The Pyrenean Haute Route

A guidebook to trekking the 748km (465 mile) Pyrenean Haute Route (Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne, HRP) along the France?Spain border. Suitable for fit experienced trekkers comfortable with mountainous terrain, this challenging unwaymarked route traverses the Pyrenees from sea to sea, from Hendaye on the Atlantic Coast to Banyuls-sur-Mer on the Mediterranean, with the aim of staying as high as possible.

The PHR is divided into 44 graded stages of 8 to 28km (5?17 miles), nearly all ending at overnight accommodation. These are presented in 5 sections, which can be accessed by public transport, for the benefit of those wishing to trek only part of the route. Also included are optional ascents of 10 classic summits, including Vignemale, Le Taillon and Pico de Aneto.

• 1:100,000 mapping and elevation profile provided for each stage
• GPX files available for download
• Handy route summary and facilities tables help you plan your itinerary
• Accommodation and facilities
• Advice on planning and preparation, including equipment, supplies and safety considerations

Auteur

Tom Martens grew up in Belgium and first visited the Pyrenees in 2008 with a friend who had made him enthusiastic about the mountain chain. This first exploration was so enchanting that he has been back every year since. He has hiked extensively in the national parks and has traversed the whole length of the Pyrenees several times. He has guided groups of youngsters on long, intensive hikes and climbed many of the peaks. So far, he has spent 300 nights in the Pyrenees, mostly bivouacking. He has a special interest in mountain wildlife. Other regions where you can often find him hiking include Scotland and Estonia, where he currently lives.

Texte du rabat

This guide presents the Pyrenean Haute Route in 44 day stages, which are divided between five sections: since each section starts and finishes at a location accessible by public transport, they can be walked individually if you don't have a spare month-and-a-half for a complete thru-hike. Although the route offers excellent opportunities for wild camping, each stage finishes at a mountain hut or village, meaning that you can sleep under a roof every night if you prefer. Clear route description is accompanied by 1:100,000 mapping. There are bad weather variants and alternatives to avoid the most technical sections, and the guide also includes optional ascents of 10 classic summits, including Vignemale, Pic du Taillon and the highest peak in the Pyrenees, Pico de Aneto. You'll also find helpful advice on travel to and from the route, equipment and safety. There are three main trekking routes across the Pyrenees from coast to coast: of these, the Pyrenean Haute Route (or HRP for Haute Route Pyrénéenne) is the most challenging - and arguably, the most spectacular. Unlike the GR10 and GR11, it is not waymarked and borders on mountaineering at times, sticking as closely as possible to the main ridge. It stretches 750km from the Atlantic resort of Hendaye to Banyuls-sur-Mer on the Mediterranean, crossing the French-Spanish border many times on its traverse. The hike calls for experience, navigational competence and self-reliance, but offers rich rewards as you pass through some of the most stunning landscapes the region has to offer. From the rolling green foothills of the Basque Country to High Pyrenean landscapes of aquamarine lakes nestled among 3000m peaks, the scenery is as varied as it is beautiful. Highlights include the karst terrain of Pic d'Anie, the Ossoue glacier, Lac de Mar in the picturesque Val d'Aran and the dramatic Cirque de Gavarnie with its towering cascade.

Contenu

Preface Map key Overview map Route summary tables Introduction The route Geology Plants and wildlife Mountain weather When to go Getting there Accommodation and services Food, drink and fuel What to take Maps Path conditions Insurance, mountain safety and rescue Using this guide Section 1: Hendaye to Lescun Day 1 Hendaye to Col de Lizuniaga Day 2 Col de Lizuniaga to Arizkun Day 3 Arizkun to Aldudes Day 4 Aldudes to Roncesvalles Day 5 Roncesvalles to Egurgui Day 6 Egurgui to Col Bagargui Day 7 Col Bagargui to Cabane d'Ardané Day 8 Cabane d'Ardané to Source de Marmitou Day 9 Source de Marmitou to Lescun Variant 1 From Refugi de Belagua to Lescun via La Pierre Saint-Martin Section 2: Lescun to Gavarnie Day 10 Lescun to Refuge d'Arlet Day 11 Refuge d'Arlet to Candanchu Day 12 Candanchu to Refuge de Pombie Day 13 Refuge de Pombie to Refuge de Larribet Day 14 Refuge de Larribet to Refuge Wallon Variant 2 Refuge d'Arrémoulit to Refuge Wallon Summit 1 Grande Fache (3005m) from Refuge Wallon Day 15 Refuge Wallon to Refuge de Bayssellance Summit 2 Vignemale (3298m) from Refuge de Bayssellance Day 16 Refuge de Bayssellance to Gavarnie Summit 3 Le Taillon (3144m) from Gavarnie Section 3: Gavarnie to Salard Day 17 Gavarnie to Héas Summit 4 Piméné (2801m) from Refuge des Espuguettes Day 18 Héas to Parzán Variant 3 Parzán via the high route to Hourquette de Héas Day 19 Parzán to Refugio de Viados Day 20 Refugio de Viados to Refuge de la Soula Day 21 Refuge de la Soula to Refuge du Portillon Day 22 Refuge du Portillon to Refugio de la Renclusa Summit 5 Pic Perdiguère (3222m) from Portal de Remune Summit 6 Pico de Aneto (3404m) from Refugio de la Renclusa Day 23 Refugio de la Renclusa to Hospital de Vielha Day 24 Hospital de Vielha to Refugi de la Restanca Day 25 Refugi de la Restanca to Salard Summit 7 Montardo d'Aran (2826m) from the Coll de Crestada Variant 4 Three days on the GR11 from Refugio de Viados to ?Hospital de Vielha Section 4: Salard to l'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre Day 26 Salard to Refugi Gràcia Airoto Day 27 Refugi Gràcia Airoto to Als d'Isil Day 28 Als d'Isil to Refugi Enric Pujol Summit 8 Mont Roig (2868m) from Refugi Enric Pujol Day 29 Refugi Enric Pujol to Refugi de Certascan Variant 5 To Noarre via Tavascan Summit 9 Pic de Certascan (2853m) from Coll de Certascan Day 30 Refugi de Certascan to Refugi de Baborte/del Cinquantenari Day 31 Refugi de Baborte/del Cinquantenari to étang de la Soucarrane Day 32 étang de la Soucarrane to Refugi de Sorteny Day 33 Refugi de Sorteny to Refugi de Cabana Sorda Day 34 Refugi de Cabana Sorda to l'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre Section 5: L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre to Banyuls-sur-Mer Day 35 L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre to Refuge des Bésines Day 36 Refuge des Bésines to Refuge des Bouillouses Variant 6 GR10 to Refuge des Bouillouses Day 37 Refuge des Bouillouses to Eyne Day 38 Eyne to Refugi d'Ull de Ter Summit 10 Pic des Bastiments (2881m) Day 39 Refugi d'Ull de Ter to Refuge de Mariailles Day 40 Refuge de Mariailles to Refuge de Batère Variant 7 GR10 to Refuge des Cortalets Day 41 Refuge de Batère to Moulin de la Palette Day 42 Moulin de la Palette to Las Illas Day 43 Las Illas to Col de l'Ouillat Day 44 Col de l'Ouillat to Banyuls-sur-Mer Appendix A Useful contacts Appendix B Glossary Appendix C Facilities table