They finished the GR10 this year!
This year, several of our customers completed the incredible Traversée des Pyrénées following the GR10. Some have completed it in one go, others have preferred to explore it step by step over the years.
So who better than you to share this unforgettable experience?
This week, we hear from Jean-Pierre and Phillip and Sue, as they relive the highlights of a journey that left a lasting impression on them !
Jean-Pierre and his friends, our loyal group of Basque and Breton hikers
A native of the Basque country, Jean-Pierre started this epic crossing in 2019 with Respyrénées, and each year they've come a little closer to the Mediterranean. This season, they completed their adventure on the GR10 !
« Excellent times with my Basque and Breton buddies, ending up in Banyuls on June 28. It's a GR that we've covered in 5 years at a rate of one week a year, with 11 consecutive days this year.
Eleven days of near-perfect weather, unforgettable moments, especially at the summit of the Canigou, first overcast, then above a sea of clouds that reveals itself completely.
Nice accommodations and hikes very well suited to my age and physical condition !
A holiday that gives you wings and the desire to climb many more summits ! ».
Jean-Pierre
Phillip and Sue: the one-shot Crossing !
After completing the South West Coastal (SWC) in 2019, Phillip and Sue have set themselves a final challenge this year : to cover the entire Pyrenees via the GR10 in a single expedition !
Everyone embarks on the GR10 for different reasons at different times in their lives. Sue and I had completed the South West Coastal (SWC) in 2019 and had been talking about one last epic challenge and reading about the GR10 it ticked all the boxes. To be fair and I am sure Sue would agree I am a more experienced walker than her so knew the physical and logistical challenges of completing the GR10 at our senior age were not to be taken lightly.
I was also conscious of the fact that both Sue and I do not like to much exposure (we are not budding mountaineers just avid walkers) and I knew aspects of the route would include some exposed trails we would have to navigate in potentially poor weather conditions – especially through weeks 3-6.
Having mulled the trip over with Sue a few times over the years, as she was pressing me hard to go firm; I must admit It was only when I made contact with Respyrénées and discussed our options with them that I really thought the trip was possible. Our wild camping days (especially mine) were over and one does not reach the 60 and 70s without carrying a few potential ailments. So no heavy rucksacks, manageable daily distances and good accommodation options close to the track were at the top of our wish list. Respyrénées with their luggage transfer, and knowledge of the route and accommodation available ticked all of our boxes. So the trip was on !
Originally, we planned to start the trip the beginning of June; my rationale being we would miss the snowy cols as assuming with the poor snow these days and higher temperatures it would all have melted and thus also avoiding the hotter period in August as we made our way to the Mediterranean...
As it turned out both assumptions were wrong !
We experienced the hotter days during July moving through the Basque section than we did during August making our way through French Catalunya and to the Mediterranean. Indeed, one local transfer taxi driver in the Basque region said we would not have missed the snow in June as there were still a lot of it about. Once thing I was very conscious off was having to wear crampons and navigate snow-capped cols – Note: Risk levels increase dramatically. I was also conscious of the famous electrical storms some regions of the Pyrenees experience generally from September onwards. I suppose the point here is the weather can be so unpredictable these days and so difficult to recommend the best time to do the trip in these months! We were lucky as we did not experience either of these two higher risk situations.
The trip itself is difficult to put into words because as I said earlier people of all ages do it for different reasons. To us it was an escape from the frenetic world we live in now.
An escape in which our entire focus became getting from A to B safely, surmounting the next col, descending into the next valley, sighting our home for the night at the end of a hard days walking, eating a hearty meal, a couple of glasses of wine and of course having a good night’s sleep – especially if we had our own bedroom and shower.
In this modern world we forget how important the small things in life are. On top of this to also discover and experience the wonderful different cultures, different cuisines; the local people, their way of life and heritage. The wild life of which was varied and made special moments very special. This is then all rounded of by the magnificent vistas; to many to mention but each day experiencing views not many get to see; views that make the heart and soul sing and just feel wonderful to be alive ! ».
Phillip and Sue
