www.gpx2img.com]
 
 
The steps for creating a custom map are:
 
Optional Step 1: Edit the KMZ file in Google Earth as required (i.e. combining the selected sections or deleting the not required section) and save it as single KMZ file.
 
Optional Step 2: Open the KMZ file in Garmin Basecamp and edit the tracks and waypoints as required.
 
Optional Step 3: Save all tracks and waypoints with Garmin Basecamp in a single GPX file.
 
Optional Step 4: Close Garmin Basecamp.
 
Step 5: Open GPX2IMG and load the GPX file that you wish to convert into a custom map.
 
Step 6: Select the appropriate format for the tracks (i.e. set all tracks to be displayed as "Trail") and waypoints (i.e. leave all waypoints as blue dots) in GPX2IMG before creating the custom map.
 
Step 7: Convert the GPX file into a custom map. If set up correctly the created custom map will be written automatically into a Garmin Basecamp directory.
 
Step 8: Open Garmin Basecamp and select the GPX2IMG map and verify if the map contains the desired tracks and waypoints in the appropriate format. Note that the custom map may not appear transparent in Basecamp even if correctly converted.
 
Step 9: Transfer the custom map to handheld GPS devise.
 
Step 10: Verify that the custom map was transferred correctly to the handheld GPS devise. You may need to "enable" the custom map and an topographical map to see all information simultaneously.
 
===Distances, Ascents, Descents and Walking Times===
[[File:GPT07-MakingABreak.jpg|thumb|left|Making a lunch break. Such breaks are not included in the Walking Times. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT15-P0049.jpg|thumb|400px|Switching from backpack to packraft or back takes us about 1 hour. Such stops are not included in the Walking Times. File: Meylin Ubilla]]
 
This trail description contains plenty of numbers for distances, altitudes, ascents, descents and even walking times. All these numbers are based on the "cleaned" GPS track without our occasional seek and search detours. Also all altitudes, ascents and descents are based on a digital map with a quite precise altitude profile.
 
 
These numbers are therefore also free of accumulated "GPS noise" and "barometric altimeter noise" that increase the measured distances, ascents and descents when recording the track by GPS while hiking. So, don't be surprised if your GPS will always indicate longer distances, more ascents and descents even if you stay on the trail. A deviation of 10% is typical.
 
 
The walking times provided here are estimated moving times without any breaks and rests. When evaluating our GPS records I was surprised that we did not move nearly one third of the time between leaving the camp in the morning and stopping again in the evening. It did not appear to us that we make such long breaks but the GPS record does not lie. So in our case a walking time of 6 hours means more or less a 9 hour hiking day adding normal breaks for eating, taking pictures, verifying the route, chating with the locals on the trail or harvesting some piñones.
 
 
The estimated walking time is calculated purely based on distances, ascents and descents. I opted to use such a calculation because it removes the unnecessary seek and search detours and the factor of having a good day or a bad day. I developed and verified this calculation method based on all our GPS records and was surprised myself that such a simplified calculation provides quite reliable estimates. The calculated times correspond closely with our actual walking time. If applied to our actual GPS records the average deviation per day is 15 minutes and never more than 50 minutes.
 
 
The used calculation factors are:
* 12:30 minutes per km (corresponds with a 4.8 km/h walking speed on a level trail)
* 17:10 minutes per km on water in a packraft (corresponds with a 3.5 km/h paddle speed on water)
* Additional 12:00 minutes per 100 m ascent
* Additional 4:00 minutes per 100 m descent
 
 
These factors resulted in the smallest average deviation to our actual moving time recorded by GPS. I would not consider us as fast hikers, therefore the walking times calculated with these factors are rather conservative.
 
==Trail Verifications, Trail Extensions and Additional Options==
===Trail Verifications===
The trail files contain a few not verified tracks and waypoints because we did not hike all the options and alternatives. This unconfirmed tracks and waypoints are based on satellite images, maps or tales from locals. The corresponding KMZ tracks have a question mark “?” in the name if the trail is not clearly visible on satellite image. So you can see in the KMZ file on what tracks and waypoints you can rely on and where your explorer’s skills are needed. Tracks that need to be explored can also be recognized on unnatural straight lines over longer distances.
 
