Cambios

In retrospective retrospect I’m so happy that I had such insufficient planning information at this that time. Otherwise I would probably not have discovered the packraft as the ideal hiking partner for Patagonia. A packraft does not carry only you your backpack but it carries you! What matters in this “parternship” “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 then than benefit and I would only recommend packrafting if you specifically plan to explore a certain lake and the surroundingarea.

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. If Hypothermia can cause complete exhaustion and unconsciousness in less then 15 minutes if you get wet then hypothermia can disable and kill quickly and only into a glacier lake with a water temperature at the freezing point. A dry suite protects can help protecting you in such situations. The extra weight 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 is not that much if you replace your normal rain gear with it. And body temperature drops quickly in such a dry suite is so much better than any rain gear, also when hiking. It keeps you completely dry situation and warm even when fording glacier rivers. No rain gear does with this. When we need you loose your capability 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 quiltact wisely.Chill makes dumb!

If I can choose on The extra weight of 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 wateris not that much if you replace your normal rain gear with it. Without And 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 suiteis so much better than any rain gear, also when hiking. Protected with proper gloves It keeps you completely dry and a cap only the face is exposed to the elementswarm even when fording glacier rivers. What stops us packrafting is only too strong wind, but no No raingear 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.

When we started investigating the GPT we had no pre-experience with packrafting or kayaking; we were complete novices. Looking now back If I would probably have taken some packrafting can choose on a rainy day between hiking or kayak lessons, just packrafting than I do not need a blink of an eye to get some practice and a better feel for such 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 activity. While we lacked experience at the beginning we were very careful even with small rapids Without a backpack on my back and did with only moderate exertion I’m not paddle larger lakessweating nor freezing, provided that I wear appropriate cloth below my dry suite. But we grew Protected with every river proper gloves and lake and gained slowly confidencea cap only the face is exposed to the elements. What stops us packrafting is only too strong wind, but not rain.

What is essential when When we started investigating the GPT we had no pre-experience with packrafting is knowledge and respect of the hazards of water and good judgmentor kayaking; we were complete novices. Great care must be Looking back now I would probably have taken some packrafting or kayak lessons, just to leave get some practice and a river latest better feel for such a water activity. While we lacked experience at the last recommended exit point because mortal rapids are often downstream beginning we were very careful even if you don’t see or hear them at the last exit point. Streams change constantly with rising small rapids 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 did not mean that it is save anytime laterpaddle larger lakes. Therefore the track file for GPS is only an approximate guide But we grew with every river and each packrafter needs to assess the situation himself; i.e. judge wind, waves lake and weather before attempting a lake or fjord crossing or scout a river rapid to decide if to paddle or porter aroundgained 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 cheepcheap. 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.