Travel

Hello all,

 A friend and i are going to fly out to start the HRP route on June 26TH this year.

 The two of us are going to attempt to finish the entire route by mid August.

 We have read the other threads on the forums but had a few questions of our own if anyone could be kind enough to reply.

How much training did people do before hand to prepare for this route? Obviously we dont want to burn out but then again we dont really like the idea of suffering for the first two weeks!

Has anyone managed to finish this route in under 40days?

What average millage a day did you manage?

Also i read somewhere taht people took more than one pair of boots, i dont really see how this is feasable or practical, is the going that rough?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Oh sorry forgot to mention, its all for charity you can see our progress here;

www.justgiving.com/keiran-hewkin

www.justgiving.com/keirananddanpyrenees

www.justgiving.com/keirananddanpyrenees2

Kieran, I can't answer any of your questions, but one of my students did a lot of the HRP during his gap year, and followed it up with the SWCP, lucky s*d!!

Best of luck to you and Dan and I hope you raise your target for your chosen charities. And have a great time!

Thanks very much

Im sure it will be amazing and a great achievment

Hi Kieran,

I have done the middle 2 and a half sections in 2 fortnights. I could imagine wearing out a new pair of inov8s if I did the whole thing in one, although by that I mean the tread would have gone in places. Standard boots should last.

To keep to Ton Joosten's days without breaks you need to be fit and able to climb that amount of altitude day after day. If you do not prepare you will have to start slowly and run the last half. Miles per day is not large it is the ascents that take the time. We hardly used the refuges and carried all our food. There always seems to be a big climb just after you have bought 8 days food.

Thanks for the reply Derek,

I think im just going to take standard boots, i know that it is hot but i just want to have one less thing to worry about!

We are going to do a lot of trainning i think, and play rugby a few times a week so we are fairly fit already.

Any foods out there that last well and you would reccomend?

Did you encounter many storms out there mate? We are thinking of finishing by 2or 3 each day as Joosten says.

Many thanks

Keiran

Lightening is a problem but we camped high a lot of the time (if the weather was set fair). We started intending to finish early but were tempted by the good weather to just one more pass. We did start early though. The lightening is impressive and deadly. Making sure your tent is not the highest thing about from any direction is a skill worth having.

We went in june early july when there is more snow. You will get to the high bit round Aneto later than that. Still snow is very variable so that may be your problem if you do not take ice axe and crampons. We were diverting off route to climb Joostens neighbouring recommended peaks so we knew we needed them.

 If you do not go off route for supplies you will have to eat what you find. The bread goes too stale after 1-2 days. Local sausage, cheese, Mostly whatever dehydrated food we could find in the shop

Thanks very much again!

Yeah we are going to camp a bit further down to avoid getting hit

really excited tho.

Did you climb Aneto?

We should hit it mid July to Late August what are your tips for this? I have heard varrying accounts some saying Ice axes are needed and others saying run it in shorts!

Many thanks

Keiran

For those who might be frustrated by the use of abbreviations with no initial reference, HRP, in this case, means the High Level Route of the Pyrenees, and SWCP means, I think, South West Coast Path.

Keiran and Dan, this might be of interest.

Hi Keiran,

we tried to do it at the end of our first fortnight, but had to walk hard and late, to get to the start point the day before. It is recommended to start before light, like 3.00am so you are on the glacier before it weakens. We got up to late and then got lost and turned back with no more time. For us you needed ice axe and crampons. for safety you should have a rope on the glacier. We were going to follow others footsteps without one, however I could see it but I did not get to it. We climbed Vignemale the next time. Again we had ice axe and crampons but the snow was soft enough to kick steps so I suppose you could manage without, but sometimes you would be turned back if you dont carry them. You should carry an ice axe to go these places. We also climbed Pica D'Estats in snow. There we did need crampons on the way up.

 I can imagine some would run Aneto in shorts hoping the weather did not turn. I saw no-one in shorts. Aneto is serious walking

Thanks, sorry about no explanations for the abriviations, have to remember not everyone is spending every waking minute planning this trip!

Secondly, thanks for the link i'll check it when im home, wont open at work!

Thanks for the advice yet again Derek, i would definatly consider doing Aneto, we are going to take a rope anyway and an Ice Axe but have decided against Crampons, if it looks as if we need them we can just head up another summit.

Keiran

Nice trip planned. Nice to see that you're trying to raise money for the army boys. I'm a bit off the HRP but after refuge Wallon if you fancy dropping down to Cauterets for a day off I will give you 2 nights with evening meal and breakfast free. That way you can do some washing, have a few beers etc.

www.hotel-cauterets.com

Firstly excuse the late replies, been really busy!

Thank you kindly for your offer Phillip!

Cheers for all the advice people.

Hi Keiran,

I haven't done the HRP but have been on parts of it during my GR10 crossing. My best piece of advice would be to keep your pack to a minimum weight. I walked with 7.5kgs(16.5lbs) including camping kit, sleeping bag and three days food. Your difficulty will be keeping it to such a level if you want to carry ice axe, crampons and rope. Every climb, you will be reminded of the weight of things you don't need and wish you had left them behind. CARRY AS LITTLE AS NECESSARY!

Regarding fitness, you will gain this very quickly on the trip. I met two 19 year old Belgians carrying 20kgs(44lbs) each. They had everything they thought they would need and more. I never needed anything extra despite 12.5kgs (27.5lbs) difference.

Good luck.

Hi Keiran,

I've now got as far as Hospitalet, hope to get to Banyuls in early July.  I've used the same pair of boots so far whch I use for other walking - they are unlined leather. As has been said distance isn't the problem. Some days I've done over 3000m up & down, averaging 1000m height gain per day.  The less days the more height gain per day!  I'm achieving the times in the Veron guide - so for 18 years old must be fine!!

On the way I met two young French men in the basque area going E to W who were going to complete it in 30 days, having done about 26 days - they looked very fit.

I'm ancient (over 60!) so do train. I think its important to do some longish walks up & down hills with a loaded rucsac (sugar / bricks / flour will do) so you can judge the weight you will be carrying and get your legs and back used to the extra load before you start.

Great route, good luck