 
Whenever you walk such a not verified trail, you are welcome to record the trail by GPS and [[#Questions and Feedbacks|send the file with a comment to the author of this trail]] to update the trail file.
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" style="width: 95px;" |GPX Track
! style="text-align: left;" style="width: 200px;" |Name
! style="text-align: left;" |Expected<br>Difficulty
! style="text-align: left;" |Comment
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT02-TR4-OH
| Laguna del Maule and El Troncoso
| Challenging
| This route is recommended for '''hikers that wish to explore and contribute''' an alternative route to the Greater Patagonian Trail. This hiking option traverses the volcanic terrain around the Laguna del Maule and follows the particular remote valley El Troncoso near the border to Argentina. This option also minimizes hiking on roads. <br> <br> We have done a part of this route on horseback. Other parts constitute traditional trails used by local herdsman to drive cattle up the valley El Troncoso. One part is also published by "Sendero de Chile" as "[http://www.senderodechile.cl/senderos/potrero-lo-aguirre/ Potrero Lo Aguirre]". <br> <br> This trail adds 27 km distance, 1200 m ascent and 1300 m descent compared to the regular route of section 2. This alternative incorporates more horse and hiking trails and less roads than the regular route. This alternative includes only 22 km of roads (12 km of paved road and 10 km of dirt road) compared to 43 km dirt road of the regular route making this a potentially more attractive hiking route. We were told that during the summer a small resupply shop opens near the trail at the Laguna del Maule about 45 km after the starting point of this alterantive. Make sure to not get an exit stamp into your passport when passing the border control post near the Laguna del Maule since you remain in Chile.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT03-TR8-IV
| Western Shore of Laguna de Las Lajas
| Challenging
| This route is recommended for '''hikers that wish to explore and contribute''' an alternative route to the Greater Patagonian Trail. The advantage of this route is the proximity to the lake and the lower elevation making it a potentially saver route in instable weather compared to the regular route high up along the ridge. <br> <br> A good part of the shore of the Laguna de Las Lajas seams flat enough to be hiked before the terrain along the shore line becomes steep, cliffy and impassable. When searching the trail high up along the ridge we found a hiking and horse trail that appeared to decent to the shore of Laguna de Las Lajas connecting the hikeable part of the shore line with the ridge but we did not had the time to descent this route all the way and record it by GPS. <br> <br> The investigation of this route may be done southbound with sufficent reserve food to backtrack along the shore if the trail up to the ridge can not be found. But an investigation is better done in northbound direction since the start of this route is already recorded and backtracking is shorter and less demanding in case the trail does not continue to the shore of the Laguna de Las Lajas. An investigation may also be done when carrying a packraft to circumnavigate the steep and cliffy part of the shore line.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT03-TR9A-IV <br> GPT03-TR9B-IV <br> GPT03-TR9C-IV
| Rio Ñuble and Las Aguilas
| Expedition
| This investigation project is '''only recommended for explorers''' for which a trail can't be remote enough. <br> <br> Satellite images show horse trails leading up the valley along the Río Ñuble. One trail branches off southbound leading up towards a pass to the valley Las Aguilas. In this remove valley pasture farming was banned some years ago to protect the habitate of the huemules. Only a forward police post remains in this valley. When meeting these police man in the hot springs "Los Peucos" they reported that the old pasture trails fainted away but that the terrain was still passable. The trail file for GPS proposes several potentially hiking options either in the valley Las Aguilas passing the police post or up on the ridge leading to a hidden mountain lake. <br> <br> This exploration project is only recommended for a well experienced small group of self-reliant hikers with sufficent time and food to spend some time searching for a passable trail.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT03/04-IV
| East of Laguna de Las Lajas
| Expedition
| This investigation project is '''only recommended for explorers''' for which the best trail is the most remote trail. <br> <br> A possible cross-country route may lead along the shore and ridge east of the Laguna de Las Lajas avoiding the dirt road on the western side of the lake. It remains still unclear how much vegetation may slow down the researcher of this route. In some parts smaller patches of forest are visible but large areas of this cross-country route seems to be covers by volcanic ash from the nearby volcano Antuco. Depending on the actual water level of the Laguna de Las Lajas the possible hiking route may alter; as lower the water level as more and as shorter hiking options will be available. <br> <br> This exploration project is only recommended for a well experienced small group of self-reliant hikers with sufficent time and food to spend some time searching for a passable trail. Carrying a packraft may be a significant benefit to be able to aborted the route research and to return to the road on the western side of the Laguna de Las Lajas.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT04-TR3-OP
