Cambios

On the first sections several rivers and high mountain passes need to be crossed. In particular high river-water-levels during snowmelt may make the river crossings difficult and dangerous until early December. Therefore leaving before December may put you in risk when crossing rivers and or traversing still snow-covered passes. But if you leave after December you may be surprised by the heralds of the winter before reaching the finishof the Greater Patagonian Trail.

If you do not insist in hiking all trail sections in the correct sequence then you have more options when and where to start. If you want to leave before December and you have a packraft you may in example set out in late October or November in Coñaripeas we did. This is the start of section 11 and the first of the six packraft sections. Starting with this section before December give you the advantage of floating down the river Caucuá with a comfortable high river-water-level during snow melt. Once you reached the finish of section 16 your can travel by bus to the start of section 1 an hike all the way to the point where you started the track. On sections 6 to 10 the trail crosses the Araucaria tree range. During February, March and April the cones of this trees can be harvested and provide a nutritious supplementary food. If possible arrange to cross sections 6 to 10 during these months.