[[File:GPT13-P0028.jpg|thumb|500px|GPT18: Cross Country walking on volcanic ash at Cordon Caulle after recent eruption. File: Jan Dudeck]]
==Prolog==
The Greater Patagonian Trail (GPT) is a long-distance route network in the southern [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andes Andes] that spans from the outskirts of Santiago all the way to southern [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonia Patagonia].
It’s a stunningly beautiful and diverse trail system that guides you in the first part from the semi-desert of the Precordillera into scenic Andes valleys. The trails cross numerous dormant and active volcanos with partially healed volcanic scars and fresh open wounds from eruptions as recent as 2011eruptions. You can take a dip in more than a dozen hot springs along the way to draw from this energy. Continuing, you will dive into the twilight of lush green temperate rainforest lined by snow covered mountains. Numerous passes and high plains get you above the tree line into barren terrain with broad views. Crystal clear rivers descend from these mountains and feed deep blue lakes along the way. If you packraft you can paddle over lakes and float down rivers all the way into the Patagonian fjords where the Pacific Ocean hits the ragged coast. Eventually you reach the Southern Patagonian Icefield, one of the world's largest extra-polar Icefields. Here giant rock towers stab into the sky and enormous glaciers calve colossal blocks of ice into wind battered lakes. On the northern part of the route you will meet solitary cowboys (In Chile called arrieros or puesteros) with their animals. Every spring the livestock is moved on higher ground to graze on mountain pastures. The trail later crosses the homeland of the indigenous Pehuenche (one of the Mapuche tribes) where majestic Araucaria trees tower above the tribal land and provide the traditional food for these sometimes shy and sometimes proud people. When going further south you will meet courageous settlers that have ventured into the challenging back-country of Patagonia. If you are interested, you can listen to their stories while sitting around the warm stove and sharing the traditional drink of this region: Mate. These authentic encounters are part of the beauty of this trail. In countless locations the trail branches into different routes creating a wide network of tracks that gives you many choices. You may either walk the entire distance or you can bring a packraft to float down rivers and paddle and sail over lakes and fjords. There are also various volcanoes and other summits along the route that can be ascended without rock climbing gear. I have also included optional tracks that get you literally into the last valley on the border between Chile and Argentina. These remote corners of the southern Andes are of particular interest to hikers that love to venture into remote back-country.
Continuing, you will dive into the twilight of lush green tempered rain forest lined by snow covered mountains. Numerous passes and high plains get you above the tree line into barren terrain with broad views. Crystal clear rivers descend from these mountains and feed deep blue lake along the way. If you packraft you can paddle over these lakes and float down these rivers all the way into the Patagonian fjords where the Pacific Ocean hits the ragged coast.
Eventually you reach The Main Route currently spans approximately 5'000 km and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, one of the worldentire route network (including all options) contains more than 20's largest extra-polar ice field. Here giant rock towers stab into the sky and enormous glaciers calve colossal blocks 000 km of ice into wind battered lakestracks.
On the northern part of the route you will meet solitary cowboys (In Chile called arrieros or puesteros) with their animals that move every spring after the snow melts on higher ground to let their livestock feed on the mountain pastures. The trail later crosses the homeland of the indigenous Pehuenche (one of the Mapuche tribes) where majestic Araucaria trees tower above the tribal land and provide the traditional food for these sometimes shy and sometimes proud people. When going further south you will meet courageous settlers that have ventured into the challenging back-country of Patagonia. If you are interested, you can listen to their stories while sitting around the warm stove and sharing the traditional drink of this region: Mate. These authentic encounters are part of the beauty of this trail.
In countless locations the trail branches into different routes creating a wide If this introduction quickened your appetite to explore this network of tracks that give trails then don't stop reading here and don't pack your backpack yet. The GPT is quite different from what you many choicesmight expect. You may either walk Especially if you have thru-hiked the entire famous long-distance trails in the US (i.e. the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail or the Continental Divide Trail) or if you can bring walked on the European pilgrimage trails (i.e. the Camino de Santiago) don't assume that the GPT will be a packraft to float down rivers similar experience and to paddle and sail over lakes and fjords. There that you are also various volcanoes already prepared for it. This region and other summits along the this route that can be ascended without rock climbing gearnetwork is unequal in nature. I have also included optional tracks Some best practices and habits that get you into literally the last valley are important on established trails in the border between Chile US and ArgentinaEurope would be foolish in Patagonia. These remote corners of the southern Andes Other skills and aptitudes are of particular interest essential to hikers that love to venture into remote back-countrytruly appreciate the Greater Patagonian Trail.
The main route currently spans approximately 5'000 km and the entire route network including all options contains more than 20'000 km of tracks.
If this introduction quickened your appetite Since I started publishing the GPT, I consulted and surveyed more than one hundred people that attempted to explore this network walk major parts of trails then don't stop reading here and don't pack your backpack yetthe trail. The GPT is quite different from what you expect. Especially if you have thru-hiked majority were absolutely amazed by the famous long-distance trails in the US (i.e. the Appalachian Trailland, the Pacific Crest Trail or the Continental Divide Trail) or if you walked people and their experience on the European pilgrimage trails (itrail.eBut some hikers quickly aborted or changed their plans. In consequence they missed the Camino de Santiago) then don't assume that best parts of the GPT will be a similar experience and that you are prepared for ittrail. This region Interestingly, some of these were experienced hikers and this route network is unequal in nature. Some best practices and habits that are key for thru-hiking in the US would be foolish in Patagonia and other skills and aptitudes are essential to truly appreciate the Greater Patagonian Trailathletic walkers.
Since I started publishing the GPT I have seen around one hundred people attempting to walk major parts of the trail and I was in contact with many of the them. The majority was absolutely amazed by the land and the people and their experience on the trail. But some hikers quickly aborted or changed their plans and missed the best parts of the trail in consequence. Interestingly, these were partly experienced hikers and athletic walkers.
In the following section of this Hiker’s Hikers Manual I try to rectify potentially potential incorrect assumptions and outline the essentials for hiking and packrafting on this trail network. You should also watch the feature documentary “Unbounded” and read the publications of other hikers and packrafters to learn from the diverse experiences of others on the Greater Patagonian Trail.
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