To be issued.
==Section Division==
The current main trail is divided into 40 connecting sections. These 40 sections are between 36 km and 200 km long. Every section connects seamless with the following section and starts and ends near a road or village with public transportation. Therefore each section can be hiked individually or several sections can be combined into a longer journey with connecting footsteps.
==Used Trails==
[[File:GPT02-P0063.jpg|thumb|500px|Trail on Section GPT07 next to Laguna Dial. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:Two-Track_Road.jpg|thumb|500px|Two-Track Road on GPT08 next to hots springs Los Peucos. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:Minor_Road.jpg|thumb|500px|Minor Road on GPT16. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:Cross_Country.jpg|thumb|500px|Cross Country route on GPT1 near Las Monjas. File: Jan Dudeck]]
Only 4 ferries and 3 boat transfers "break" this continious line Hardly any of non-motorized travel when thru-hiking the entire trails of the GPT was made for hiking or prepared for hikers. This distinguishes this trail along network from many other long distance trails. The Greater Patagonian Trail is composed out of existing routes that were mainly made by and for local settlers to serve their purposes. This makes the regular route GPT so authentic and diverse but also inconsitent and challanging in two or three hiking seasonsparts.
If you opt to packraft then also When planning the paddle parts fit seamless into Greater Patagonian Trail the journey but you still need to take 3 ferries when attempting a multi-season thru-hike with a packraft. Some lakes first choice were the '''Horse or Hiking Trails (TL)''' that traverse the remote valleys and fjords along mountain passes in the packrafting route are simply heart of the Andes close to fierce for a packraft the border between Chile and only a daredevil would throw himself into Argentina. Most of these potentially suicidal waterstrails are created and maintained by local herdsmen to drive livestock to their summer pastures and by settlers that live in solitary.
==Section Evaluation==
The four hikers that first completed most of the trail (Bethany Hughes and Lauren Reed from [https://her-odyssey.org/meet-the-team/ Her-Odyssey], my wife Meylin Ubilla and me the author) have evaluated each section in respect of attractiveness and difficulty.
The second choice were unused or rarely traveled '''Minor and Two-Track Roads (MR)'''. 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 settlments 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 compain. Other routes that are categorized as minor roads are simple two-track roads that were created by locals by simply 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. Some of these minor roads became neglected and are not maintained anymore and became 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 category of minor roads since a good part of the hiking trails in Europe are occasionally used by forestry and agricultural vehicles.
This evaluation only compares these 40 sections between each other (relative comparison) and is no attempt to compare the GPT with other trails.
In some areas the Greater Patagonian Trail crosses through open terrain without a visible trail. Some of these '''Cross Country (CC)''' 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 views. In this cross country terrain hikers should seek their own way following the approximate GPS track without feeling too bound to the GPS track.
Two grades from 1 to 5 are given to each section, one grade for attractiveness and one grade for difficulty. The 5 stands for the most attractive or the most difficult category. The grades were choose in a way that the average over all hiking sections is a precise 3. For sections with a substantial packrafting proportion an additional packrafting grading is given, that is relative to the hiking scale of the same section to facilitate a comparison if hiking and packrafting a section where both is possible.
The cross country routes do not pass very dense vegetation. Only on a few short streches you need to hike through overgrown terrain and do some '''Bush Bashing (BB)'''. 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 frustating but patient hikers will find their way step by step even in this challanging terrain. A machete is normally not required to cross this terrain but if you carry one you might use it occasinally to cut some thorny branches and twigs.
Because this is only a relative comparison an attractiveness of 1 or 2 does not mean "ugly" and "not worth to walk", it simply means that the majority of the other sections are more attractive. And since several sections are mind-blowing beautiful "competition" is tough and a number of sections simply must end up in these lower categories even if they are worthwhile hiking.
Public roads with transit traffic were avoided wherever possible. On such '''Primary and Paved Roads (PR)''' 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.
Equally a difficulty grade of 1 or 2 does not mean "a piece of cake". Depending on the weather even such a section can become threatening.
