GR11 Week 2: La Senda Pirenaica - Into The Mountains

[@TheWalkingKev]

This looked an absolutely stunning leg. Some great photos along the way as well.

[@morgs4mountains]

It got even better too! I cannot describe just how good the Pyrenees are.

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@morgs4mountains I'm working my way through the series, it's a serious adventure.

[@morgs4mountains]

It was and I do love the multi week trips. I will be returning to the Pyrenees next year. Warm Lakes to swim in, quieter mountains unlike the Alps and a culture that is unique.

[@stewartbrady3651]

Wonderful. What a route and beautifully captured.

[@morgs4mountains]

Thanks so much Stewart. I can't take credit for the route but I'm pleased that my video attempt was OK!!

[@blogpackinglight]

Spectacular scenery and lovely video (nice atmospheric music too). Look forward to the next instalment.

[@morgs4mountains]

Thanks so much. I'm pleased that you enjoyed it.

[@lornagregory3661]

Absolutely stunning brilliant David

[@morgs4mountains]

Thanks so much Lorna!!

[@DaveGoodman1959]

Fantastic Dave, thanks. I'm watching while in my tent on Bleaklow during the bank holiday weekend. The scenery and you videoing is superb. Nice to see the Pic du midi as I did fo the tour around that and always dreamed and had a trip planned to visit Odesssa but alas it never happened. Thanks again for the great video. 👍🍻

[@morgs4mountains]

Enjoy Bleaklow Dave. Lovely part of the UK. Yes, I've been lucky with my experience so far.

[@WainwrightWalksWiaLocalLad]

The Pyrenees are wonderful aren't they?...and you've captured them beautifully. This section is a personal favourite. Looking forward to the next episode. TFS cheers Alistair

[@morgs4mountains]

Thanks Alistair. Yes, I agree and they just get better as I move east! Thanks for commenting!

[@adamdawson2261]

Great video Dave. Fabulous. And it looks like you’ve got pretty much the whole place to yourself. What a tonic.

[@morgs4mountains]

It's been amazing so far Adam. Now in Andorra and it's a shock coming to a busy town centre!!

[@rosblackmore5422]

I've just found your series and am already a fan!! Fantastic views, wild life and camp life shots. Also plenty of info about where you are which helps. Thanks for sharing 😀

[@morgs4mountains]

I'm so pleased that you've found my attempts Ros. Thanks for taking the time to comment and I do hope that you enjoy my other efforts too.

[@treklinda1309]

Beautifully filmed, so pleasant to watch. And what a lovely place!

[@morgs4mountains]

Thank you so much Linda. You're very kind.

[@JFOUTDOOR]

Thanks Dave for this part 2 .. i start it in 3 days ( from Isaba ) . I look and look and look your film , it's fantastic for me ! I check you when i'm on the way 😉 bye !

[@morgs4mountains]

Have a lovely trip. I enjoyed the section from Isaba a lot. Thanks for letting me know that you've watched and enjoyed my video attempts!!

[@thevalleywalker]

Absolutely stunning scenery mate, I, like many others watching you do this are probably green with envy I reckon. Again the opening sequence just draws the viewer in, nicely done Dave. Showing off with that night shot, lol.. superb. I didn't know what the goat like animals were, thanks.... The scene with the horses mate.. special. Listening to you saying you look forward to entering spectacular scenery of the Ordesa canyon I'm thinking wow, if it gets better than what I have just watched this last 15 mins it has to be special. That rocky track looked well dodgy on the outro mate & there's you walking n filming at the same time!! I am coming to watch this again in a few days... stonking mate, stonking! atb Al

[@morgs4mountains]

Cheers Alan mate. The animals were chamois and yes, the scenery gets better and better. I've just crossed the border to Andorra and enjoying a bit of civilisation. You're so kind with your words.

[@liverpoolhikers]

Wow, what a stunning trail. Looks like we might have to add one more to our 'trails to hike before we die' list. We were going to add 'we hope the weather keeps up for you, as it looks like it could be rough if a storm comes in', but we have seen week 3 since ... 😉. So instead we hope the storms stay isolated!

[@morgs4mountains]

I've had my fair share but they always come at night or late afternoon. I had to out run one when I was on a ridge at 2800m a few days ago. Now in the green tunnel as I am 5 days from the coast and in week 6. It's a great trail and the Pyrenees are stunning.

[@liverpoolhikers]

@@morgs4mountains - sounds like good prep for the Sierra. Afternoon storms are quite common there, too. Though running off ridges does not sound like fun

[@morgs4mountains]

I think that ship has sailed for numerous reasons, one being the inability to through hike the trail due to annual forest fires. Plenty more in Europe to do plus in USA I do quite fancy the Colorado Trail.

[@greggsthebaker95]

Another Beautiful video Dave, The places you camp at look absolutely stunning! Thanks for sharing your adventures with us!

