Cambios

In the northern part of the trail from '''From Santiago to about latitude 35° S (about 150 km direct line) the Andes are very high with some summits exceeding 6000 m. Here passes exceed 4000 m altitude and steep rocky walls and glaciers impede walking along the main mountain chain close to the continental divide. Therefore in this northern zone the trail (: GPT01 to GPT04) climbs through the Precordillera mainly along the first mountain range next to the central valley. But don’t misunderstand “Precordillera” as low; here the regular route reaches the highest point with 3300 m. The mostly semi-desert like vegetation is adapted to the dry and hot climate.'''

South of latitude 39° S you do not find any more Curicó the Andes lower in altitude but remain a continuous high mountain chainrange. Numerous depressions break deep breaches into Summits rarely exceed 4000 m but most passes are still above 2000 m. Here the mountains (or "cordillera" in Spanish)Andes are much more suitable for hiking. The depressions or valleys were created by immense glaciers during past ice ages and remain partly filled by lakes. Many of these breaches in Therefore the trail follows the main mountain range are lower than 1000 m, some are just 200 m above sea levelclose to the continental divide. These deep gaps in the cordillera shift Also here the continental divide in some areas far to constitute the east and cause a sometimes significant offset border between the main mountain range Chile and Argentina so the continent divide (what trail is one reason for more than mostly close to the international limit but remains on the Chilean side. In this area a century large number of border disputes route options provides you many hiking choices. You can often opt between Chile lower trails and Argentine higher more demanding routes that are not fully resolved now). The mountains get you in very remote areas of the Patagonian Andes are like islands in between these valleys with the higher summits reaching mostly an altitude of 2000 m . Climate during summer is still quite dry but provides sufficient precipitation to 3000 m. Only few peeks exceed 3000 m. Below the tree line frequent rain maintains maintain a very dense, nearly impenetrable, relative open forest that is also called [https://enin the valleys.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valdivian_temperate_rain_forest Valdivian temperate rain forest]. Due to In spring during snow melt torrential rivers make this geography the route (GPT13 to GPT40) goes up and down between the depressions and the island-like mountains. Here having a packraft becomes beneficial (GPT17P to GPT39)area nearly impassable.

'''South of latitude 39° S: GPT13 to GPT40''' South of Temuco you do not find any more a continuous high mountain chain. Numerous valleys and depressions break partly deep breaches into the main mountains range creating natural low passes between Chile and Argentina. These depressions and valleys were created by immense glaciers during past ice ages and remain partly filled by lakes. Many of these breaches are lower than 1000 m, some are just 200 m above sea level. These deep gaps in the cordillera (Spanish for mountain range) shift the continental divide in some areas far to the east and cause a partly significant offset between the main mountain range and the continent divide. This offset was one reason for more than a century of border disputes between Chile and Argentine that are not fully resolved now. The mountains of the Patagonian Andes are like large islands that are separated by channels of lowland. The higher summits reach mostly an altitude of 2000 m to 3000 m. Only few peeks exceed the 3000 m mark. Below the tree line frequent rain maintains a very dense, nearly impenetrable, forest that is also called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valdivian_temperate_rain_forest Valdivian temperate rain forest]. Due to this geography the GPT goes up and down between the depressions and the island-like mountains. Here having a packraft becomes very beneficial in particular from section GPT17P to GPT39.  '''South of latitude 41° 30’ S the central valley on : GPT22 to GPT40''' South of Puerto Montt the Chilean side “sinks” Central Valley "sinks" below sea level and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fjords_and_channels_of_Chile Patagonian fjord land beginsfjords] begin. Here These fjords and channels form a vast network of waterways that separate the Patagonian Andes countless islands and peninsulas of western Patagonia. In this rugged region hardly any road or trail was build along the cost. The mountains that rise directly out of the fjords that are connected with sea often simply do not leave any space for a trial or a road and the open Pacific Oceanimpenetrable tempered rain forest amplifies this challenge. In this area region of Chile even the rain is so frequent and most important road, the vegetation so dense Carretera Austral, has a 50 km wide gap that can only be bridged by ferry; there is hardly any road or not even a horse trail on the costor a food path; just impenetrable dense forest and cragged mountains. Therefore you either walk much Here most land routes are further inland in the valleys and depressions that cut through the Patagonian Andes. Due to this geography the east or you packraftGPT crosses on section GPT22 into Argentina and does not return to Chile until section GPT26. In this area the trail touches the Argentine plains that reach from the eastern edge of the Pataognian Andes all the way to the Atlantic cost.  Only passionate and experienced packrafters may try the investigation routes GPT76P and GPT77P   In this area packrafting is clearly the more attractive option. Here you can paddle over crystal clear leaks and float down long mostly calm rivers all the way into the fjords. In this area the trails switches several times between Chile and Argentina.