| East of Laguna de Las Lajas by Packraft
| Challenging
| This investigation project provides an '''alternative option for packrafters'''. It replaces the longer dirt road on the western side of the Laguna de Las Lajas by a shorter hiking and cross-country trail on the eastern side of the lake. <br> <br> Depending on the actual water level of the Laguna de Las Lajas the possible hiking route may alter; as lower the water level as more and as shorter hiking options will be available. If the water level is exceptionally low if might even be possible for hikers without a packraft to leave the regular route on the dirt road, cross the river to the eastern side of the lake and continue on the suspected shorter hiking and cross-country trail east of the Laguna de Las Lajas.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT05-TR2A-IV <br> GPT05-TR2B-IV <br> GPT05-TR2C-IV
| Alternative to Guallali
| Moderate
| This uncomplicated trail search is recommended for hikers that dislike hiking on roads and prefer searching a one kilometer short trail section through a patch of forrest. This route avoids the dirt road with moderate transit traffic from the Laguna del Barco to Guallali. On satellite images a smaller part of this route in covered by forest and therefore not visible but a suitable hiking and horse trail probably exists. This trail seams '''more attractive for hiking''' and once this track is verified and recorded by GPS it will probably be incorporated in the regular route and replace the dirt road.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT07-TR3A-IV <br> GPT07-TR3B-IV <br> GPT07-TR3C-IV
| Alternative to Liucura on Ridge
| Moderate
| Hikers that do not optimize for speed but enjoyment will probably prefer this trail. This route avoids the 25 km of dirt road and 4 km of paved from the Río Pehuenco to Liucura. On satellite images some shorter parts of this route are not visible but a suitable hiking and horse trail probably exists. This route seams '''more attractive for hiking''' and once this track is verified and recorded by GPS it will probably be incorporated in the regular route and replace the dirt road and the paved road.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT07-TR4-IV
| Alternative to Paved Road to Liucura
| Moderate
| This short cut is only of interest for hikers that did not search the alternative trail to Liucura on the ridge mentioned above (GPT07-TR3A-IV, GPT07-TR3B-IV and GPT07-TR3C-IV). This route avoids 4 km of paved road. It remains unclear if locked gates or fances may limit access but it seams rather likely that this route can be hiked making the last few kilometers into Liucura more enjoyable.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT08-TR3-IV
| Short Cut to Cerro el Marcial
| Moderate
| A recently uploaded wikiloc track shows a hiking and horse trail that short cuts the longer and less atractive dirt road and seams '''more attractive for hiking'''. Once this track is verfied and recorded it will probably be incorporated in the regular route and replace the dirt road.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT09-TR2A-IV <br> GPT09-TR2B-IV <br> GPT09-TR2C-IV <br> GPT09-TR2D-IV
| Alternative to Pueso via Cerro Las Painetas
| Challenging
| The last part of section 9 follows a little used dirt road from Curarrehue to Puesco Bajo. While the current regular route is not unpleasent to walk it might also not be the best choise for hiking. Therefore two alternative options are proposed but not investigated and verified yet. The more promising option is the alternative to the volcano Quetrupillan via Fundo Huililco (see below) but also this option might be worth to be invesitigated. <br> <br> The proposed alternative to Pueso via Cerro Las Painetas crosses a rather steep mountainous area covered by Araucaria forest. It remains unclear if a trail exists that connects Huincapalihue with the valley east of Cerro Las Painetas. On a proper trail this might be an attractive hike through an impressive forest but without a maintained trail this area is nearly impassable. The on satellite images not visible trail section is either 2 km or 4 km long but in dense vegetation this may take a full day of tiresome struggle. <br> <br> If someone whishes to investigate this option he should ask the local residents for trails and possibly hire a local guide.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT10-TR7A-IV <br> GPT10-TR7B-IV <br> GPT10-TR7C-IV
| Alternative to Quetrupillan via Fundo Huililco
| Moderate
| The last part of section 9 follows a little used dirt road from Curarrehue to Puesco Bajo. While the current regular route is not unpleasent to walk it might also not be the best choise for hiking. Therefore two alternative options are proposed but not investigated and verfied yet. The more promising option is this alternative to the volcano Quetrupillan via Fundo Huililco and '''more attractive for hiking''' than the current regular route. <br> <br> This proposed route follows after Curarrehue for 2 km the paved road before it takes the dirt road to Puela Bajo and Hulilco. Satellite images and wikiloc tracks suggest two possible options. GPT10-TR7A-IV is little travel dirt road all the way up to the base of the volcano Quetrupillan passing the fundo Huililco. GPT10-TR7B-IV seems more atractive for hiking if there is a continious trail through the forest. On satellite images a 2 km section is completely covered by forest and the suspected trail can not be clearly identified. <br> <br> Once this track is verified and recorded by GPS it will probably be incorporated in the regular route and replacing the dirt road and pave road via Puesco Bajo.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT13-TR2B-IV
