Most people pack for Patagonia like they’re going to a rainy weekend in Scotland. Then they get hit with 100 km/h gusts on the John Gardner Pass and realize their ultralight tent was a mistake. I’ve done the W Trek twice, the Huemul Circuit once, and spent three weeks around El Chaltén. Here’s what nobody tells you before your first multi-day hike down there. Start With the Route, Not the Gear Every gear decision flows from where you’re walking. Patagonia has two main trekking hubs: Torres del Paine in Chile and El Chaltén in Argentina. They demand different things from…