Logistics of Travel

To trek in Patagonia you need to travel around a bit. Here's some advice

Just so you know. The scary bits

For those who haven't seen a documentary or read a magazine article or book, there are a few things worth knowing. For one, it's a very big place. I won't even comment on the boundaries, but deal only with the more southerly reaches of the region. That is southern Chile and Argentina and the fact that it is two countries can complicate things. Unless you are here for a short trip to only one, you with need visa's for both countries. For most people that means a visa for Argentina, as those for Chile can largely be obtained at the border. However, its worth checking with the consulates in your home country before leaving, as things change.
A beeg problem too can be language. I'm afraid Spanish is a must. It doesn't have to be good, just enough to get you around. What to learn before you go? Spend a little time here (this is one great site) and you'll be up to scratch in a couple of weeks
So all visa'd up you head south. Getting into the region overland will mean a long trip through Argentina. Getting there by sea is going to involve a jaunt through Chile. If you are flying, Rio Gallegos is a good point from which to access all the main attractions, however as you will be spending big money, you may as well go directly to you destination.
Once in Patagonia, you need to get around. There are really two choices for all but the well moneyed. You bus or you hitch. Busing is realtively cheap in Chile, but costly in Argentina. Its fairly quick and comfortable. Hitching is great in Chile and OK in Argentina. It can be very quick or very slow, luxurious or downright miserable.

Hitching, like life according to one yank idiot, is like a box of chocolates. If your sense of adventure goes beyond merely walking around remote places, I recommend it highly. You will no doubt be stuck at least once on the windswept plains, your mind numb from the cold and driving rain. Hundreds of cars will drive past and life will be a curse. But you will also be picked up by fantastic people, shown wonderful things and get taken that extra mile. Life will be roses and humanity benevolent. Chileans especially, if you can penetrate their wicked Spanish, are just awesome people, and hitching will be well rewarded with the feel good factor. However, distances are vast down south. There is always a chance that you won't reach you destination that day. For any hitch through Patagonia make sure you are prepared to spend the night on the roadside. It is perfectly safe to do so, and I spent a few wonderful nights in the middle of absolutely nowhere at some forlorn intersection. Oh yeah, on the plains, carry a lot of water too.

Base Camp or Lug

If you've come for a few hikes, the first decision you need to make is whether you will use a base or keep moving. To keep moving you will need to carry everything with you all the time. When travelling ones takes more than a trekking pack along, with a couple extra changes of clothing, books and general junk. All wonderful when you hole up in some town for a couple of days, but too heavy to hike with. So more often than not, you will need to do a dump. The hostels down south are very obliging in this respect, and you can travel everywhere, dumping before each hike. I personal used a single gear dump in Punta Arenas. I then headed out to each area with only a trekking bag. The advantage of this is that you can go directly your destination, not having to find another hotel and spend another night in another town. The disadvantage is that the return to your gear can be a couple of days of travel. I didn't mind as the hostel I used (shameless plug here) was wonderful in its own way. BACKPACKERS PARADISE in Punta Arenas is a great cheap place to hang out. It may not be the cleanest or most private, but the staff are great and it attracts a funky selection of adventurous travellers from all over the globe. If you are looking to meet up with other people to hike with, this is an ideal base. Oh yeah it's all open style dormitory, and in height of summer a good few people end up on the floor. Good internet café round the corner too!! If you want cheap passage to Antarctica this is also a good base from which to start the search for a boat.

Conditions

Good weather in Patagonia is when the rain falls vertically. Patagonians actually believe the sky is grey, and every so often a patch of blue will drift across it. You've heard them all before. Patagonia has some shitty weather. But not always. The thing is to be prepared for shitty weather. Dust off every bit of gear you have with Gore-Tex written on it. Then reproof it. And still be prepared to get wet! I had a great summer down south with very few actual days of rain, and some windstill cloudless days, so it does happen. It doesn't get very hot, but shorts and a T-shirt will prove useful. It can get cold and snow anytime of year, so warm gear is essential. Sleeping bags should be in the -5C to -10C range, even for a summer trip.
And summer is the time to go. The season starts in late november, and runs though to April give or take. The height of things is in January, which is when most people are about.
The big thing down in these latitudes is the wind. When it starts blowing, you'll know all about it. Windproof clothing is vital. Fleece's are not too much good if they aren't windstopper. Tents need to be somewhat better than people use for a summer hike in the berg. And make sure you have a warm hat, as otherwise you'll spend most of the hike nursing a headache.

Gear recommendations

This is largely what I took down south, but somethings here I wished I had

A stout waterproof pack (chant macpac macpac macpac)
A 4 season tent that is totally waterproof (seam sealed) (chant macpac macpac macpac)
A warm sleeping bag. If you don't trust yourself to keep your bag dry, bring hollowfibre. If your down bag will ever get wet, it'll get wet here. That said, given I used my macpac pack, my down bag stayed total dry even in simply patagonian downpours.
Sturdy insulation pad/thermarest
One damn fine waterproof jacket. I ignored Gore-Tex and went the rubberised route on this one. Can't say there were any real advantages to having done so over a good breathable jacket
Over longs of the same quality.
A light down jacket or heavy windstopper fleece
Light sleeveless fleece jacket
Good thermals (to keep with the theme, I recommend Patagonia's thermals highly)
Waterproof boots of the treated lined variety
Gaiters are a real plus, as bogs abound

Plus all the normal bits and pieces. MSR stoves are a good choice, but all fuel options are available.

On the trail

The walking is actually rather easy by and large. Although the peaks do get up there into the clouds, one generally skirts their bases, so there are not many big nasty hills to climb. Paths are often excellent and a simple map should prevent you from getting lost. There are some exceptions to this rule, but in the main tourist areas navigation will not be a concern. A lot of the walking is done in open forest, which is beautiful and relatively sheltered from the elements. Water is plentiful and I drank it everywhere without the slightest problem. Camping is one of the true pleasures of these regions, with flat sheltered scenic grassed peg friendly sites too numerous to mention. The abundance of water means the main criteria by which you select a sight is scenery and wind direction.
There are a fair number of people on a lot of the trails, so you won't find solitude in the tourist areas. Away from the popular trails, don't expect to see a soul. In summer the days are really long, so there is plenty of time and a late start will not matter much. The weather is very fickle, so be ready to layer up or strip down as you go. Even for short day walks away from your tent, take a variety of clothing. If you take photo's take tonnes of film, and then some!