Pyrenees: Route suggestions please

D

danfascia

Trail Blazer
Hi there, I'm looking for some route advice in the Pyrenees.

In late June, I have 3.5 days available following work in Toulouse and thought this would be a good opportunity to check out a section of the Pyrenees, probably sticking to the eastern section as I need to return from Perpignan.

I will have Saturday > Tuesday night (when I need to be in Perpignan ready to fly on Wednesday morning).

Looking at the train routes from Toulouse, Merens les Vals or Ax les Termes look like reasonable starting points.

I have no experience of this area and would love a good high alpine route taking in some peaks. I will be fine wild camping or combining with refuges. Any route suggestions greatly valued thanks.
 
Many Miles

Many Miles

Trail Blazer
The Tour du Carlit might be suitable. Whilst it doesn't have the wow factor of the mountains further west (IMHO) it's a lovely walk, about the right length and will give you the excuse to return and have more Pyrenean adventures!

You used to be able to get a bus to/from Perpignan to the border of Andorra for 1 euro. Around a 3 hour journey.

gr-go.fr

GRP® Tour du Carlit (Pyrénées): Etapes, GPX, Carte IGN

Préparer ou faire le GRP® Tour du Carlit (Pyrénées) avec GR-GO: infos, étapes, refuges, bivouacs, hôtels, carte, tracé GPX, variantes, météo
gr-go.fr gr-go.fr
 
D

danfascia

Trail Blazer
Many Miles said:
The Tour du Carlit might be suitable. Whilst it doesn't have the wow factor of the mountains further west (IMHO) it's a lovely walk, about the right length and will give you the excuse to return and have more Pyrenean adventures!

You used to be able to get a bus to/from Perpignan to the border of Andorra for 1 euro. Around a 3 hour journey.

gr-go.fr

GRP® Tour du Carlit (Pyrénées): Etapes, GPX, Carte IGN

Préparer ou faire le GRP® Tour du Carlit (Pyrénées) avec GR-GO: infos, étapes, refuges, bivouacs, hôtels, carte, tracé GPX, variantes, météo
gr-go.fr gr-go.fr
Click to expand...
Thank you. Not one I have heard of and I will check that out.
 
D

danfascia

Trail Blazer
Just updating this post to show the route that we have decided to aim to tackle across 4-days (found an earlier train from Toulouse).

Essentially takes a mixture of the GR10 and Haute Route Pyrenees, incorporating Pic du Canigou which is meant to be an impressive peak.

It's ambitious but let's see how we go.

https://imgur.com/a/DUpoVWr
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
danfascia said:
Just updating this post to show the route that we have decided to aim to tackle across 4-days (found an earlier train from Toulouse).

Essentially takes a mixture of the GR10 and Haute Route Pyrenees, incorporating Pic du Canigou which is meant to be an impressive peak.

It's ambitious but let's see how we go.

https://imgur.com/a/DUpoVWr
Click to expand...
You won't be stopping to admire the views!
Something very similar was near 6 days for us. (Inc going up n over Canigou- it would take longer going around). Though we had a couple 2+ hour sessions in cafes/refuges along the way.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tom
tom

tom

Thru Hiker
Like @Mole, I hiked this a few years ago (direction Merens) and 6 days sounds about right (I did go over Canigue and carlit summits). Been back a few times for spring shoulder season trips around Carlit - one of my favorite parts of the Pyrenees. Lovely natural sulphur pools above Merense too...
 
N

NUFC57

Trekker
danfascia said:
Just updating this post to show the route that we have decided to aim to tackle across 4-days (found an earlier train from Toulouse).

Essentially takes a mixture of the GR10 and Haute Route Pyrenees, incorporating Pic du Canigou which is meant to be an impressive peak.

It's ambitious but let's see how we go.

https://imgur.com/a/DUpoVWr
Click to expand...
Is this a camping only route or would there be accommodation around? It looks great
 
tom

tom

Thru Hiker
NUFC57 said:
Is this a camping only route or would there be accommodation around? It looks great
Click to expand...
... depends on the route you choose between Canigue and Carlit - the GR10 has huts, the HRP is mixed tent/huts. There are also a few unstaffed cabanas along the way (for which you need to bring something to sleep on and in...)
 
N

NUFC57

Trekker
tom said:
... depends on the route you choose between Canigue and Carlit - the GR10 has huts, the HRP is mixed tent/huts. There are also a few unstaffed cabanas along the way (for which you need to bring something to sleep on and in...)
Click to expand...
I am thinking ahead to next May re what my next overseas trek will be and 6 days, plus travel something like this sounds ideal. I would prefer a bed at night over a tent.
 
tom

tom

Thru Hiker
NUFC57 said:
I am thinking ahead to next May re what my next overseas trek will be and 6 days, plus travel something like this sounds ideal. I would prefer a bed at night over a tent.
Click to expand...
I've been 4 times around Carlit in April, May and June so far and the snow load depends on the year. The ski season ends in March in the Catalan Pyrenees National Park (Carlit) but you may need still crampons and ice-ax for north facing higher passes (or summits). In April 2019, we had more than 1 meter fresh snow at 2000m (and snowing down to 1500m altitude). It was beautiful but I had packed the right kit when I saw the forecast - some days I couldn't move without snowshoes. Even June is still early for high Pyrenees trails in some years. So check the weather before you go...

EDIT - And check which huts open when - some may only be open weekends in May.
 
D

danfascia

Trail Blazer
Appreciate the tips. The backup plan would be to stay low on GR10 if the weather looks bad and avoid the traverse onto the HRP.

Hut wise we have found the bigger ones to be open:
- Lac des Bouillouses
- Refugi d'Ulldeter
- Refuge des Cortalets

30-40km days are normally our grift, putting in 12-14hr long days in June but I do worry that the Pyrenees terrain might make those distances overambitous for the time we have. The big issue seems to be limited bail out route options in this area if it's not working out or the weather turns foul.
 
echo8876

echo8876

Thru Hiker
tom said:
I've been 4 times around Carlit in April, May and June so far and the snow load depends on the year. The ski season ends in March in the Catalan Pyrenees National Park (Carlit) but you may need still crampons and ice-ax for north facing higher passes (or summits). In April 2019, we had more than 1 meter fresh snow at 2000m (and snowing down to 1500m altitude). It was beautiful but I had packed the right kit when I saw the forecast - some days I couldn't move without snowshoes. Even June is still early for high Pyrenees trails in some years. So check the weather before you go...

EDIT - And check which huts open when - some may only be open weekends in May.
Click to expand...
looks fun as of week ago. i wouldn't go till mid july at least, for multiday and alone.
1749632549460.png
at least aosta melted down, i'm going in a week.
1749632807530.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: tom
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
We had one day on the gr 11 where because of how we wild camped each night, it was about 2K up and 2K down in a day . That was brutal and with me being in charge of the planning , I wasn't in good books the last couple of hours😁
 
echo8876

echo8876

Thru Hiker
Mole said:
We had one day on the gr 11 where because of how we wild camped each night, it was about 2K up and 2K down in a day . That was brutal and with me being in charge of the planning , I wasn't in good books the last couple of hours😁
Click to expand...
that's why HRP is much better pick.
 
JimH

JimH

Section Hiker
D

danfascia

Trail Blazer
Snow report page super useful. Shame many of the webcams are broken.

Looks like there are 2 points of snow concern on the route I have marked although on my route I take a different route instead of the Col des Bésines. Not seen many people use the route I have marked which is a more direct route up to the north side of Lac de Lanoux. We may well find out why that is next week 😂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top