| Hidden Thermal Springs
| Moderate
| My favorite hot springs on the Cordon Caulle were deeply covered by lava during the recent eruption in 2011. A recently published wikiloc track provides a 7 km long trail to other attractive '''hot springs''' on this volcanic plateau. This 14 km side trip (including return) is recommended for hikers with some extra time spare or to site out one or two bad weather days just meters from a hot spring.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT14-TR5-IV
| La Plaza
| Moderate
| This trail crosses the mystic death forest that is locally known as "La Plaza" and seems be '''more atractive if the trail is re-opened'''. Until a few years ago this path was the standard route from the Lago Ruplanco to the volcano Antillanca. A few years ago "Sendero de Chile" sponsored the creation of a new trail a bit further west that bypasses this impressive location. This and the powerful eruption of the Cordon Caulle resulted in the old trail to become destroyed and overgrown but local guides at the Lago Rupanco spoke about reopening this trail to offer horse back tours to "La Plaza". <br> <br> This trail is best investigated if hiking northbound against the regular hiking direction since this facilitates permits backtracking to the regular route. If searching this path southbound in the regular hiking direction plan one extra day in case the trail is found completely overgrown and impassable. Do not undermine the dense vegetation and better return if you can not find and follow the old trail.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT17-RH <br> GPT17-TR1-IV
| Section 17 Hiking-Only-Option and Rio Turbio to Pass
| Moderate
| When investigating and recording sections 17 and 18 in February 2015 the sector east of Lago Puelo and Río Turbio was inaccesisble and closed due to a large forest fire. Also sections 17 and 18 where investigated and recorded using a packraft therefore the Hiking-Only-Options were not documented by GPS. Significant parts of Hiking-Only-Option of section 17 and 18 follow the Huella Andina and should therefore be marked trails and rather easy to follow if restored after the large forest fire. <br> <br> Hiking-Only-Option from Lago Puelo "Ferry (GPT17-WP002)" to Río Epuyen "Bridge (GPT17-WP006)": Here the Greater Patagonian Trail follows stage 33 of the Huella Andina. This area was significantly affected by the forest fire in February 2015 and the trail may be officially closed for hiking. If this trail is not passable a boat transfer over the Lago Puelo to Río Turbio is an alterantive. <br> <br> Hiking-Only-Option from Río Epuyen "Bridge (GPT17-WP006)" to Río Turbio "Lake & Ferry (GPT17-WP008)": Here a hiking and horse leads along the hillside to the Río Turbio. Also this area was significantly affected by the forest fire in February 2015 and the trail may be officially closed. <br> <br> Regular Route from Río Turbio "Lake & Ferry (GPT17-WP008)" to "Pass (GPT17-WP101)": This section could not be investigated and recorded due to the forest fire. Smaller trail segments are visible on satellite images but not the complete route. Ask local residents for the trail and possibly hire a local guide. <br> <br> Regular Route from Pass (GPT17-WP101) to Lago Cholila: This trail was recorded by GPS while guided by the founders of the Huella Andina. This trail section contains 6 km of cross country through a dense but still passable forest. In this cross country section between the waypoints "Water & Trail End (GPT17-WP104)" and "Camp (GPT17-WP107)" you need to find your own way taking the GPS track as approximate guide only. <br> <br> Hiking-Only-Option from Lago Cholila to Villa Rivadavia: While packrafters can conviniently float down the Río Carrileufu hikers need take the dirt road on the left side of the river. It remains unclear if a side stream of the Río Carrileufu can be crossed or not. "Bridge ? (GPT17-WP127)" or "Bridge ? (GPT17-WP128)" are suspected river crossings but satellite images are not conclusive. The track "GPT17-TR8-OH" constitues a significant detour but gets you over this river on road bridge.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT18-RH
| Section 18 Hiking-Only-Option
| Moderate
| Hiking-Only-Option from Villa Rivadavia "Start (GPT18-WP001)" to Punta Mato "Camp & Ferry (GPT18-WP002)": Here the Greater Patagonian Trail follows stage 35, 36, 37 and 38 of the Huella Andina. This trail is marked and should be rather easy to follow. <br> <br> Hiking-Only-Option from Punta Mato "Camp & Ferry (GPT18-WP002)" to Lago Kruger "Ferry & Hotel (GPT18-WP003)": Daily ferry over Lago Futalaufquen and Lago Kruger. <br> <br> Hiking-Only-Option from Lago Kruger "Ferry & Hotel (GPT18-WP003)" to Villa Futalaufquen "Bus Stop (GPT18-WP024)": Here the Greater Patagonian Trail follows stage 39 of the Huella Andina. This trail is marked and should be rather easy to follow.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|}
 
