Pyrenean Traverse — Logistics

Oh well, it shows the snows are starting to melt but it could make getting to Gavarnie next week a problem as the bus goes through Lourdes – it is the obvious point to transfer from the train. As for Lourdes, the has church turned it into a very sad and sick version of Disneyland – perhaps a cleansing biblical flood.

Mark, you will be fine! You will find a way to the trailhead! I look forward to your reports…on the snow and other matters. Will you be updating a blog or forum as you go? Not that one necessarily should!

Have a safe and wonderful adventure!

And thank you for all the insight on the Pyrenees, navigation and so on.

Just a comment on the this free electronic map for the pyrennees that I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread.

http://topopirineos.blogspot.fr/2012/08/descargas-de-la-version-61.html

I used the map on my eTrex 30 while walking Joosten's section 5 from Banyuls to l'Hospitalet in July. The accuracy was very good and it sorted out several navigational issues for me. It is missing some trails and is not up to date on some of the recent rerouting of the GR10 – eg. to the west of Le Perthus. It is a resource I will happily rely on next time I am in the Pyrennees.

I also used the above map whilst walking in the Ordessa National Park this summer. It is vastly improved over an earlier version from a few years back. However I noticed the opposite issue from that which Mark noted – there are a few paths shown on the map which have no visible presence on the ground – no cairns, no paint, no impression in the ground. I expect a path on a map to represent a visible path on the ground and not be just a potential route. Despite this it is a very useful map given that it covers the whole of the Pyrenees on both sides of the border with no breaks or joins.

In Spain we use several free maps .. maybe the most popular is Topohispania By Sinrenkor

download here

http://www.elgps.com/foroGPS/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=8646

Free and better than garmin maps

http://www.elgps.com_TOPOHISPANIA_Garmin_2.04.part1
http://www.elgps.com_TOPOHISPANIA_Garmin_2.04.part2
http://www.elgps.com_TOPOHISPANIA_Garmin_2.04.part3
http://www.elgps.com_TOPOHISPANIA_Garmin_2.04.part4
http://www.elgps.com_TOPOHISPANIA_Garmin_2.04.part5
http://www.elgps.com_TOPOHISPANIA_Garmin_2.04.part6
http://www.elgps.com_TOPOHISPANIA_Garmin_2.04.part7