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What also distinguishes the GPT from many other "classic" long distance hiking trails is that it is not "single-line-trail" but a partially wide network of tracks with many options. For some hikers this is confusing as you cannot just follow one trail but you need to make many choices along the way. But because the GPT is an informal trail network these choices are sometimes essential to continue your journey when you find one route not passable or closed. Then you can backtrack and divert and try a different trail. For safety reasons I have also included bad weather options and exit routes that get you out of the mountains to the next village or at least to the next road. These additional tracks are not recommended for hiking since they are often not particular attractive but having these tracks on your GPS can save you in adverse conditions.

With the recently added extensions in the north - (that extends the trail all the way to Santiago - ) and in the south - (that stretches the trail all the way to edge of the Southern Icefield - ) the trail spans now about 3000 km in often difficult and slow terrain. With this extension the trail became too long to be safely Thruthru-Hiked hiked in one season. An experienced Thruthru-Hiker hiker may disagree as with 3000 km the trail is even a bit shorter than the Appalachian Trail (AT) but the so different and unpredictable terrain makes this comparison inadequate. In particular in the north The GPT is simply not a trail that can be hiked efficiently. The trail will change you plans without asking and inevitably stop you from time to time and turn you around. Also the period with normally suitable season for hiking weather is in parts quite short as . In particular in the north you need to wait until December for the snow to melt and the rivers to fall to be forded safely and heavy . And fierce snow storms may make the route again impassable in late March or during April. Venturing into this area too earlier or get there too later means often an unreasonable risk.

I know, sooner or later someone will try to Thruthru-Hike hike the trail in one season and may even succeed if he is lucky with the weather. But attempting this seems foolish to me. You need to rush and take less attractive short cuts. You can’t slow down to fully appreciate the land and to share relaxing time with the people along the route. And more importantlyimportant: someone who tries to Thruthru-Hike hike the GPT in one season needs to take unreasonable risks by throwing himself in torrential rivers and getting high up where when fierce blizzards can kill. And remember, when you walk on this trail these trails you are the a guest on the land of someone else. Just the idea of making a race in the backyard of someone other people feels wrong for me.

The GPT is not a trail that can be hiked efficiently, Therefore the appropriate pace on this trail will change network is the "appreciation pace". This pace might vary substantially between different hikers but gives you plans without askingthe time to make an attractive detour, i.e. to climb a summit next to the trail will inevitably stop without worrying about your plans. This adequate rate of advance permits you from time to time and may even accept the invitation of a settler to share some cups of mate or to sit out a day of torrential rain in shelter (here called "puesto") with an arriero. This adapted velocity allows you turn you aroundto wait in front of a pass or lake when the weather is too volatile to climb up or to paddle with your packraft.

The appropriate pace on this This trail network is the "appreciation pace". This pace might vary substantially between different therefore not suitable for hikers but gives you the time that need to make an attractive detour, ihave control and that measure their success in kilometers or miles.e. to climb Its a summit next to the trail without worrying about your plans. This adequate rate of advance permits you to for thoughtful discoverers that accept the invitation of a settler to share some cups of mate or to sit out be just a day of torrential rain in shelter with a herdsman. This moderate speed allows you to wait in front of a pass or lake when the weather is too volatile to climb up or to paddle with your packraftguest.  All this makes the GPT to a discovery network with a good portion of unpredictability but an impressive authenticity.