===Trail Extensions===
This trail is not finished yet. There is plenty of terrain left till this trail finally reaches the southern tip of Patagonia and ends either on the shores of the Magellan street or even on Tierra del Fuego.
 
 
In a laborious research possible hiking and packraft extension routes were investigated using Google Earth, Bing Maps satellite images and numerous other sources. The most promising options were compiled in Google Earth into KMZ files and uploaded to wikiexplora as section 19 to 27. See the two tables below. These proposed extensions cover the entire area from the current finish of section 18 to the northern shore of the Lago General Carrera or Lago Bueno Aires (Chileans and Argentines could not agree on one name for this lake cross-border lake therefore this lake has two names). This proposed extension add an estiamted 600 to 700 km.
 
 
In this area the most promising Hiking-Only-Option and Packraft-Option are located in different valleys. Therefore both routes are quite distant from each other and only interconnected in a few locations. To distinglish between both options but maintain the section numbering sequence a letter is added to the section number i.e. "GPT19'''H'''" or "GPT19'''P'''". '''H''' stands for '''H'''iking and '''P''' means '''P'''ackraft.
 
 
Both proposed extensions, the Hiking-Only-Option (GPT19H to GPT27H) and Packraft-Option (GPT19P to GPT27P) are expected to be in some parts more challanging then the already cornfirmed sections (GPT01 to GPT18). Some trails are located in more remote areas, are less frequently travelled and may be partly overgrown. The packraft part on water span larger rivers, cross wider lakes and more explosed fjords. Weather is generally colder, more rainy and more windy. Therefore these routes are only recommended for experienced well-equipped hikers and packrafters that wish to investiage these not yet confirmed and recorded routes.
 
 
The "Yelcho Return Circuit" (GPT99P) is a possible packraft return route from the end of section 20 (Lower Futaleufu) to the start of section 16 (Cochamó). This route can only be taken by packraft and is receommended in northbound direction only. To take this section in southbound direction someone needs to hike more than 40 km on the Carretera Austral (from Chaitén to Lago Yelcho) because this section incorporates a downstream float on the river Yelcho.
 
