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==Zones of GPT==
===GPT Zones===
Introduction to the zones to be issued.
====Zone A: Zona Precordillera====
This zone is noted for its long climbs, strong winds, and exposed nature. It quickly affords a vast sense of wilderness and elevation even so near to the giant metropolis of Santiago de Chile. You will also hike through the area of the El Teniente mine, the largest underground copper mine in the world. Fascinating to observe but important to keep your distance and not to interrupt the work movement. Expect to be questioned by guards, though you do have right of way.
About two third of the route consists of trails, animal paths and cross country walking where you are likely to see “arrieros” with cattle, goats and horses. In the lower areas closer to the towns, the trails see more frequent human use as hiking paths. Private campgrounds near towns are often accessible for people looking to get out of the city and see high use on weekends.
About one third of the distance need to be walked on roads. Some of the roads are barely known mine access roads that are well maintained, see daily use by workers who are generally respectful if diligent about their work.
Highlights are the sweeping views of the Andes, astounding rock colors, mineral deposits from the rivers, small lush drainages tucked into the folds of the mountains with water and beautiful flowers, and snow fields lasting late in the season. This zone provides you the biggest contrast to the icefields in southern Patagonia. If starting here you will fully experience the transformation of the landscape from a desert-like terrain into a sub-polar territory.
When you start early in the hiking season you may encounter large snow fields and difficult river crossings along the route. During the summer high temperatures and a merciless sun may squeeze the sweat out of you. But due to the partially high elevation you need to be prepared to withstand strong wind, heavy rain and even hail and snow if a "temporal" surprises you in the wrong place.
====Zone B: Zona Arrieros====
In this zone the “campo” culture and “arriero” lifestyle is strongly felt. Generally clear trails follow up and down many passes, though the trails tend to becomes indistinct or disappear in terrain where animals can graze and roam freely. In this zone you constantly move between temperate valleys and windy, exposed highs. The route is mostly in open terrain and only along the few lower valleys you can enjoy the shade of a forest.
A major challenge of this zone are the river crossings which can be impassable in particular in spring during the snow melt and after a rare but heavy summer rain. Only few bridge eliminate the need to ford these rivers and improvised bridge are sometimes flushed away.
Some of the highlights of this zone are the Laguna Dial, the ridge above Laguna de Las Lajas, the Volcan Antuco, and several hot springs that are both, left natural and cultivated. You will see many “arrieros” and sometimes even families living outside with their animals at the high summer grazing grounds during the “veranero” season. Another highlight are the unique swimming holes which exist alongside the trail in the crystal clear refreshing rivers. You will love them during the sometimes unbearable afternoon heat.
In this zone you find the most hiking options that can literally get you into the last valley and over the last mountain ridge next to the border to Argentina. If you love to explore than this is your zone to go. You can in example roam around the Laguna del Maule, which is the giant caldera of a dormant super volcano.
Here you also have the first opportunities to inflate a packraft and paddle over impressive mountains lakes. For a longer traverse the extra weight of the packraft gear will probably not pay off but if you come to explore a specific area i.e. the Laguna de Las Lajas and its surroundings than this is an option to consider.
You are suggested to obtain permission to pass through the hydropower station Los Cipreses on section GPT06 or you may be escorted off property if hiking southbound. The permit is essential for hiking northbound and relatively easy to obtain with proper advanced notice and due diligence.
====Zone C: Zona Pehuenche====
Here you enter a distinctly native zone; the homeland of the Pehuenche. This native community is often considered part of the Mapuche nation that maintained their independence until late into the 19th century. They are normally very kind and can be curious but also tend to be reserved and cautious with any outsider.
They live in villages in the mountain valleys but also move up on higher grazing grounds during the summer very much like the “arrieros” do. But in contrast to the "arrieros" you will meet more women and entire families, sometimes three generations living together in small summer shelters. Some milk their cows and make cheese. In summer and autumn they harvest the "piñones" of the Araucaria tree what is the staple food of their traditional diet. Once you discover how to collect and prepare these seeds you will have an unlimited food supply along the trail provided that you scheduled the traverse of this zone to match the harvest season.
These Araucaria trees are one defining element of this landscape and a highlight of this zone. Areas where old growth trees have been preserved create and impressive scenery. If then a large band of squawking parrots crosses your path you may feel like in mystery forest.
Volcanos are the other defining element with some being quite active. So don’t be surprised if you see clouds of dark smoke rising into the sky. The soil you are walking on is mainly volcanic ash from past eruptions reminding you of the powers that you are surrounded by.
While you move through the homeland of the Pehuenche you will notice a gradual change of the flora. In the north the forest is rather open with large treeless areas in between, often the result of fire clearing. As you move south the annual precipitation increases and so does the vegetation. When going southbound you will leave this unique zone while walking through lush overgrown forest.
In this zone the extra weight of the packraft gear will not pay off except you except you come specifically to visit the few lakes.
