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{{IndexadaIndexed}}[[category:KMZconTrack]]{{RutaForm2RutaForme
|Actividad=Trekking
|País=Argentina, Chile
|CiudadesArgentina=El Bolsón
|CiudadesChile=CuricóSantiago
|BellezaEscenica=Impresionante
|Atractivos=Vistas panorámicas, Glaciar, Bosque, Flora atractiva, Fauna atractiva, Lago, Laguna, Río, Fiordos, Formación Geológica, Cascada, Parque Nacional
|DuraciónDuracion=más de 90 días|Dificultad Física=Exigente|Dificultad Técnica=Alta
|Sendero=Tramos sin sendero
|Señalizacion=Insuficiente
|Infraestructura=Inexistente
|ComparteIdayRetorno=Cruce
|Latitud1=-38
|Longitud1=-73
|Distancia=30000003035000|MetrosAscenso=100000116000|MetrosDescenso=100000116000|Comentarios distancia=Regular Hiking Trail Route (Hiking-Only-Option and Packraft-Packrafting Option on landwithout Exploration Sections)|AltitudMedia=1000900
|Primer Autor=Jan Dudeck
|Imágen Principal=Greater_patagonian_trail.jpg
|ComentariosImagen=Greater Patagonian Trail Section GPT16. : [[Volcán Mocho]] on the background. |KMLZ=GPT01-40+70-78TracksGPT_Minimized_NOT_FOR_HIKING_AND_PACKRAFTING.kmz|ComentariosMapa={{colores|red|Regular Hiking Trail (Hiking-Only-Option and Packraft-Option on land)}}{{colores|magenta|Optional Hiking Trail i.e. climbs to summits, short cuts, exits and alterantive routes for investigation (all on land)}}{{colores|orange|[[#Trail Extensions|Proposed Hiking-Only Extension]] (Entire route on land, no packraft required)}}{{colores|cyan|[[#Trail Extensions|Proposed Extension for Packraft]] (Hiking parts of Packraft-Option on land in Cyan, Packraft Parts on Water in Blue)}}{{colores|blue|All Packraft Parts on Water (Regular Route, Optional Route and Proposed Extension for Packraft)}}|width=600|height=1800
|TipoDeMap=HYBRID
|ComentariosMapa=GPT SAMPLE Minimized (NOT FOR HIKING AND PACKRAFTING) {{colores|red|Trail.}}{{colores|blue|Packraft.}}{{colores|blue|Packraft.}}
}}
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==Update in ProgressIntroduction==I have written most of this trail description in 2015. Since then we returned twice to Patagonia to hike and paddle the southern extension all the way to the Southern Patagonian Icefield and we investigated various alternative routes in the northern and central area of this trail. Other hikers have walked the northern extension to Santiago and contributed with GPS records to refine the regular route and numerous optional side tracks. With this the GPT has doubled in length to approximately 3000 km and the number and length of all the additional options has growing exponentially.
[[File:GPT01-P0115.jpg|thumb|500px|right|GPT06: The volcanos Descabezado Grande and Cerro Azul with the Laguna Caracol to their feet. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT08-Arriero.jpg|thumb|500px|GPT09: Arriero at the base of the Vulcano Antuco. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT06-P0005.jpg|thumb|500px|GPT11: Araucaria trees in the Pehuenche homeland. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT13-P0028.jpg|thumb|500px|GPT18: Cross Country walking on volcanic ash at Cordon Caulle after recent eruption. File: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT28-Rio_Palena.jpg|thumb|500px|GPT28: Packrafting the Río Palena. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
[[File:GPT_Glaciar_O'Higgins.jpg|thumb|500px|GPT38: Glaciar O'Higgins coming down from the Southern Icefield. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
The Main Route currently spans approximately 5'000 km and the entire route network (including all options) contains more than 20'000 km of tracks.
If this introduction quickened your appetite to explore this network of trails then don't stop reading here and don't pack your backpack yet. The GPT is quite different from what you might expect. Especially if you have thru-hiked the famous long-distance trails in the US (i.e. the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail or the Continental Divide Trail) or if you walked on the European pilgrimage trails (i.e. the Camino de Santiago) don't assume that the GPT will be a similar experience and that you are already prepared for it. This region and this route network is unequal in nature. Some best practices and habits that are important on established trails in the US and Europe would be foolish in Patagonia. Other skills and aptitudes are essential to truly appreciate the Greater Patagonian Trail.
Since I started publishing the GPT, I consulted and surveyed more than one hundred people that attempted to walk major parts of the trail. The majority were absolutely amazed by the land, the people and their experience on the trail. But some hikers quickly aborted or changed their plans. In consequence they missed the best parts of the trail. Interestingly, some of these were experienced hikers and athletic walkers.
Carla Lange: "The GPT is not a hiking trail, it's an adventure and words do not do my experience on it justice. Travelling on the GPT was everything but easy (or necessarily fun all the time) but it returned it all and more. Essential pieces of equipment to bring on the GPT are your brain and intuition as well as humbleness, respect and openness for the land and people."
