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[[File:GPT Evaluation H+P.png|thumb|1050px|left|Greater Patagonian Trail: Section Evaluation (Hiking and Packrafting where most beneficial)]]
[[File:GPT Trail Type H+P.png|thumb|1050px|left|Greater Patagonian Trail: Trail Type Composition (Hiking and Packrafting where most beneficial)]]
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==Trail Network==
See the GPT Hiker's Manual.
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[[File:GPT02-P0063.jpg|thumb|500px|Trail at Section GPT07 next to the Laguna Dial. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:Two-Track_Road.jpg|thumb|500px|Two-Track Road at Section GPT08 next to the hots springs Los Peucos. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT07-P0098.jpg|thumb|500px|Minor Road at Section GPT11. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:Cross_Country.jpg|thumb|500px|Cross Country route at Section GPT11 near Las Monjas. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:Bush_Bashing.jpg|thumb|500px|Bush Bashing route at Section GPT23. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:Primary_Road.jpg|thumb|500px|Primary Road at Section GPT09 next to Laguna de Las Lajas. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
===Trail Types===
Hardly any of the trails of the GPT was made for hiking or especially prepared for hikers. This distinguishes this trail network from many other long distance trails. The Greater Patagonian Trail is composed out of existing routes that were mainly made by the local settlers to serve their purposes. This makes the GPT so authentic and diverse but also so inconsistent and challenging in parts.
====<u>Land</u> Routes (LD)====
To be issued.
'''Horse or Hiking <u>Trails</u> (TL)'''
When planning the Greater Patagonian Trail the first choice were the horse trails that traverse the remote valleys and mountain passes in the heart of the Andes close to the border between Chile and Argentina. Most of these trails are created and maintained by local herdsmen to drive livestock to their summer pastures and by settlers that live in the solitary of the Andes.
Along these trails practically no signposts indicate directions and only few trail markers facilitate route finding. Tracks quite often split up and rejoin and in such locations it is often unclear what is the main trail and what is just a cattle treading. Such trails occasionally peter out and disappear in particular where they cross open terrain and where neither the landscape nor the vegetation constrain riding or walking.
On many of these trails an customary right-of-way applies but some trails cross private land. Often it can not be recognized what is the case. Gates and fences occasionally close these trails. This does not necessarily indicate the entrance or exit of a private property because gates and fences over trails are primarily set up to keep animals either in and out. Keep all gates exactly as you found them, either close them again or leave them open.
A lot of the incorporated trails are "opportunistic trails". This means, that these trails do not provide the most efficient connection but that routes were chosen that minimize the burden of building and maintaining these trails. This often results in detours each time the route is traveled compared to an hypothetical "optimized" route. In example trails may climb up a ridge simply to avoid overgrown areas further down. If sediment deposits next to a river eliminate the need to cut a trail through the forest, than the visible trail disappears and leads over these sediments even if they are occasionally flooded and more cumbersome to walk on. If there are rocks blocking the leveled route, than the trail climbs up and down just to circumvent these obstacles. In barely any place trails are built with brute force but are "opportunistic" in this sense.
Keep in mind that locals rarely ever walk; they move on horseback. All the physical effort that ascents and descents require are done by the horses. Therefore some trails involve a lot of "pointless up and down" simply because it meant fewer burden when initially creating the trail. Also river crossings are less hassle on horseback; it’s not the riders feet that get wet. For this reason some trails switch frequently the river sides just to avoid minor obstacles that are located on alternating sides of the river.
In the Alps and other frequently visited mountain ranges some very scenic panorama trails were build that sneak on a mostly constant altitude through the mountains to attract tourists onto scenic trails for an effortless walk. I’m not aware of any such trail in the Andes. Locals established trails solely to get from one place to another; never to have an enjoyable walk. But where a high altitude trail on a ridge above the tree line provides a good connection there you find such routes; not to please you but because they happen to be the simplest option.
Only in a few national parks such former horse trails became official hiking trails with occasional signposts and trail markers to keep visitors on the approved routes.
In the GPS file the tracks for such '''T'''rai'''l'''s have the two-letter-code '''TL'''.
'''<u>Minor</u> and Two-Track <u>Roads</u> (MR)'''
The second choice were rarely traveled minor roads and two-track roads. Such minor roads typically provide access to isolated settlements or villages without attracting any transit traffic.
Until recently some of these villages could only be reached on horse or by food. Regional governments try to improve the living conditions in these remote settlements by upgrading the traditional horse trails into minor dirt roads. This might be sad for hikers but since we are only guests we have no reason to complain.
Other routes that are categorized as minor roads are simple two-track roads (NOT two-lane roads!) which are basically car tracks that formed when locals were driving their all terrain vehicles to their homes and outposts without building a proper road. Also forest and logging roads are put in this category of minor roads.
These minor roads may be private or public and you often can not recognize what is the case. Gates and fences that close these minor roads may indicate the entrance or exit of a private property but are primarily set up to keep animals either in and out. Keep all gates exactly as you found them, either close them again or leave them open. As long as you walk these roads and you do not enter with a vehicle settlers may ask you but rarely complain.
