HRP – Pyrennean Haute route (section)

[Marc B]

Hi everyone

I’m new here, so in case i missed any important rules or guidelines, please tell me.

I’m here because of Amy’s incredible post-trip report of the HRP (Pyrennean Haute-route) from 2010. Because of that, I’ve decided to attempt a part of it myself at the end of August. I have a little experience with semi-long distance solo hiking (crossed the Hardangervidda, Norway last year by myself in a little over a week) but I still wanted to ask a few things from you guys:

First, a few things about my planned trip: I have roughly 2.5 to 3 weeks from the middle of August until the beginning of September. I will be going there and back by train (from Switzerland) and since I’m still a studying, most of my gear will be from my dad (some of it quite ancient), so my pack will be quite a bit heavier than the average gear list I’ve found on here…

1. If anyone has hiked the whole HRP, can you suggest a 2-3 week long section? I am looking for something rather remote and generally like hiking in the higher mountains with rougher terrain than just grassy hills.

I was thinking about going to Gavarnie by public transport and hiking East as far as I get (probably somewhere around Andorra) and hitch-hiking from a (french) valley back to somewhere with public transport.

2. I have bought the digital version of Joostens HRP book, and I am wondering how tight the given times are. I’m usually quite a bit faster than the suggested times but as the HRP is only for experienced hikers, I’m wondering if I can still manage to stay below his times…

3. As already mentioned, my budget doesnt really allow me to get super light-weight gear but I still want to carry a tent and sleeping bag etc. with me to get the full experience. I read on multiple occasions, that the weather (mostly the wind) can get pretty rough out there and as I am not the most experienced in picking spots for pitching my tent, I am not sure if I can get away with my rather light tent. (Its a 1-person, 3-season, 1-layer tent with a single middle arch, weighing app. 1.5 kg.)  Do i need something sturdier for the HRP in August?

4. Do you have any other suggestions/tipps? HRP specific or just general? Would love to hear your ideas!

 

Greetings from Switzerland, Marc

[William Chilton]

It’s probably worth you joining trek-lite.com (UK based) and asking on there too. Quite a few members have a lot of experience in the Pyrenees.

[Roger Caffin]

You can do most of the HRP using Refuges rather than a tent. To be sure, you miss out on the high camps, but you get better food and can go faster. We have done both in Europe.

Cheers

[Amy Lauterbach]

Marc,

In case you didn’t realize it already, please be aware that we cleaned up the HRP trip report and improved the map and posted it at our new website DoingMiles.com

As to your questions, we enjoyed the whole route, so don’t recommend any particular section. Starting at Gavarnie and heading east seems like a fine idea, although if you want to optimize for higher elevation alpine scenery you might consider Lescun instead.

About pace and timing, be aware that Joosten stages are all designed to end at lodging and that means there are numerous relatively short stages. By carrying a tent you can just hike as far as you want without the constraint of ending at a refuge. You can look at our timing on our CalTopo map (linked from the DoingMiles trip report) and use that as a reference point for your plans. When we’re on a trail with good tread our average daily pace is about 30km (18 miles) with about 1000 meters (3300 feet) of gain. We’re slower than that when the route has a disproportionate amount of altitude gain/loss or when the trail tread is loose or uneven. If you’re comfortable walking 30km per day on high quality fairly easy trail, then your pace on the HRP might be similar to our HRP pace.

I can’t speak to the wind-worthiness of your tent, but do reiterate that we had storms with very heavy wind-driven rain. You should either make sure you have a shelter that can withstand strong wind and rain, or plan to spend some nights in refuges or at low elevation.

Good luck, and enjoy your trip.  Amy and James

[Katherine .]

This is probably worth reading if you haven’t already. I went to a her slideshow/presentation about it.

https://www.walkingwithwired.com/france-2017

 

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