Sharing the journey. One thru-hike at a time.
2017 FRANCE JOURNAL
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Days
Avg. Daily Miles
Zero Days
About The HRP & GR5: June 27th-Sept 1st
Quite possibly my favorite summer thus far, I hiked in France on the Haute Route Pyrenees and the GR5 (French Alps). The HRP is a ~500mi/800km route that traverses the Pyrenees range, which runs along the border of Spain and France, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The HRP tries to take the highest traverse of the Pyrenees between the more frequently hiked GR11 (in Spain) and the GR10 (in France). The section of the GR5 that most hike is a 400mi/644km trail from Geneva to Nice (or Mention) in the French Alps paralleling the Italy border. It is less remote and not as taxing as the HRP, but is still requires plenty of effort with ample elevation change. Both hikes were a nice balance for my first time hiking in Europe.
BASE PACK WEIGHT: 12lbs. 15.4oz.
Before the HIke
During The Haute Route Pyrenees
Day 1: Quite A Great First Impression
Day 2: High School Spanish Pays Off!
Day 3: A Hot Day For A Butt Kickin’
Day 4: HEAT & HILLS
Day 5: Pic d’Orhy Glory
Day 6: Seeing Red…and White
Day 7: Lescun, Village Day
Day 8: Fog Tries To Steal The Show
Day 9: The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Bells
Day 10: It Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This
Day 11: Reminiscent Of The Sierra
Day 12: Back In The Pocket
Day 13: Gavarnie on Bastille Day
Day 14: Let’s See What These Legs Can Do
Day 15: At Least It’s Not Raining
Day 16: Steady On
Day 17: Alpine ROCKS!
Day 18: Whew, Made It Halfway!
Day 19: A Zero For The Knees
Day 20: Village Vortex
Day 21: Easing Back In
Day 22: Rebounding and Resupplied
Day 23: A Rough and Rugged One
Day 24: Back In The Groove
Day 25: Hiker Hunger Has Hit
Day 26: Out Of The Alpine, Into Andorra
Day 27: El Serrat And A Pot
Day 28: More Than Expected
Day 29: Leaving It In Fate’s Hands
Day 30: Last Major Hurdle
Day 31: A Welcomed Relaxed Day
Day 32: Border Balance
Day 33: The Cool Before The Heat
Day 34: Socked By The Heat
Day 35: Round Two With The Heat
Day 36: Marching To The Mediterranean
During the GR5
Transitioning To The GR5
Day 1: Straight To The Point
Day 2: Dreary Day Through Pastures
Day 3: Foggy, COLD, Dreary Zero
Day 4: Making Up For Lost Time
Day 5: Chamonix Side Trip, Day One
Day 6: Chamonix Side Trip, Day Two
Day 7: Back To Work On The GR5
Day 8: Settling Into This Trail
Day 9: In The Mood To Mosey
Day 10: Awesomeness On The GR55
Day 11: A Day Of Three Valleys
Day 12: Pleasant and Enjoyable
Day 13: Stepping Into Italy and History
Day 14: A Nero To Briançon
Day 15: Feeling A Shift
Day 16: All Mixed Up
Day 17: Long Stretches
Day 18: Village Hopping
Day 19: Climbing In Heat
Day 20: Not Quite As Hoped
Day 21: Refreshed For The Last Stretch
Day 22: Rocky & Scenic Mercantour
Day 23: A Splendid Cruise Towards The Sea
Day 24: What A Way To End A Trail
After France
