Cambios

Hardly any of the trails of the GPT was made for hiking or especially prepared for hikers. This distinguishes this trail 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 GPT so authentic and diverse but also inconsitent inconsistent and challanging challenging in parts.

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 settlements 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 compaincomplain. 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.

The cross country routes do not pass very dense vegetation. Only on a few short streches stretches 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 frustrating but patient hikers will find their way step by step even in this challanging challenging terrain. A machete is normally not required to cross this terrain but if you carry one you might use it occasinally occasionally to cut some thorny branches and twigs.

Whereever Wherever possible the Greater Patagonian Trail incorporates '''Lake (LK)''' crossings, '''River (RI)''' downstream floats and even paddeling paddling 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.