Cambios

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.

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]]