===Understanding the Trail===
To be issuedThe Greater Patagonian Trail is not a hiking trail.Yes, you read correctly so let me repeat one more time: The GPT IS NOT A HIKING TRAIL. So, what is it then? The GPT is an informal route network that consists mostly of trails, roads and cross country routes that were not made for hiking nor especially prepared for hikers. Most of the trails were made by the local population to serve solely their purposes, i.e. to drive animals to summer pastures, to get to remote settlements and outposts or to extract wood from the forest. The routes that the GPT is composed of include: - well-maintained horse trails that a regularly used by the local cowboys (arrieros or gauchos)- poorly maintained trails that are washed out, trenched and blocked by fallen logs- minor roads and basic car tracks that are occasionally used by an all-terrain vehicle- trail-less cross country routes in barren open terrain- a few short stretches of bush bashing- and where no more adventurous route was found also public roads with moderate transit traffic This makes the GPT so authentic and diverse but also so inconsistent and challenging in parts. On many of these trails a customary right-of-way applies but some routes cross private land and you often can’t know what is where the case. Therefore when you venture onto the GPT you are mostly an unexpected guest on trails that were not made for you. What also distinguishes the GPT from many other “classic” hiking trails is that it is not single line trail but a partially wide network of tracks with many options. For some hiker this is confusing as you cannot just follow one trail but you need to make many choices along the way. But because the GPT is an informal trail network these choices are sometimes essential to continue your journey when you find your route not passable and closed. Then you can return and divert and try a different track. For safety reasons I have also included bad weather options and exit routes that get you out of the mountains to the next village or at least to the next road. These additional tracks are not recommended for hiking since they are often not particular attractive but having these tracks on your GPS can save you in adverse conditions. All this makes the GPT to a discovery network.
===Understanding the Region and its People===
