Across the Pyrenees Mountains - Hiking 520 Miles on the GR11 - Into the Stunning Ordesa Valley!
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Join me as I attempt to thru-hike the GR11 trail in Spain.
The trail runs some 520 miles (840km) from the West (Atlantic) coast of Spain, along the Pyrenees mountains, through Andorra, before terminating on the Eastern (Mediterranean) coast.
I set off on August 28th of 2023, and here you can watch how days 11 to 13 on trail went!
Great video as always! The music is a bit much for me but to each his own I guess :) Looking forward to the next episode! Cheers HS
Thanks! I always think the music is better than hearing me puff and pant along the trail haha. Enjoying doing the videos and looking back on the hike though!
Stunning views!! Awesome work in the GR and the videos! What drone are you using? Footage looks really really crisp!
Hey, thanks a lot! I use a DJI Mini 3 Pro, and some ND filters by Freewell. They really helped on bright days.
Epic mate, them places looked amazing, tough going doing 17 milers in them mountains too, that ordesa valley looked unreal👌, scenery and camping amongst that doesn’t get any better than that, atb Mick 👍
Totally agree Mick - those few days were tough going for sure. It was a great experience camping in that spot though. Not sure I've ever had a more peaceful night in the tent.
I was wondering if you considered doing the alternative (nueva variante) which skips the descent to Banos de Panticosa (and subsequent ascent) which splits from the main route at Refugio de los Ibones de Bachimana? I am considering that alternative in planning my GR11 attempt next summer.
Hi, I actually didn't consider that one. To be honest, I stuck mostly to the main route. Also, around the area you mention, I'd started walking with another hiker that I'd met, and we descended to the refuge at the bottom together. Hope you have a great time on your hike!
I see, that makes sense. Thanks for the great footage, very inspiring!
Thanks again for this Paul! I had to skip the four days around the Oredessa section when I did the GR11 this summer, but your video confirms my desire to return there in future and treat it as a superb one week hiking holiday in it's own right, as it must be THE most spectacular section of the whole route.. You would know! I don't like heights either, so I'm still a little apprehensive about tackling it and I'm not sure your words did much to encourage me or ally my fears? Still... Life's for living as they say! I'll be back.
Looking forward to your next installment Paul
👍
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the scenery. It was absolutely stunning there, a lot of people around in the main valley but once you climbed out, you soon got away from the crowds. Apparently I actually took a GR11 alternate trail from Refugio Goritz, although I didn't know at the time. Apparently the official trail isn't anywhere near as difficult. To be honest, even though it was incredibly hard work for me, the view from the Collado was 100% worth it. The descent from there to Refugio Pineta was the scariest bit for me if I'm honest. I'd say about the top two thirds were either very steep scree or loose rock, then the bottom third was a narrow path with lots of big boulders and drops that I had to slowly lower myself down. I'm not sure if I could have gone up that way, it would probably have done me in! I hope you do go back and have an awesome week!
Working on the next one now, it features my favourite mountain cabin!
@PaulandaPack Ah yeah I remember now from the guidebook that there is an 'old GR11' route down from the Goritz hut which is much harder apparently than the new route, so like you say maybe that's the one you took. You can feel even prouder of yourself now! I missed the boat on booking a bed/tent pitch at the Goritz hut too for the same reasons and thought about stealth camping, but I had to use my bright red Hilleberg Akto this summer which makes 'stealth' camping impossible! I'll have my more discreet coloured Enan tent when I return and hopefully find a spot with a view even half as cracking as yours 🤞
Blimey, that lad you met must have been fit and agile if you were struggling to keep up with him. I'd have stood no chance keeping up. 😂
Absolutely stunning though matie. You did really well to put those miles in on that terrain, even though you were struggling with your target. I'd love to get out there and do that trail or somewhere similar.
Haha, he was actually running just before I met him! I kept telling myself he was half my age and had a tiny backpack to try and make myself feel better lol.
This was definitely one of the more challenging areas, but it was really beautiful. The GR10 and GR11 have sections that can be accessed pretty easily by public transport, it just requires some careful planning! You'd love it out there mate. Well worth the trip.
Amazing video great effort on GR11 I also completed GR11 this year and yes it was just super I set off late June met some fantastic people thinking of Lycian Way in Turkey nx April
Thanks a lot, congrats on your completion too! I've looked at the Lycian Way myself, but haven't got out there yet - hope you get to do it and have a great hike!
15 miles a day +10.000 feet day after day is phenomenal! I am fit and strong 50-something and I wouldn't be capable of those numbers. Well done man. The Odessa Canyon looks stunning (I first found out it in Nick Crane's book Clear Water's Rising!)
Cheers Paul! Going through my footage to make these videos is a great way for me to actually stop and think about what I did.
A customer of mine let me borrow their copy of that book - what an amazing hike!!
have you read Andrew Terrill's award winning hiking books?
@@pauljones5066 I haven't - I have to confess I'm not much of a reader - I only read the Nick Crane one as one of my customers said it covered some of the area I was headed to.
man I promise you, buy Andrew Terrill's book where he walks the length of Italy. Fantastic Christmas read for a hiker like you!