Some of these minor roads became neglected and unmaintained and are now impassable for vehicles. But hikers can still use such deteriorated roads if they don't mind to climb over fallen trees and seek their way through washed out parts.
Many hiking trails in Europe would fall in this rather wide category of minor roads since a good part of the hiking trails in Europe are occasionally used by forestry and agricultural vehicles.
The two-letter-code for '''M'''inor '''R'''oads is '''MR'''.
'''<u>Cross Country</u> Routes (CC)'''
In some areas the Greater Patagonian Trail crosses through open terrain without a visible trail. Some of these routes lead through steep and exposed terrain above the tree line but do not require technical climbing. These cross country routes often belong to the finest parts of the Greater Patagonian Trail because they provide access into barely visited areas high up in the Patagonian Andes with wide open views.
In this cross country terrain hikers should seek their own way following the approximate GPS track without feeling too bound to the track. The tracks in cross country terrain are often straight lines to indicate only the approximate route and not path that needs to be followed precisely. Hikers must apply (as always!) their own judgment to avoid obstacles on such cross country routes. Towards the end of a cross country route hikers need to return to the GPS track to i.e. find the entrance into a forest or overgrown area.
The cross country routes do not pass very dense vegetation.
'''CC''' is the two-letter code for such open '''C'''ross '''C'''country tracks.
'''<u>Bush Bashing</u> Routes (BB)'''
On a few shorter stretches you need to hike through overgrown terrain and do some bush bashing. In some parts this cannot be avoided because old unused trails became overgrown or simply no trail was ever made.
For someone that is used to hike fast and efficient this might be frustrating but patient hikers will find their way step by step even in this challenging terrain. A machete is normally not required to cross this terrain but if you carry one you might use it occasionally to cut some thorny branches and twigs.
In the GPS file the tracks of such '''B'''ush '''B'''ashing in overgrown terrain have the two-letter-code '''BB'''.
'''<u>Primary</u> and Paved <u>Roads</u> (PR)'''
Public roads with transit traffic were avoided wherever possible. On such primary and paved roads you may find some moderate traffic but they are safe to hike. If you do not insist in "connecting footsteps" you may try to hitch-hike on these primary roads. Some drivers will even stop without being asked and offer you a ride as this is part of the back-country culture in this region.
The two-letter-abbreviation for '''P'''rimary and paved '''R'''oads is '''PR'''.
====<u>Ferry</u> and Boat Transfers Routes (FY)====
There are several lakes along the route that cannot be walk around on a suitable hiking route. When thru-hiking the entire trail along the regular route in two or three hiking seasons than you need to cross 4 lakes by ferry and you require 4 boat transfers over rivers and lakes. So you cannot walk the entire length of the trail without any non-motorized travel.
Also if you opt to packraft the GPT you will need to take at least 3 ferries when attempting a multi-season thru-hike. Some lakes and fjords along the packraft route are simply to fierce for a such a small boat and only a daredevil would throw himself into these potentially suicidal waters.
'''FY''' is the two-letter-code for such '''F'''err'''y''' and boat transfer routes.
====Packrafting Routes on <u>Water</u> (WR)====
[[File:River_Packrafting.jpg|thumb|500px|River Packrafting on GPT23 on Río Carrenleufú. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
Wherever feasible the Greater Patagonian Trail incorporates lake crossings, calm river downstream floats and even paddling on fjords with a [[#Packraft|packraft]]. When not carrying such a light-weight inflatable boat you have to follow the hiking route otherwise you will end up on a river or lake shore without being able to continue walking.
When you take the packraft route and the weather does not permit paddling then some but not all of these water sections can be bypassed on foot, by ferry or with private boat transfers. Therefore plan with additional reserves when taking the packraft route.
'''<u>River</u> Packrafting (RI)'''
The incorporated river sections are mostly relative clam flat water floats and do not require serious white-water paddling. But along these rivers sections you may encounter some minor rapids. In most places you can land on a river beach before and either walk around the rapid or take them by packraft after inspecting them carefully. The longest river paddle section is on the Río Palena and permits you and unbroken 180 km water ride.
When taking the packraft route make very sure that you leave the river where indicated and that you do not pass the last exit point even if the water looks still calm. Otherwise mortal rapids further downstream may crush you.
The two-letter-code for '''RI'''ver packrafting is '''RI'''.
'''<u>Lake</u> Packrafting (LK)'''
Along the entire route are more than 50 lakes that can be packrafted. Some lake paddle sections are up to 25 km long. The majority of the lake crossings are oriented in the typical wind direction. We carry a sail that we open on lakes when we have favorable wind and we can recommend such a sail to every packrafter on the GPT. But if the wind is not with you then you may be forced to wait or take an alternative route therefore plan with sufficient reserves when taking the packraft route.
The two-letter-code for '''L'''a'''k'''e Packrafting is '''LK'''.
'''<u>Fjord</u> Packrafting (FJ)'''
A few fjords in northern and central Patagonia are incorporated in the regular packraft route and can be paddled as part as optional side routes. Here you will depend highly on the wind and the tides and precaution is needed to not venture into the these water in adverse conditions.