Whereever possible the Greater Patagonian Trail incorporates '''Lake (LK)''' crossings, '''River (RI)''' downstream floats and even paddeling on '''Fjords (FJ)''' for a [[#Packraft|packraft]]. When not carrying such a light-weight inflatable boat or when the weather does not permit paddling then many but not all of these water sections can be bypassed on foot, by ferry or with private boat transfers. The incorporated river downstream floats do not include large rapids but some moderate white-water floats. In most places you can land on a beach before these rapids and either walk around or take them by packraft after spotting and inspecting them.
Such an evaluation of the attractiveness and challenge is obviously subjective. Rather random factors like the weather when hiking or particular memorable encounters with the local population influence the judgement. Anyway, we four found little discrepancies in our evaluation where we hike the same route at different times.
'''Ferry (FY)''' crossings or transfers by boat are required in several locations along the trail. Some but not all can be paddled by packraft.
The evaluation of the attractiveness considers not only the landscape and the trail itself but also the social experience with the local population as this trail comes only with the people that live on it and you can't have just the trail for yourself<br style="clear:both" />[[File:GPT18-2014-Pano-Pic027.jpg|thumb|1050px|left|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 18: Lago Futalaufquen. File: Jan Dudeck]]<br style="clear:both" />
==Section Division==
The current main trail is divided into 40 connecting sections. These 40 sections are between 36 km and 200 km long. Every section connects seamless with the following section and starts and ends near a road or village with public transportation. Therefore each section can be hiked individually or several sections can be combined into a longer journey with connecting footsteps.
The evaluation of the difficulty and challenge considers the terrain, the trail condition, exposure to weather, remoteness, section length and resupply possibilities along the trail. This evaluation is based on the regular route. The individual experience will greatly vary with the actual weather that someone is exposed while hiking or packrafting. Also some optional routes might be much more demanding compared to the regular route. Keep this in mind when making you choices.
Only 4 ferries and 3 boat transfers "break" this continious line of non-motorized travel when thru-hiking the entire trail along the regular route in two or three hiking seasons.
This relative comparison shall help hikers and packrafters to make an educated choice of the sections that they attempt and to choose wisely where to hike and where to packraft.
==Used Trails==[[File:GPT02-P0063.jpg|thumb|500px|Trail on Section GPT07 next If you opt to Laguna Dial. File: Jan Dudeck]][[File:Twopackraft then also the paddle parts fit seamless into the journey but you still need to take 3 ferries when attempting a multi-Track_Road.jpg|thumb|500px|Twoseason thru-Track Road on GPT08 next to hots springs Los Peucoshike with a packraft. File: Jan Dudeck]][[File:Minor_Road.jpg|thumb|500px|Minor Road on GPT16. File: Jan Dudeck]][[File:Cross_Country.jpg|thumb|500px|Cross Country Some lakes and fjords along the packrafting route on GPT1 near Las Monjasare simply to fierce for a packraft and only a daredevil would throw himself into these potentially suicidal waters. File: Jan Dudeck]]
Hardly any ==Section Evaluation==The four hikers that first completed most of the trails of the GPT was made for hiking or prepared for hikers. This distinguishes this trail network (Bethany Hughes and Lauren Reed from many other long distance trails[https://her-odyssey. The Greater Patagonian Trail is composed out of existing routes that were mainly made by org/meet-the-team/ Her-Odyssey], my wife Meylin Ubilla and for local settlers to serve their purposes. This makes me the GPT so authentic author) have evaluated each section in respect of attractiveness and diverse but also inconsitent and challanging in partsdifficulty.
When planning the Greater Patagonian Trail the first choice were the '''Horse or Hiking Trails This evaluation only compares these 40 sections between each other (TLrelative comparison)''' that traverse the remote valleys and mountain passes in the heart of the Andes close is no attempt to compare the border between Chile and Argentina. Most of these GPT with other trails are created and maintained by local herdsmen to drive livestock to their summer pastures and by settlers that live in solitary.