 
If you plan to hike or paddle any of these these proposed extensions [[#Questions and Feedbacks|contact the author for further information]].
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" colspan="7" | Hiking-Only-Options
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" | Section Name
! style="text-align: left;" | Number
! style="text-align: left;" | Country and Region/Province
! style="text-align: left;" | Next City or Town
! style="text-align: left;" | Start
! style="text-align: left;" | Direction<br>Option
! style="text-align: left;" | Trail File
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Aldea Escolar
| GPT19H
| Argentina, Chubut
| Esquel
| Villa Futalaufquen
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT19H.kmz| GPT19H.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Carrenleufu
| GPT20H
| Argentina, Chubut and Chile, Los Lagos (X)
| Corcovado, Esquel
| Aldea Escolar
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT20H.kmz| GPT20H.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Lago Verde
| GPT21H
| Chile, Los Lagos (X) and Aysén (XI)
| Chaiten
| Palena
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT21H.kmz| GPT21H.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| La Tapera
| GPT22H
| Chile, Aysén (XI)
| Chaiten, Coyhaique
| Lago Verde
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT22H.kmz| GPT22H.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Río Cisnes
| GPT23H
| Chile, Aysén (XI)
| Coyhaique
| La Tapera
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT23H.kmz| GPT23H.kmz]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Coyhaique
| GPT24H
| Chile, Aysén (XI)
| Coyhaique
| Carretera Austral (Ruta 7)<br>Junction to El Machi (Ruta X-421)
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT24H.kmz| GPT24H.kmz]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Río Simpson
| GPT25H
| Chile, Aysén (XI)
| Coyhaique
| Coyhaique
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT25H.kmz| GPT25H.kmz]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Cerro Castillo
| GPT26H
| Chile, Aysén (XI)
| Coyhaique
| Elizalde
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT26H.kmz| GPT26H.kmz]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Puerto Ingeniero Ibañez
| GPT27H
| Chile, Aysén (XI)
| Coyhaique
| Villa Cerro Castillo
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT27H.kmz| GPT27H.kmz]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" colspan="5"| Complete Proposed Extension Hiking-Only-Option
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT19-27H.kmz| GPT19-27H.kmz]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|}
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" colspan="7"| Packraft-Options
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" | Section Name
! style="text-align: left;" | Number
! style="text-align: left;" | Country and Region/Province
! style="text-align: left;" | Next City or Town
! style="text-align: left;" | Start
! style="text-align: left;" | Direction<br>Option
! style="text-align: left;" | Trail File
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Amutui Quimey
| GPT19P
| Argentina, Chubut
| Esquel
| Lago Kruger
| South ↓
| [[Media:GPT19P.kmz| GPT19P.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Futaleufu
| GPT20H
| Argentina, Chubut and Chile, Los Lagos (X)
| Esquel, Futaleufu
| Aldea Escolar
| South ↓
| [[Media:GPT20P.kmz| GPT20P.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Río Palena
| GPT21P
| Chile, Los Lagos (X) and Aysén (XI)
| Chaiten
| Río Palena, 20 km downstream of Palena
| South ↓
| [[Media:GPT21P.kmz| GPT21P.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Lago Risopatron
| GPT22P
| Chile, Aysén (XI)
| Chaiten, Coyhaique
| La Junta
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT22P.kmz| GPT22P.kmz]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Canal Puyuhuapi
| GPT23P
| Chile, Aysén (XI)
| Coyhaique
| Puyuhuapi
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT23P.kmz| GPT23P.kmz]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Lago Roosevelt
| GPT24P
| Chile, Aysén (XI)
| Coyhaique
| Puerto Cisnes
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT24P.kmz| GPT24P.kmz]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Lago Elizalde
| GPT25P
| Chile, Aysén (XI)
| Coyhaique
| Puerto Aysén
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT25P.kmz| GPT25P.kmz]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Cerro Castillo
| GPT26P
| Chile, Aysén (XI)
| Coyhaique
| Elizalde
| Any ↑↓
| [[Media:GPT26P.kmz| GPT26P.kmz]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Río Ibañez
| GPT27P
| Chile, Aysén (XI)
| Coyhaique
| Villa Cerro Castillo
| South ↓
| [[Media:GPT27P.kmz| GPT27P.kmz]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Yelcho Return Circuit
| GPT99P
| Chile, Los Lagos (X)
| Chaiten, Hornopiren, Puelo, Cochamo
| Río Futeleufu, Río Malito
| North ↑
| [[Media:GPT99P.kmz| GPT99P.kmz]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" colspan="5"| Complete Proposed Extension Hiking-Only-Options AND Packraft-Options
| South ↓
| [[Media:GPT19-27.kmz| GPT19-27.kmz]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|}
 