GPS tracks on '''Fj'''ords are abbreviated with '''FJ'''.
===Track Relevance and Function===
To be issued.
====Regular Route (RR, RH, RP) ====
To be issued.
====Optional Route (OH, OP) ====
To be issued.
===Track Reliability and Direction===
To be issued.
====Validated/Verified Land Route====
To be issued.
====Approximate Land Route (BB, CC)====
To be issued.
====Investigation Land Route====
To be issued.
====Two-Way Water Route (LK, FJ, FY)====
To be issued.
====One-Way Water Route (RI)====
To be issued.
===Expedition/Exploration Routes (EXP)===
to be issued.
===Trail Length and Trail Type Composition===
As stated earlier the Greater Patagonian Trail is not a "classic" single line long distance trail but a wide discovery trail network with countless options and alternatives. Therefore the actual length that someone may walk and paddle depends highly on the selected sections, the chosen route and the method of travel (hiking only, packrafting wherever possible or a balanced combination of both). Also a further extension of the trail towards the southern tip of the continent is in preparation. For this reason there is no precise number for the trail length and only examples can be provided.
The below overview shows two example based on the current regular hiking route and the current regular packraft route. The packraft example does not include all possible packrafting but considers a packraft use only on the selected sections where this equipment is clearly more benefit than burden and is therefore highly recommended to be carried and used (Sections GPT17P to GPT39). This example also excludes the not yet verified and very challenging exploration sections.
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" " rowspan="2" | Trail Type
! style="text-align: left;" " rowspan="2" | Code
! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="2" | Hiking
! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="2" | Packrafting
! style="text-align: left;" " rowspan="2"| Comment
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" | Distance
! style="text-align: left;" | Percent
! style="text-align: left;" | Distance
! style="text-align: left;" | Percent
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Trails
| TL
| 1415 km
| 46.6%
| 1088 km
| 37.0%
| Mostly visible trail on any terrain i.e. in open landscape or in forest. Trails are primarily used by animals (horse, cattle).
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Minor Roads
| MR
| 912 km
| 30.1%
| 735 km
| 25.0%
| Any route that could be used or can be used by a vehicle regardless if this road or car track is open for public use or not. Includes also abandoned roads that are not any more passable by vehicles. Minor roads are without transit traffic therefore hitch-hiking is rarely feasible.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Cross Country
| CC
| 256 km
| 8.4%
| 268 km
| 9.1%
| Route that passes through open landscape without a visible continuous trail but also without dense vegetation.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Primary Roads
| PR
| 443 km
| 14.6%
| 168 km
| 5.7%
| Public gravel or paved road with moderate transit traffic. Hitch-hiking is generally feasible.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Bush Bashing
| BB
| 10 km
| 0.3%
| 12 km
| 0.4%
| Route that passes through overgrown terrain. Demanding and very slow advance.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| River
| RI
| rowspan="3" colspan="2" | -
| 338 km
| 11.5%
| River downstream float with a packraft. One-way only!
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Lake
| LK
| 290 km
| 9.9%
| Lake crossing with a packraft.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Fjord
| FJ
| 39 km
| 1.3%
| Fjord paddling with a packraft.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| Ferry
| FY
| (145 km)
| (0.0%)
| (427 km)
| (0.0%)
| Lake, river or fjord crossing with a ferry or a boat. Distance covered with a motorized boat is NOT included in the trail length.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align: left;" " colspan="7" | '''Land to water ratio on the selected sections where carrying and using a packraft is highly recommended'''<br>(Regular Packrafting Route of Sections GPT17P to GPT39 excluding the exploration sections GPT29P and GPT30P)
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| colspan="2" | Hiking on Land
| rowspan="2" colspan="2" | -
| 955 km
| 58.9%
| Combined hiking distance on land on the selected sections where carrying a packraft is highly recommended. This is the actual distance where the packrafting gear is "death weight" in your backpack.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| colspan="2" | Packrafting on Water
| 667 km
| 41.1%
| Combined packrafting distance on water (Rivers, Lakes, Fjords) on the selected sections where using a packraft is highly recommended. This is the distance where the actual weight of your backpack is zero because your packraft carries you and your backpack.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
! style="text-align: left;" colspan="2" | Length of Complete Trail
! style="text-align: left;" colspan="2" | 3036 km
! style="text-align: left;" colspan="2" | 2938 km
| " rowspan="2" | Complete regular route without optional side trips and ascents to summits. Some short cuts and many optional side trip i.e. up to 8 ascents to summits may substantially alter the actual distance and ascent and descent. Distance traveled by ferry not included.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align: left;" colspan="2" | Elevation Gain and Loss on Complete Trail
| style="text-align: left;" colspan="2" | Approx. 116'000 m
| style="text-align: left;" colspan="2" | Approx. 91'000 m
|}
[[File:GPT Trail Type H.png|thumb|1050px|left|Greater Patagonian Trail: Trail Type Composition (Hiking Only)]]
[[File:GPT Trail Type H+P.png|thumb|1050px|left|Greater Patagonian Trail: Trail Type Composition (Hiking and Packrafting where most beneficial)]]
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