Matgorzata (Gosia) Gmerek and Paul Bostelmann: “The Greater Patagonian Trail Network is a challenging and rewarding adventure that leads one through diverse and breathtaking scenery. Far from crowds and often without seeing other people for days this experience was without a doubt the highlight of our hiking career. Packrafting and exploring the beautiful lakes and rivers allows to reach even deeper into these wonderful and wild ecosystems. This is no ordinary hike and absolute self-reliance and wilderness experience is a must.”
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==Information to the GPT==Packrafting====[[File:River_Packrafting.jpg|thumb|500px|River Packrafting on GPT23 on Río Carrenleufú. Image: Jan Dudeck]][[File:Packraft_Sailing.jpg|thumb|500px|Packraft Sailing on GPT22 on Lago Las Rockas. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
The GPT is an informal route network therefore you will not find any “official” information. In the following I list all relevant resources that help to understand the GPT and to get prepared for an adventure on this trail system.
===This GPT Wikiexplora Article=<u>River</u> Packrafting (RI)====The incorporated river sections are mostly relative clam flat water floats and do not require serious white-water paddling. But along these rivers sections you may encounter some minor rapids. In most places you can land on a river beach before and either walk around the rapid or take them by packraft after inspecting them carefully. The longest river paddle section is on the Río Palena and permits you and unbroken 180 km water ride.
This Wikiexplora article to the GPT is the internet gateway to this trail system. It is the first semi-official landing point for anyone searching information online and provides an introduction to the GPT. Wikiexplora is the cradle where the GPT publication started in 2014 and remains the “online home”.
The Wikiexplora article comes with one weakness: offline access while being on the GPT. Therefore, the [http://bit.ly/GPTguide GPT Hikers’ Manual] was created in 2017. With this, the Wikiexplora GPT main article is now neither the only nor the best resource to get ready for an adventure on the GPT but the Wikiexplora articles provides an introduction to anyone “just browsing around”. And the Wikiexplora article gives access to the [http://bit.ly/GPTguide Hikers’ Manual] that can be downloaded from Dropbox.
===The GPT Hikers Manual=<u>Lake</u> Packrafting (LK)==== Along the entire route are more than 50 lakes that can be packrafted. Some lake paddle sections are up to 25 km long. The majority of the lake crossings are oriented in the typical wind direction. We carry a sail that we open on lakes when we have favorable wind and we can recommend such a sail to every packrafter on the GPT. But if the wind if not with you then you may be forced to wait or take an alternative route therefore plan with sufficient reserves when taking the packraft route.
The Hikers’ Manual is the primary source of information for the GPT and can be downloaded free of charge at: http://bit.ly/GPTguide
* 1 Introduction and General Information,
* 2 Terrain and Section Information and
* 3 Appendix and Indices.
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===Packrafting Including Exploration Options=The GPT Route Network==
[[File:GPT Evaluation PGPT36H-Ruta_de_los_Pioneros.pngjpg|thumb|1050px500px|left|Greater Patagonian TrailGPT36H: Poorly maintained historic horse trail "Ruta de los Pioneros". Image: Section Evaluation (Packrafting including Exploration Options)Jan Dudeck]][[File:GPT Trail Type PGPT16-Quetrupillan.pngjpg|thumb|1050px500px|left|Greater Patagonian TrailGPT16: Circling the volcano Quetrupillan with the volcano Villarica in the background. Image: Trail Type Distribution (Packrafting including Exploration Options)Jan Dudeck]]<br style="clear:both" />
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[[File:Pat_map.PNG|thumb|400px|Limits of Patagonia. Image: [https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonia Wikipedia]]]
[[File:Historic_Map_Patagonia.jpg|thumb|400px|Historic map of Patagonia. Image: [https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonia Wikipedia]]]
The GPT offers much more than this. The Greater Patagonian Trail is rather like a gourmet menu of different courses that allow you to experience the different tastes and textures of Patagonia. It connects the semi-desert of Precordillera with the Patagonian Icefields and the barren volcanos with the damp green rain forest.
The Greater Patagonian Trail crosses most of Patagonia and the adjacent regions to the north. For this reason I named the trail “Greater Patagonian Trail” when I started publishing in 2014. I coined the term "Greater Patagonia" to combine Patagonia in its traditional limits with the adjacent regions like "Greater London" includes the city of London and the surroundings.
The limits of Patagonia are somewhat blurry. This makes it impractical to state where exactly the GPT gets into Patagonia. If taking the administrative limits of Argentina, than you get in throwing range of Patagonia at the end of section GPT05 where you can look over the Argentinian border into the province Neuquén. But with a different understanding you enter Patagonia on section GPT13 where you ford the Río Biobío. Others argue that Patagonia starts with the Chilean administrative region XIV (Región de los Ríos) what makes section GPT16 the gateway into Patagonia. You can be certain to have reached Patagonia on section GPT22 where you arrive at the first Patagonian fjord: the Estuarió de Reloncaví.
