The Pyrenean Haute Route

Ton Joosten grew up in the Netherlands, and in 1986 visited the Pyrenees for the first time. The range captured his imagination, and since then he has returned every year. In the 1990s he made a series of long backpacking expeditions in the Pyrenees and started to write walking guides. This, Ton's sixth guide, is about the long-distance route that he considers to be the most difficult, but also the most rewarding, walk from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea: the Pyrenean Haute Route. Ton has walked all stages of the GR10 (through the French Pyrenees), the GR11 (through the Spanish Pyrenees) and the Haute Route. He has walked every stage of the Haute Route more than once, all the stages in the high mountains at least three times, and has walked all the variants in the guide over the years. To date he has spent over 900 days in the Pyrenees, and the magic isn't over yet! Ton will be opening a B & B (with full meals service) in the French Pyrenees in 2011. A year ago he bought a house in the small village of Ayet, in the famous Vallée de Bethmale (Couserans region, the western section of the Ariège). It is a typical village built against a steep slope. The views from the village and my house are magnificent. Ayet is an excellent base for walks and cycling tours, and he has names the B & B Le Petit Refuge. It has four small bedrooms for the guests and has place for eight persons. It is very basic but has a very fine atmosphere. You can find more information here: www.lepetitrefuge.com. Ton is working on an English and French version which will be online before the end of 2010.

The Pyrenean Haute Route
Section 1: Hendaye to Lescun
Day 1: Hendaye to Col de Lizuniaga
Day 2: Col de Lizuniaga to Arizkun
Day 3: Arizkun to Les Aldudes
Day 4: Les Aldudes to Roncevalles
Day 5: Roncevalles to Egurgui
Day 6: Egurgui to Col Bagargui
Day 7: Col Bagargui to Refugio de Belagua
Variant: Col Bagargui to Ardanne via Larrau and the Col de Jauregeberri
Day 8: Refugio de Belagua to Lescun

Section 2: Lescun to Gavarnie
Day 9: Lescun to Refuge d'Arlet
Day 10: Refuge d'Arlet to Candanchu
Day 11: Candanchu to Refuge de Pombie
An easy summit: Pic d'Ayous (2288m)
Day 12: Refuge de Pombie to Refuge de Larribet
Day 13: Refuge de Larribet to Refuge Wallon
Variant: Refuge d'Arrémoulit to Refuge Wallon
Ten classic summits - 1: Grande Fache (3005m) from Refuge Wallon
Day 14: Refuge Wallon to Refuge de Baysellance
Ten classic summits - 2: The Vignemale (3298m) from the Refuge de Baysellance
Day 15: Refuge de Baysellance to Gavarnie
Ten classic summits - 3: Le Taillon (3144m) from Gavarnie

Section 3: Gavarnie to Salardu
Day 16: Gavarnie to Héas
Ten classic summits - 4: Piméné (2801m) from Refuge des Espuguettes
Day 17: Héas to Parzan
Day 18: Parzan to Refugio de Viados
Day 19: Refugio de Viados to Refuge de la Soula
Day 20: Refuge de la Soula to Refuge du Portillon
Ten classic summits - 5: Pic Perdiguère (3222m) from Refuge du Portillon
Day 21: Refuge du Portillon to Refugio de la Renclusa
Ten classic summits - 6: Pico de Aneto (3404m) from Refugio de la Renclusa
Haute Route escape route: from Refugio de la Renclusa to Bagnères-de-Luchon
Day 22: Refugio de la Renclusa to Hospital de Vielha
Day 23: Hospital de Vielha to Refugi de la Restanca
Variant: GR11 from Estany de Rius to Refugi de la Restanca
Day 24: Refugi de la Restanca to Salardu
Ten classic summits - 7: Montardo d'Aran (2826m) from Coll de Crestada
GR11 from Viados to Hospital de Vielha (three-day variant)

Section 4: Salardu to l'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre
Day 25: Salardu to Alos de Isil
Variant: to Alos de Isil via the Montgarri dirt road
Day 26: Alos de Isil to Refugi Enric Pujol
Ten classic summits - 8: Mont Roig (2868m) from Refugi Enric Puyol
Day 27: Refugi Enric Pujol to Refugi de Certascan
Ten classic summits - 9: Pic de Certascan (2853m) from Col de Certascan
Day 28: Refugi de Certascan to Refugi del Cinquantenari
Short-cut: From Coll de Sellente to Estany de Sottlo
Day 29: Refugi del Cinquantenari to étang de la Soucarrane
Ten classic summits - 10: Pica d'Estats (3143m) and Montcalm (3077m) from Refugi de Vall Ferrera
Day 30: étang de la Soucarrane to Refugi de Sorteny
Day 31: Refugi de Sorteny to Camping d'Incles
Day 32: Camping d'Incles to l'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre

Section 5: l'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre to Banyuls-sur-Mer
Day 33: l'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre to Refuge des Bésines
Day 34: Refuge des Bésines to Barrage des Bouillouses
Variant: GR10 avoiding Pic Carlit
Consolation walk 1: From Chalet-Refuge des Bouillouses to Pic Carlit summit
Day 35: Barrage des Bouillouses to Eyne
Day 36: Eyne to Refugi d'Ull de Ter
Day 37: Refugi d'Ull de Ter to Refuge de Mariailles
Day 38: Refuge de Mariailles to Mines de Batère
Variant: The GR10 from Refuge de Mariailles to Chalet-Refuge des Cortalets
Consolation walk 2: The ascent of Canigou from Cortalets
Day 39: Mines de Batère to Amélie-des-Bains
Day 40: Amélie-des-Bains to Las Illas
Day 41: Las Illas to Col de l'Ouillat
Day 42: Col de l'Ouillat to Banyuls-sur-Mer