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→Comment to KMZ File for Trekking
Horse-Flyes or Tabanos will form an annoying aerial escort on some parts of the trail. They are abundant in December and January in humid parts of the River- and Lake District. These rather noisy flyers get attracted by dark moving objects in bright sunlight. So avoid dark cloth and do not try to chase them off with rapid movements, otherwise your will attract the attention of more of them. They inflict painful bites but do not leave an itching stitch.
==Creation of the Greater Patagonian Trail==
===The Idea for the Trail===
To be issued.
===Planning of the Trail===
The Greater Patagonian trail is not an official trail that was planned and set up by a government agency. It’s better: it’s a compilation of the most beautiful and diverse hiking and horse trails, minor roads and cross country sections through the Patagonian Andes selected by a passionate hiker.
This genesis prevented that the routing of the trail was compromised and deformed by local interests and political constraints. The track could be chooses freely on either side of the border on the Chilean and the Argentine side of the Andes. There were also no “must-include” towns, villages or places because influential local politicians decided so. Simple the most attractive hikeable route could be selected, without any influence or other interests.
The route planning and trail selection conditions were:
* The trail leads through the heart of the Andes along the main mountain chain of the cordillera
* The most beautiful and diverse existing tracks are selected for this long distance trail
* Hiking paths and horse trails are preferred over roads with transit traffic even if this means a reasonable detour
* All included cross country sections are feasible for hiking without climbing gear or a machete
* The route is continious without any gaps
* The track can be hiked legally without unautorized border crossings
The trail was planned in 2013 by Jan Dudeck using:
* Goolge Earth satellite images
* By the author previously hike trails and horseback trips
* Hiking maps and guides that document and describe trails in some selected areas
* Geotagged Panoramio images displayed on Google Earth
* Internet trail exchange platforms in particular: [http://www.wikiexplora.com/index.php/P%C3%A1gina_principal wikiexplora.com], [http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/home.do wikiloc.com] and [http://www.trekkingchile.com/EN/trekking-my_hike.php trekkingchile.com]
===First Hike of the Trail===
The Greater Patagonian Trail was first hiked from November 12, 2013 to February 23, 2014 by Meylin Ubilla and Jan Dudeck. Due to the detailed planning only few minor route seek detours were required when first hiking this trail. The now verified published trail elimintates this detours and can hiked by any experienced hiker with sufficent endurance and the proper equipment.
===Publishing of the Trail===
The trail was first published in 2014 on wikiexplora after completing the long distance hike. Also plenty of images are uploaded to Panoramio for display on Google Earth with a reference to this wikiexplora trail description.
The trail was published without any commercial interests. The motives for publishing were:
* Share this trail with other interested hikers to promote this first long distance trail in South America and the Andes
* Attract contributors that perfect and extent this trail
* Promote hiking in the rather unknown parts of the trail to create an additional source of income for the humble people still living along the trail
* Protect and maintain this trail by making it well-known and more frequently used
Before publishing the trail I have long considered if publishing may have also negative consequences for the affected area. And yes, I can not rule it out. If the trail becomes used by irresponsible people that litter and don't have the necessary care when making camp fires this may indeed cause severe damage and destruction.
On the other side I have seen plenty of evidence that settlers give up and retreat from this gorgeous but challenging highlands. But if the settlers that created these trails vacate their land then the trails will soon be overgrown, become invisible and destroyed by weather without being repaired and maintained. So by creating an addition source of income for these tough herdsmen and mountain farmers they will have one more reason to stay. And if they stay the trail will be maintained and remain accessible for hikers like you and me.
So I can only plead that all hikers that use this trail stick to the following rules:
* Leave no trace and in particular no litter. All packings that can be carried with content can be returned when empty.
* Make camp fired only where permitted and where and when it is safe to do so. Don't light a fire in dried out areas or when wind can carry sparks that may ignite near by vegetation. Use only death wood and put the fire out with plenty of water. Don't leave the fire or go to sleep before having it put out completely.
* Don't abuse the hospitality of the people along the trail and pay fairly for what they share with you. Using a trail or camping in a not maintained place should be free of charge but if you get invited to a meal or use a camping ground that was installed by a local settler pay what you would get charged in other places. Don't ruin the hikers reputation by misusing the generosity of humble people.
===Future Development of the Trail===
This trail is not finished yet. There is plenty of terrain left till this trail finally reaches the southern tip of Patagonia and ends either on the shores of the Magellan street or even on Tierra del Fuego. Also a few smaller sections need to verified and recorded and additional alternatives may be aggregated. Read the chapter [[#Trail Verifications, Additional Options and Extensions|Trail Verifications, Additional Options and Extensions]] to see how you can contribute to perfect and extent the Greater Patagonian Trail.
==Comment to KMZ File for Trekking==