In contrast, when reaching Patagonia, get ready for frequent and enduring rain. Also, don'''Laguna Mondaca''': I was recently advised t expect to walk high up in the mountains in the heartland of Patagonia as there is simply no continuously high mountain range. In Patagonia high mountains are rather like islands that a signpost was place at are surrounded by dense temperate rainforest in the pass between the Laguna Las Animas west and a semi-desert-like Pampa in the Laguna Mondaca denying access to the Laguna Mondacaeast. These island-like mountains are separated by wide valleys that were carved by giant glaciers during past glacial periods. If you want to avoid a discussion The wide valleys are now partly filled with an overeager guard at this lake you may take the short cut lakes that leads you directly to drain their water in powerful rivers into the hot springs “Termas de Asufre”Patagonian fjords. Otherwise Therefore, “real Patagonia” is best traveled by packraft because a packraft gets you may be asked to continue on the regular trail after having reached the lakethese lakes, rivers and fjords.
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==Dangers and Annoyances==[[Filehttps:GPT01-P0050//en.jpg|thumb|450px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 1: Poor trail conditionwikipedia. File: Jan Dudeck]][[File:GPT02org/wiki/Thru-P0087.jpg|thumb|450px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 2: River Crossing. File: Jan Dudeck]][[File:GPT04hiking Thru-P0039.jpg|thumb|450px|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 4: Near Laguna de Las Lajas where 45 soldiers died in 2005 during a snow storm. File: Jan Dudeck]Hiking]the GPT==
'''This trail was not created to thru-hike Patagonia, it's a route network for immersion-hiking. The GPT does not get you through Patagonia but gets you deep into Patagonia.'''
With the 2021 extension the GPT spans about 5000 km in often difficult and slow terrain. This makes the GPT too long to be safely thru-hiked in one season . An experienced thru-hiker may disagree as 5000 km is just 15% longer than the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) but the varied and unpredictable terrain makes this comparison inadequate.
Therefore, I do not recommend attempting a thru-hike of the GPT. This focus would require rushing and taking less attractive short cuts, in example deviating from GPT to walk on main roads instead of following the trails. It inhibits slowing down to fully appreciate the land and share time with the people along the route. And more importantly, someone who tries to thru-hike the GPT in one season is forced to hike some sections off season. This results in unreasonable risks by attempting to cross torrential rivers and climbing to high elevations when fierce blizzards can kill. And remember, when walking these trails, you are just a guest on the land of others. Just the idea of racing through strangers’ backyards is regarded a rude in these remote regions.
'''For respectful explorers the GPT is much more than a long-distance trail.''' It’s a wide network of routes with many hiking options and packrafting in a diverse landscape. A unique blend of people lives along the trails making the hike more of a cultural experience. If approached with respect and interest, then these welcoming people will share much more than just the right-of-way regardless where you are coming from and where you are walking to. On this trail your willingness and capability to immerse yourself in this culture will be more relevant than the weight of your backpack.
Attempting to thru-hike the GPT is like trying to memorise every word of a book that is still in the making with the first drafts informally shared for peer reviews. It’s pretty pointless and assigns this evolving route network far too much authority. But this unfinished nature of the GPT makes it possible to investigate new routes and become co-authors of the GPT. This is a unique difference to established long-distance trails. You are not limited to just follow a given trail, but you can contribute to the GPT by adding your part to this unfinished story.
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==Other notable Long Distance Trails and HikesPackrafting the GPT=====Long Distance Trails=======[[Huella Andina]]====The [[Huella Andina]] is a long distance trail on the Argentine side of the Patagonian Andes with a combined total length of 564 km. This trail is a mostly signposted and marked hiking trail and substantially less demanding when compared with the Greater Patagonian Trail. The Huella Andina was developed considering that hiking novices may walk this trail. Therefore neither optimal equipment nor plenty of hiking experience are a precondition to take this route. The Huella Andina provides a resupply point at least on every second day. A GPS is not required to follow this trail. To the knowledge of the author of this article no full GPS record nor detailed hiking maps are published yet for the Huella Andina but trail descriptions are available on [http://www.wikiexplora.com/index.php/Huella_Andina Wikiexplora].
[[File:GPT_Fjord_Packrafting.jpg|thumb|500px|GPT28: Reaching the sea after paddling down the Río Palena. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
==Questions and Feedbacks==
If you read this article to this point then you should definitely download the [http://bit.ly/GPTguide Hikers’ Manual from Dropbox] now. Should you have questions that are not answered in the Hikers’ Manual than you may write the author an email. Also feedbacks are welcome.
Email of author: gpt.jan.dudeck@gmail.com
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{{Trekkings Chile}}
[[category:Greater Patagonian Trail]]
[[category:Parche Greater Patagonian Trail]]