The second choice were unused or rarely traveled '''Minor and Two-Track Roads (MR)'''. Such minor roads typically provide access grades from 1 to isolated settlements or villages without attracting any transit traffic5 are given to each section, one grade for attractiveness and one grade for difficulty. Until recently some of these villages could only be reached on horse The 5 stands for the most attractive or by foodthe most difficult category. Regional governments try to improve the living conditions The grades were choose in these remote settlments by upgrading a way that 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 compain. Other routes that are categorized as minor roads are simple two-track roads that were created by locals by simply driving their average over all terrain vehicles to their homes and outposts without building hiking sections is a proper roadprecise 3. Also forest and logging roads are put in this category of minor roads. Some of these minor roads became neglected and are not maintained anymore and became impassable for vehicles. But hikers can still use such deteriorated roads if they don't mind For sections with a substantial packrafting proportion an additional packrafting grading is given, that is relative to climb over fallen trees and seek their way through washed out parts. Many the hiking trails in Europe would fall in this category scale of minor roads since the same section to facilitate a good part of the comparison if hiking trails in Europe are occasionally used by forestry and agricultural vehiclespackrafting a section where both is possible.
In some areas the Greater Patagonian Trail crosses through open terrain without Because this is only a visible trail. Some relative comparison an attractiveness of these '''Cross Country (CC)''' routes lead through steep 1 or 2 does not mean "ugly" and exposed terrain above the tree line but do "not require technical climbing. These cross country routes often belong worth to walk", it simply means that the finest parts majority of the Greater Patagonian Trail because they provide access into barely visited areas high other sections are more attractive. And since several sections are mind-blowing beautiful "competition" is tough and a number of sections simply must end up in the Patagonian Andes with wide views. In this cross country terrain hikers should seek their own way following the approximate GPS track without feeling too bound to the GPS trackthese lower categories even if they are worthwhile hiking.
The cross country routes do Equally a difficulty grade of 1 or 2 does not pass very dense vegetationmean "a piece of cake". Only Depending on the weather even such a few short streches you need to hike through overgrown terrain and do some '''Bush Bashing (BB)'''. 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 frustating but patient hikers will find their way step by step even in this challanging terrain. A machete is normally not required to cross this terrain but if you carry one you might use it occasinally to cut some thorny branches and twigssection can become threatening.
Public roads with transit traffic were avoided wherever possible. On such '''Primary Such an evaluation of the attractiveness and Paved Roads (PR)''' you may find some moderate traffic but they are safe to hikechallenge is obviously subjective. If you do not insist Rather random factors like the weather when hiking or particular memorable encounters with the local population influence the judgement. Anyway, we four found little discrepancies in "connecting footsteps" you may try to hitch-our evaluation where we 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 regionsame route at different times.
Whereever possible The evaluation of the Greater Patagonian Trail incorporates '''Lake (LK)''' crossings, '''River (RI)''' downstream floats and even paddeling on '''Fjords (FJ)''' for a [[#Packraft|packraft]]. When attractiveness considers not carrying such a light-weight inflatable boat or when only the weather does not permit paddling then many landscape and the trail itself but not all of these water sections can be bypassed also the social experience with the local population as this trail comes only with the people that live on foot, by ferry or with private boat transfers. The incorporated river downstream floats do not include large rapids but some moderate white-water floats. In most places it and you can land on a beach before these rapids and either walk around or take them by packraft after spotting and inspecting them't have just the trail for yourself.
'''Ferry (FY)''' crossings or transfers by boat are required in several locations The evaluation of the difficulty and challenge considers the terrain, the trail condition, exposure to weather, remoteness, section length and resupply possibilities along the trail. Some but not all can This evaluation is based on the regular route. The individual experience will greatly vary with the actual weather that someone is exposed while hiking or packrafting. Also some optional routes might be paddled by much more demanding compared to the regular route. Keep this in mind when making you choices. This relative comparison shall help hikers and packrafters to make an educated choice of the sections that they attempt and to choose wisely where to hike and where to packraft.
<br style="clear:both" />
[[File:GPT18-2014-Pano-Pic027.jpg|thumb|1050px|left|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 18: Lago Futalaufquen. File: Jan Dudeck]]
<br style="clear:both" />
==Section Choises Evaluation and Choise of Method of TravelTrail Type Charts==
[[File:GPT Evaluation H.png|thumb|1050px|left|Greater Patagonian Trail: Section Evaluation (Only Hiking)]]
