INTRODUCTION
PART 1: PLANNING YOUR TREK
With a group or on your own?
Independent trekking: off the beaten track 11 – Independent trekking: via gîtes d’étape and refuges 11 – Group/guided walks 11 –
Trekking agencies: UK 12, Continental Europe 13, North America 13
Australasia 13
Getting to the Pyrenees
By air 14 – By rail 17 – By car 18 – By coach 18
Visas 18
Budgeting
Camping 19 – Gîtes 19 – Extras 19
When to go
Snow-free period 20 – Gîtes and refuges 21 – National holidays 21
Route options
GR10 22 – GR11 22 – HRP (High Level Route) 22 – Overall 23 – Route markings 23
What to take
Rucksack 24 – Sleeping-bag 24 – Footwear and footcare 25 – Clothes 26 – General items 28 – Recommended reading 30 – Maps 32
Mountain safety
Weather and equipment 34 – Trekking alone 34 – Weather forecast services 35 – Experience 35 – Snow 35 – Emergency help 37
Health precautions
Possible problems 37 – Treatment under EU regulations 38 – Travel insurance 38
PART 2: THE PYRENEES
Facts about the Pyrenees
Geographical background 41 – Climate 41 – Historical outline 42 – Economy 46 – The people 46 – Languages 47 – Geology 47
Flora and fauna
Flora 48 – Trees 49 – Fauna 49 – National parks 53
Practical information for the visitor
Transport 54 – Accommodation 55 – Language 57 – Holidays and festivals 57 – Money 58 – Electricity 59 – Post and telecommunications 59 – Food 59 – Drink 60 – Things to buy 60 – Security 60 – Minimum impact trekking 61
PART 3: WESTERN PYRENEES
Pays Basque, Béarn and Navarra – Facts about the region
General description 63 – The Basque Country 64 – Béarn 65 – Navarra 66 – Aragón 66 – Getting there 67
Western Pyrenees – GR10
Hendaye – Olhette 70
Olhette – Aïnhoa 75
Aïnhoa – Bidarray 77
Bidarray – St-Étienne-de-Baïgorry 80
St-Étienne-de-Baïgorry – St-Jean-Pied-de-Port 85
St-Jean-Pied-de-Port – Roncesvalles 88
St-Jean-Pied-de-Port – Estérencuby/Phagalcette 88
Phagalcette – Chalet d’Iraty 90
Chalet d’Iraty – Logibar 92
Logibar – Sainte-Engrâce 95
Sainte-Engrâce – Arette la Pierre St-Martin 98
Arette la Pierre St-Martin – Lescun 101
Lescun – Borce/Etsaut 104
Borce/Etsaut – Gabas 106
Gabas – Gourette 109
Gourette – Arrens-Marsous 112
Excursions around the GR10
Pic du Midi d’Ossau 114
Around Balaïtous 116
Refuge de Pombie – Refuge d’Arrémoulit 117
Refuge d’Arrémoulit – Refuge Wallon 118
Western Pyrenees – GR11 (Spain)
St-Jean-Pied-de-Port – Roncesvalles 122
Roncesvalles – Embalse (reservoir) de Irabia 126
Embalse (reservoir) de Irabia – Ochagavia 130
Ochagavia – Isaba 132
Isaba – Zuriza 135
Zuriza – Aguas Tuertas 138
Aguas Tuertas – Candanchú 140
Candanchú – Sallent de Gallego 143
Sallent de Gallego – Balneario de Panticosa 149
PART 4: CENTRAL PYRENEES
Hautes Pyrénées, Haute Garonne, Ariège, Aragón, Catalonia – Facts about the region
General description 153 – Hautes Pyrénées, Haute Garonne and Ariège 153 – Aragón and Catalonia 155 – Food and drink 156 – Getting there 156
Central Pyrenees – GR10
Arrens-Marsous – Refuge d’Ilhéou 158
Refuge d’Ilhéou – Cauterets 160
Cauterets – Luz-St-Sauveur 163
Luz-St-Sauveur – Barèges 167
Barèges – Refuge de L’Oule 171
Refuge de L’Oule – Vielle-Aure 172
Vielle-Aure – Germ 175
Germ – Granges d’Astau 178
Granges d’Astau – Bagnères-de-Luchon 180
Bagnères-de-Luchon – Fos 183
Fos – Refuge de l’Étang d’Araing 188
Refuge de l’Étang d’Araing – Eylie 189
Eylie – Cabane d’Aouen 190
Cabane d’Aouen – Seix 194
Seix – Rouze 197
Rouze – Aulus-les-Bains 200
Aulus-les-Bains – Mounicou 203
Mounicou – Goulier 205
Goulier – Siguer 207
Siguer – Refuge Les Clarans 209
Refuge Les Clarans – Refuge de Rulhe 211
Refuge de Rulhe – Mérens-les-Vals 212
Ax-Les-Thermes 215
Excursions around the GR10
Cauterets – Refuge Wallon 215
Cauterets – Refuge Bayssellance 218
Refuge Bayssellance – Gavarnie 220
Gavarnie – Luz-St-Sauveur 224
Central Pyrenees – GR11
Balneario/Baños de Panticosa – Bujaruelo 226
Bujaruelo – Refugio de Goriz 228
Refugio de Goriz – Circo de Pineta 231
Circo de Pineta – Parzán 233
Parzán – Refugio de Viadós 235
Refugio de Viadós – Puente de San Jaime 238
Puente de San Jaime – Estany Cap de Llauset 240
Estany Cap de Llauset – Hospital de Viella 242
Hospital de Viella – Refugi de la Restanca 244
Refugi de la Restanca – Refugi de Colomers 245
Refugi de Colomers – Refugi d’Amitges 248
Refugi d’Amitges – La Guingueta d’Àneu 249
La Guingueta d’Àneu – Estaon 253
Estaon – Tavascan 255
Tavascan – Àreu 257
Àreu – Refugi de Vall Ferrera 258
Refugi de Vall Ferrera – Marc 259
GR10–GR11 route link
Bagnères-de-Luchon – Refugio de la Renclusa 262
Refugio de la Renclusa – Hospital de Viella 264
The Ordesa National Park (Spain)
Refuge Wallon – Torla 267
Tour of the Ordesa Canyon 271
Torla – Nerín 274
Nerín – Refugio de Goriz 277
Refugio de Goriz – Gavarnie 279
PART 5: EASTERN PYRENEES
Pyrénées Orientales – Facts about the region
General description 283 – Getting there 285
Eastern Pyrenees – GR10
Mérens-les-Vals – Lac des Bouillouses 287
Lac des Bouillouses – Planès 291
Planès – Refuge de la Carança 293
Refuge de la Carança – Mantet 295
Mantet – Refuge de Marialles 296
Refuge de Marialles – Chalet des Cortalets 298
Chalet des Cortalets – Arles-sur-Tech 299
Arles-sur-Tech – Moulin de la Palette 301
Moulin de la Palette – Las Illas 303
Las Illas – Col de l’Ouillat 305
Col de l’Ouillat – Banyuls-sur-Mer 308
APPENDIX
Language section 312
INDEX
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