[@morgs4mountains]

Thanks so much for leaving such a lovely comment Ryan. I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[@phill2383]

Wow, fantastic David, The 2nd weeks looks a lot more Mountainous but some spectacular footage and images. Thanks again for uploading and hope its going well on the trail,

[@morgs4mountains]

Thanks Phillip. Yes, from week 2 on it's become exactly as I imagined. Lots of rock and spectacular views.

[@laughing-knees]

Fantastic! It looks like the weather was superb (though I bet it was hot!), and those alpine views! That’s what walking in the mountains is all about, isn’t it? It’s been nothing but torrential rains here in Japan, so no chances to get the the higher mountains here (which remind me very much of the Pyrenees). And with the border closed, going abroad isn’t an alternative. Hopefully I’ll get a chance this weekend to get to the North Japan Alps. In the meantime, I’ll keep watching your videos! Walk safely and enjoy!

[@morgs4mountains]

Thanks Laughing Knees. It had been hot and I'm currently in week 5 although the weather is turning. I've had rain for the last few days and today's forecast is very poor. I can't grumble though as I've had fabulous weather to date. Sorry to read of the issues in Japan. I didn't realise the border was actually closed.

[@laughing-knees]

@@morgs4mountains well, not actually closed. “Porous” might be a better word. Japan is doing badly with the Delta variant, and there’s been a clampdown on people going in and out. Long quarantines, and limitations on which countries are approved, make it more or less closed. Even traveling between prefectures has been limited now in the state of emergency. I haven’t been climbing in more than a year now, staying home most of the time, so a little skirting of the rules might be in order…

[@MinackerMovies]

Nicely done, I'm looking forward to the next four! After doing the GR10 2 years ago and loving it I planned on doing the GR5 last year and the GR11 this year, but last year was obviously a write-off and this year my flights were cancelled, but unlike you I didn't persist, but instead moved the GR5 flight to 2022. Interested to see you are using the Notch Li, as I have recently ordered one. I love my Plexamid and the camo cuben, but it is not great in strong wind, especially if wind direction changes to the front and I have been caught out 3 times now by that! It's also less warm in a chilly cross wind than having a half-solid inner, so, although I prefer darker material like the camo and Tarptent don't do it, I bit the bullet and ordered! I too am not a fan of saggy-soggy silnylon, although it is good in other respects, being waterproof, strong, light and packs down well. I have a couple of questions....What phone did you record with and what is the next trail for you?

[@morgs4mountains]

Hi Alan. Thanks for taking the time to comment and you won't regret the purchase of the Tarptent. It does really well in wind and I use groundhogs which give me the additional reassurance. You'll love the GR5 and I walked the Alps part of it over 4 seperate trips with friends. It's simply stunning. It's definitely worth finishing at Menton as opposed to Nice as you get to explore the Mercantour National Park. One day I'd like to do the whole thing in one go from Hoek of Holland as there is so much history along its length, particularly in the Vosges area. If you ever decided to do the GR11, I'd be interested to learn what you think compared to the GR10. People say that the GR11 is wilder and I've loved that part of it. I use a Huawei P30 phone. I love the quality of it. As for the next trail, I have a flight booked in 2022 to Geneva and I'd like to walk from Geneva to Zell am See but am learning that the Austrian huts are very strict with bookings during COVID. I can't wild camp in Tyrol as strictly illegal and huge fines so not quite sure yet. The Alps will definitely feature though.

[@MinackerMovies]

@@morgs4mountains Funny, I was thinking of the P30 as it has great battery life, but my Sony is still going strong. The camera looks like it does a great job, plus the user of course! Its a shame that camping is frowned on in so many places. Did you camp OK on the GR5?

[@morgs4mountains]

Yes, I'm very impressed with the battery life on the P30. I can walk all day, film, record on Strava with GPS activated and after 9 hours the battery will be on 65%!! My friends and I used refuges or auberges all the way. If I do it again then I will camp for sure. The only place that wild campers have an issue on the GR5 is in the Vanoise National Park. Otherwise camping (le bivouac) is not a problem.

[@aurelnica733]

You did it alone ?

[@morgs4mountains]

Yes I did. I think that it's difficult to do a hike of that length with someone else. I enjoyed the challenge! Thanks for taking the time to comment on the video!

[@turkeyphant]

Do you have a GPS track of your route and a lighterpack link? How many miles are you doing a day on average?

[@morgs4mountains]

Hi Jon. The mileage depends on the height ascent. I tend to calculate my days in hours walked. At the end I'll know what the average was. All my gpx files are stored on Strava and I will download at the end. There are available gpx files online if you Google GR11 GPX. That's how I obtained them to aid navigation when the path on the ground isn't clear.

[@turkeyphant]

@@morgs4mountains Of course but what's your average so far?

[@morgs4mountains]

I'm sorry but I don't know as haven't checked. This is something that I'll do for the final video.