 
South of the Lago General Carrera are further already established trails and minor roads that can be combined to an attractive continious trail all the way to the lake and glacier Viedma near the famous Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre massive at El Chalten in Argentina. This route can be setup as a Hiking-Only-Trail but also a packraft may be used to cross lakes and float down rivers.
 
 
This routes uses the following hiking trails and ferries:
 
1. Ferry from Puerto Ingeniero Ibañez to Chile Chico
 
2. Trails of Reserva Nacional Lago Jeinemeni
 
3. Trails of Parque Patagonia
 
4. Trails of Reserva Nacional Lago Cochrane (Tamango)
 
5. "Ruta de los Pioneros" from Cochrane to Villa O'Higgins
 
8. Ferry from Villa O'Higgins to Candelario Mancilla
 
9. Optional Side Trip from Candelario Mancilla to Lago Chico, Glacier Chico and Glacier O'Higgin's
 
10. Trail to border crossing from Chile to Argentina and Lago del Desierto
 
11. Ferry over Lago del Desierto
 
12. Trails to Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre Trail and El Chalten
 
13. Hiking circuit from El Chalten to Glaciar Viedma and back to El Chalten
 
 
This extension to the lake and glacier Viedma adds another 600 to 700 km.
 
===Additional Options===
If you know a better or simply an interesting alternative trail or extension that fits well into this Greater Patagonian Trail you are invited to be become co-author by [[#Questions and Feedbacks|sending your proposal with a GPS File to me]] (preferably KML, KMZ or GPX files). I will review it and incorporate it in the master file. This applies also to helpful new waypoints.
 
 
The trail should be worthwhile hiking. It should consist mainly of horse trails or minor dirt road with no or insignificant traffic. Walking i.e. long distances on the Careterra Austral seams not tempting to me. If someone wants to travel a longer section of the Careterra Austral, than I would rather recommend doing it by bicycle.
 
 
The route should be passable without a machete, technical climbing or superman skills. Cross country through an open landscape is great, but it is not wanted to fight tree by tree through dense tempered rainforest.
 
 
It does not matter at all if the trail is on the Argentine side or the Chilean side as long as it does not depend on clandestine border crossings. If you get catched in particular by the Chilean carabineros without a valid stamp you may get expelled and this makes not a nice finish of such a trip.
 
-->
==Trail Planning Sources and Contributors==
|}
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| GPT19H
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT19P
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT20H
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT20P
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT21H
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT21P
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT22H
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT22P
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT23H
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT23P
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT24H
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT24P
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT25H
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT25P
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT26H
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT26P
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT27H
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT27P
| -
| -
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| GPT99P
| -
| -
 
-->
==Questions and Feedbacks==
If you have questions that are not answered in this trail descriptions then you may send an email to the author of this article. Also your feedbacks are very welcome. Please report any changes or errors to correct the trail description and the trail file. Your GPS records are very helpful to update the not yet confirmed parts of the trail. If you have change and extension proposals please send the proposal ideally with a GPS record to the author. Alternative routes, that are more attractive for hiking will be included as a trail option or result in a change of the regular route.
Dmahn
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Obtenido de «http://www.wikiexplora.com/Especial:MobileDiff/90611...91313»

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