2017 GR10 Pyrenees Traverse
The GR10 runs approximately 560 miles from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean on the French side of the border with Spain. The GR11 runs along the Spanish side with the Haute Route running between the two at higher elevations (and scarier looking to old people such as ourselves). Most French hike the GR10 over a series of several trips and for good reason. This trail will wear you down day after day with its formula of 4,000′ up and 4,000′ down. We were foolish enough to thru hike this one and camp most of the way.
The French guide book is broken up into 4 separate books. For anyone that has the time and lives relatively near the Pyrenees, I would recommend breaking this up into 4 separate trips. Since we came from the USA, we didn’t have that luxury. We mistakenly thought that since we had already hiked nearly 800 miles before starting this trail that it would be a breeze for us. This is a challenging trail just because of the unbroken ascents and descents with relatively few switchbacks. I have got to admit that I am very impressed with the average French hiker we met along the way as they tend to be fast and in excellent shape (often cutting straight up the middle of what switchbacks do exist).
Don’t get me wrong, this is a beautiful trail and I would recommend it for its beauty alone. Just make sure you don’t get hung up on the daily distances that guidebooks recommend. Be sure and take plenty of rest days and enjoy the little French villages and cities along the way. We took a total of 9 days off and several nearos (near zero days, meaning less than 5 miles for the day) so that we wouldn’t kill ourselves. We took longer that we had planned which caused us to have to skip the GR20 Corsica Traverse which we will have to come back and hike in the future.
Trail Start, Friday, June 30
- Day 1 — Hendaye (Atlantic Coast of France)
- Day 2 — Zero Day already
- Day 3 — Sare
- Day 4 — Ainhoa
- Day 5 — Bidarray
- Day 6 — d’Urdos
- Day 7 — Saint Etinenne de Baigorry
Week 2, July 7
- Day 8 — St Jean Pied de Port
- Day 9 — St Jean Pied de Port (Zero Day)
- Day 10 — Esterencuby
- Day 11 — Chalet Pedro
- Day 12 — Cayolar de Mendikotziague
- Day 13 — Plateau Dardakhotchia
- Day 14 — Ste Engrace
Week 3, July 14
- Day 15 — Arette la Pierre St Martin
- Day 16 — Lescun
- Day 17 — Lescun (Zero Day)
- Day 18 — Borce
- Day 19 — Pic d’Ayous
- Day 20 — Gabas
- Day 21 — on way to Gourette
Week 4, July 21
- Day 22 — Lac d’Anglas
- Day 23 — Gourette
- Day 24 — Arrens-Marsous
- Day 25 — Arrens-Marsous (Zero Day)
- Day 26 — Lac Dilheou
- Day 27 — Cauterets
- Day 28 — Cauterets (Zero Day)
Week 5, July 28
- Day 29 — Sazos
- Day 30 — Sers
- Day 31 — Col de Madamete
- Day 32 — Lac d’Aumar
- Day 33 — Pla de Castillon
- Day 34 — Vielle Aure
- Day 35 — Vielle Aure (Zero Day)
Week 6, August 4
- Day 36 — Germ
- Day 37 — Auberge d’Astau
- Day 38 — Refuge d’Espingo
- Day 39 — Bagneres de Luchon
- Day 40 — Artigue
- Day 41 — Fos
- Day 42 — Cabane d’Uls
Week 7, August 11
- Day 43 — Eylie d’en Haut
- Day 44 — Cabane de Besset
- Day 45 — Cabane du Taus
- Day 46 — Esbints
- Day 47 — Seix
- Day 48 — Seix (Zero Day)
- Day 49 — Cabane d’Aula
Week 8, August 18
- Day 50 — Rouze
- Day 51 — St-Lizier-d’Ustou
- Day 52 — Etang de Guzet
- Day 53 — Aulus les Bains
- Day 54 — Coumebiere
- Day 55 — Refuge de Bassies
- Day 56 — Arties
Week 9, August 25 (still not finished)
- Day 57 — Goulier
- Day 58 — Siguer
- Day 59 — Cabane de Balledreyt
- Day 60 — Cabane d’Artaran
- Day 61 — Refuge du Rulhe
- Day 62 — Merens/Ax les Thermes
- Day 63 — Ax les Thermes (Zero Day)
Week 10, September 1 (an incredible 10th week and still not finished)
- Day 64 — Ax les Thermes (Another Zero Day)
- Day 65 — Refuge des Besines
- Day 66 — Lac de Bouillouses
- Day 67 — Planes
- Day 68 — Refuge du Ras de la Caranca
- Day 69 — Mantet
- Day 70 — Refuge de Mariailles
Week 11, September 8 (ok, this is getting embarrassing)
- Day 71 — Chalet-Hotel des Cortalets
- Day 72 — Mines de Batere
- Day 73 — Arles-sur-Tech
- Day 74 — Montalba d’Amelie
- Day 75 — Las Illas
- Day 76 — Le Perthus
- Day 77 — Refuge de Tagnarede
Week 12 (you’re kidding, right?)