GR11 Hike Across the Pyrenees Part 1

The first part of an 850km backpacking trip across the Spanish Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. It is 2023 and Western Europe is in the clutches of another severe heatwave, but how are the Pyrenees affected?

[@pauljones5066]

I camped at that campsite at Burgutte when I did camino from St Jean P-d-P. That's an interesting valley. Napoleon and Wellington's troops fought a battle there during the peninsula war. Hemmingway spent his summers in Burgutte during his infamous trips to Pamplona. I also remember the vultures on the peaks. I saw loads of them.

[@MinackerMovies]

Thanks. There's so much history there. Wellington won the first battle at the Bidasoa estuary, crossing at night from Hondarribia.

[@Thecornishhiker]

Excellent I love your videos. Getting stuck in now

[@gilzaidat4472]

super , merci du partage , vivement la suite

[@DaveGoodman1959]

What an adventure, your an inspiration and almost made me want to get a passport. I love the Pyrenees as I worked there as a teenager and then about 17 years ago did 2 weeks on the GR10 in France but ended up in hospital due to heat and some health problems so it’s the fear of not coping with the heat that puts me off a bit but you never know I shall see how I get on with more hiking next year. Anyway thanks for sharing your trip and kind regards. 🍻

[@MinackerMovies]

Thank you, it does get very hot there at times. I hope you can find a cooler trail to suit you. Perhaps the Kingsleden in Norway?

[@DaveGoodman1959]

@@MinackerMovies well it has crossed my mind many times👍🍻

[@morgs4mountains]

Fantastic. I shall gorge on these videos. I did the GR11 a couple of years ago and loved the Pyrenees so much that I'm going back in 2024 to do the HRP. I know you've done the GR10 so maybe the hatrick for you in the future?!! Great to see so many familiar places already including the exact spots for a couple of my camps. I see you've moved to the Durston so will be interested on how you got on with it! Thanks for posting the videos!

[@MinackerMovies]

Hi Morgs, thanks. I'm working on the next video now. Not sure about the HRP, perhaps your younger knees will be better suited than mine, they took a bit of a bashing on the GR11 scree, boulderfields and steep descents. The tent was good, lots of space and easy to pitch once used to it. If there are negatives, I didn't like the sil-nylon groundsheet, too slippy, especially if you can't pitch on flat ground. That and the large footprint means you have to be more fussy about where to pitch. Happy planning for your HRP! I look forward to seeing the videos.

[@solway17carlisle]

Hi - what date/ month did you set off from Irun? Great video and I’m tempted to try this before I get any older(!) but read that too early a start risks difficult snow cover on some of the Passes….Thanks

[@MinackerMovies]

Hi, thanks. I started 19 July, but suspect you could start from 1st July. Apparently you can get snow any time, but Jul/Aug are safest bet. It depends also on what kind of Winter they've had, so good to check. There was fresh snow over 2000m at Puigmal as I reached Llanca. Enjoy the hike and prepare for hot or cold.

[@solway17carlisle]

@@MinackerMovies Many Thanks for your reply - much appreciated…