The GR11 Trail. Brian Johnson
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Название: The GR11 Trail

Автор: Brian Johnson

Издательство: Ingram

Жанр: Книги о Путешествиях

Серия:

isbn: 9781783626205

isbn:

СКАЧАТЬ resealable cylinders, such as manufactured by Coleman and Primus; these are the most widely used in Britain, Northern Europe and the USA, and in this guide have been called ‘Coleman-style’ gas cylinders

      Where these are mentioned in the text they were in stock when the author passed through in 2013, but it cannot be guaranteed that they will be in stock when you pass through. ‘Coleman-style’ cylinders are becoming more readily available, but the locals mainly use the ‘original’ or ‘easy-clic’ cylinders and these still have greater availability. Liquid fuels are most likely to be available at the ferreteria (ironmongers), but make sure you know what you are buying!

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      Swedish GR11 hiker collecting water from a stream (Stage 2)

      Water can be a problem if the weather is hot. When walking in temperatures of 25–30°C, you will need at least ½ litre (1 pint) of water for each hour of walking, plus about 2 litres for a ‘dry’ camp, (ie one without a source of water). This is a guideline; actual needs will vary considerably from person to person and will depend on the temperature.

      Most towns, villages and hamlets in the Pyrenees have fountains with untreated spring water. The locals and most walkers will drink the water without further treatment.

      You will often find fountains or ‘piped’ water as you walk along the trail. It should be obvious whether this water comes from a spring or a surface stream. Spring water is usually of a high quality and can be drunk with confidence. You should be more cautious about surface streams, especially woodland streams or streams in areas which are well stocked with sheep or cattle.

      Unless otherwise indicated, the streams, springs and water-points mentioned in the text were running in dry years, 2012 and 2017, and in 2013, a wet year, on through-hikes starting from Irún in mid-June. During snow melt and in a wet year there will be far more water sources, especially in the High Pyrenees.

      The route has been split into stages with the walker who wants to use accommodation in mind. Those who are camping are advised to ignore these sections and to camp well away from towns and villages. Accommodation is limited at the endpoint of some sections so booking would be advisable in peak season. There are some sections where those requiring accommodation will have to follow the alternative route given rather than the ‘main’ route.

      In good visibility, when the ground is free of snow, it is possible to follow the GR11 using the waymarking, route description and 1:100,000 maps in this guidebook, but we would always recommend carrying a map. You should certainly carry more detailed maps if you intend following the route in early season, when there could be extensive snowfields, or if you intend to cross high passes in bad weather.

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      GR11 waymarks

      Most navigational mistakes occur because the walker does not look at the map or guidebook until they are lost! The route descriptions and maps in the guide are designed to prevent you getting lost and they will be of little use when you are already lost! Keep the guidebook handy, not buried in your rucksack.

      Right or left side of streams always refers to right or left in the direction of travel.

      Note on the maps

      The base maps used in this guide were developed from publicly available information. The contours are generally very good, and other tracks and paths are taken from open source information and they are considered to give a reasonable representation of the area and features surrounding the route.

      Water information has only been checked on the route of the GR11; streams shown on the route can be expected to run throughout the summer and the water-points marked on the map are likely to be reliable through the summer.

      Not all tracks and paths are marked. This is particularly noticeable at the Atlantic and Mediterranean ends of the route where mapping the multitude of paths and tracks would have made the maps unreadable.

      Timings

      The timings given in this guide are the actual walking times recorded by the author when he backpacked the route in 2017. This does not include time for breaks or breathers and actual walking time will depend on other factors such as navigational ability, fitness, load and conditions. Times to climb peaks assume you are walking without a pack. The author typically allows nine hours for a six-hour walking day.

      Distances, climb and height profiles

      Distances don’t mean very much in the Pyrenees, where the steepness or roughness of the terrain can be a lot more important than the distance or the amount of climb. Distances and climb have been estimated from the maps. The height profiles are intended to show the general trend of the day’s walk and won’t show all ups and downs.

      GPS

      A GPS device is not needed to follow the GR11, but GPS co-ordinates (latitude and longitude) have been included for key points along the route for those who insist on using one.

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      Fresh snow on Pico Royo in August (Stage 20)

      THE GR11

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      Dolmen de Achar Aguas Tuertas (Stage 10)

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      Faro de Cabo Higuer

      The simplest solution is to take a taxi from Irún to Cabo de Higuer. In summer there are buses (route E25) about every 15min from Paseo Colón, in the centre of Irún, to Playa de Hondarribia. It would take about 1hr 50min to walk to Cabo de Higuer from Irún or 2hr 15min from Hendaye Railway Station in France.

      You need to continue past the Playa de Hondarribia, the main beach of Hondarribia, to reach the harbour at the N end of the sea-front. Follow the road which climbs steeply from the N end of the harbour switchbacking up to a junction. Turn right to reach the S side of the lighthouse, Faro de Cabo Higuer, and Camping Faro de Higuer (40m, N43°23.479 W001°47.546).

      Camping Faro de Higuer has a bar-restaurant. Open all year. Tel 943 641 008 www.campingfarodehiguer.es

      See Stage 1 for facilities in Hondarribia and Irún.

      Cabo de Higuer to Bera (Vera de Bidosoa)

Start Cabo de Higuer
Distance 30km
Total Ascent/Descent 800m
Difficulty Easy. Waymarking does not begin until the S edge of Irún, after which it is very good.
Time 8hr 30min СКАЧАТЬ