====Zone Designations, Locations and Planning Status====
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="5" | Zone Designations
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="2" | Zone Designation
! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="2" | Latitude
! style="text-align: left;" " rowspan="2" | Planning and Verification Status
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" | Code
! style="text-align: left;" | Name
! style="text-align: left;" | Northern
! style="text-align: left;" | Southern
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| A
| Zona Precordillera
| 33° 30' S
| 35° 0' S
| Published and Verified
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| B
| Zona Arrieros
| 35° 0' S
| 37° 43' S
| Published and Verified
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| C
| Zona Pehuenche
| 37° 43' S
| 39° 42' S
| Published and Verified
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| D
| Zona Rios y Lagos Chilenos
| 39° 42' S
| 42° 6' S
| Published and Verified
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| E
| Zona Rios y Lagos Argentinos
| 42° 6' S
| 43° 37' S
| Published and Verified
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| F
| Zona Palena
| 43° 37' S
| 44° 14' S
| Published and Verified
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| G
| Zona Aysen Sector Norte
| 44° 14' S
| 45° 45' S
| Published and Verified
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| H
| Zona Aysen Sector Sur
| 45° 45' S
| 48° 31' S
| Published and Verified
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| I
| Zona Campo de Hielo Sur Sector Norte
| 48° 31' S
| 49° 30' S
| Published and Verified
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| J
| Zona Campo de Hielo Sur Sector Sur
| 49° 30' S
| 51° 44' S
| To be Planned
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| K
| Zona Magallanes
| 51° 44' S
| 54° 0' S
| To be Planned
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| L
| Zona Tierra del Fuego
| 52° 30' S
| 55° 30' S
| In Consideration
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| M
| Zona Yelcho
| 42° 55' S
| 43° 40' S
| Published
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| N
| Zona Costa
| 41° 47' S
| 42° 55' S
| Published
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| O
| Zona Campo de Hielo Norte Sector Monte
| -
| -
| In Consideration
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| P
| Zona Campo de Hielo Norte Sector Mar
| -
| -
| In Consideration
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Q
| Zona Huella Andina
| -
| -
| Published and Verified by Others, <br> Connections with GPT to be Planned
|}
====Hiking and Packrafting Recommendations for Published Zones====
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="6" | Hiking and Packrafting Recommendations for Published Zones
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="2" | Zone Designation
! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="2" | Recommended Zones for a <br> Single-Season Section-Hike
! style="text-align: left;" " rowspan="2" | Recommended Travel Method for a <br> Multi-Season Thru-Hike <br> (2 to 3 seasons required)
! style="text-align: left;" " rowspan="2" | Benefit of a Packraft
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" | Code
! style="text-align: left;" | Name
! style="text-align: left;" | Hiking
! style="text-align: left;" | Packrafting
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| A
| Zona Precordillera
| Consider
| No
| Hiking
| Only Burden
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| B
| Zona Arrieros
| Yes
| Consider
| Hiking
| Occasional Deployable
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| C
| Zona Pehuenche
| Yes
| Consider
| Hiking
| Occasional Deployable
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| D
| Zona Rios y Lagos Chilenos
| Yes
| Yes
| Packrafting
| Very Useful
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| E
| Zona Rios y Lagos Argentinos
| Consider
| Yes
| Packrafting
| Very Useful
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| F
| Zona Palena
| Consider
| Yes
| Packrafting
| Very Useful
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| G
| Zona Aysen Sector Norte
| No
| Yes
| Packrafting
| Very Useful
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| H
| Zona Aysen Sector Sur
| Consider
| Consider
| Hiking or Packrafting
| Very Useful
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| I
| Zona Campo de Hielo Sur Sector Norte
| Consider
| Consider
| Hiking or Packrafting
| Very Useful
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| M
| Zona Yelcho
| Not Possible
| Consider
| Packrafting
| Required
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| N
| Zona Costa
| Not Possible
| Consider
| Packrafting
| Required
|}
====Possible Travel Directions and Sections of Published Zones====
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="5" | Possible Travel Directions and Sections of Published Zones
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="2" | Zone Designation
! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="2" | Possible Travel Directions <br> (Southbound or Northbound)
! style="text-align: left;" " rowspan="2" | Sections
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" | Code
! style="text-align: left;" | Name
! style="text-align: left;" | Hiking
! style="text-align: left;" | Packrafting
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| A
| Zona Precordillera
| Both ↓↑
| Both ↓↑
| From GPT01 to GPT04
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| B
| Zona Arrieros
| Both ↓↑ (1)
| Both ↓↑ (1)
| From GPT05 to GPT09
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| C
| Zona Pehuenche
| Both ↓↑
| Both ↓↑
| From GPT08 to GPT16
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| D
| Zona Rios y Lagos Chilenos
| Both ↓↑
| Both ↓↑ (2)
| From GPT17H/GPT17P to GPT22
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| E
| Zona Rios y Lagos Argentinos
| Both ↓↑
| Only ↓ (3)
| From GPT23 to GPT26
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| F
| Zona Palena
| Both ↓↑
| Only ↓ (3)
| GPT27H, GPT27P, GPT28P and GPT30P
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| G
| Zona Aysen Sector Norte
| Both ↓↑
| Preferable ↓ (4)
| GPT28H, GPT29H, GPT29P, GPT30H, GPT31H and GPT31P
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| H
| Zona Aysen Sector Sur
| Both ↓↑
| Preferable ↓ (4)
| From GPT32 to GPT37H/GPT37P
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| I
| Zona Campo de Hielo Sur Sector Norte
| Both ↓↑
| Preferable ↓ (4)
| From GPT37H/GPT37P to GPT40
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| M
| Zona Yelcho
| None
| Preferable ← (5)
| From GPT70P to GPT75P
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| N
| Zona Costa
| None
| Both ↓↑
| From GPT76P to GPT78P
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="5" | Comments
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| colspan="5" |
(1) For northbound travel an entry permit to the hydro-power station Los Cypresses is required. <br>
(2) Depending on the direction of travel different rivers may be partially packrafted. <br>
(3) Due to the flow direction of the incorporated rivers only southbound travel is feasible. <br>
(4) Recommendation based on predominant wind direction on lakes and the flow direction of the majority of incorporated rivers. <br>
(5) See detailed information and recommendations to individual sections.
|}
==Trail Network==
