Friday 23 May 2008

Some detailed information on what the walk entails

I have been requested to give some more details about what we are planning to do - so you did ask!

We will be walking West to East - from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.

1. In Euskadi the route is short (about 30 km). We start at the lighthouse at Capo de Higuer and continue as follows: Cabo de Híger, Hondaribía, Irun and col of San Antón.

2.In Navarra the route is about 180 km long. We enter Navarra by the col of San Anton and Vera de Bidasoa, followed by the valley of Baztán, Elizondo, Roncesvalles, forests of Quinto Real, Sierra de Abudi (peak of Orhi), Orbaitza, Selva (forest) de Irati , Ochagavía, Isaba, peak of Ezcaurri (2,045 m) and Zuriza.



3.In Aragon (there is quite a lot to see and experience in the 200km of the route in Aragon) , the route is really mountain and requires a minimum of knowledge and experience in climbing.

From Navarra, the route goes to the refuge of La Mina (GR 11-1), Candanchú and the valley of Tena, by the Canal Roya or by the Canal Izas.

After the refuge of Respomuso and Panticosa, the route goes into the valley of El Ara and, after that, to the wonderful National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido.

After the col of Vallhiverna, the route goes down to Catalonia by the valley of Llauset and the village of Aneto, or by Angliós and the bridge of Salenques.

Route: Zuriza, refuge of Taxeras, col of Petraficha, refuge of La Mina, Aguas Tuertas, Port d'Escalé, Ivó de Estanés, Candanchú. By the Canal de Izas: Candanchú, picnic area of Canal Roya, dam of Izas, refuge of Iserías, col of Izas, Formigal. By the Canal Roya: picnic area of Canal Roya, refuge of Lacuas, Anayet, Formigal, Sallent de Gállego, La Sarra, Respomuso, col of Tebarray, col of El Infierno, dam under the river Bachimaña, health resort of Panticosa, upper dam of Brazato, col of Brazato, river Ara, refuge of Ordiso, San Nicolás de Bujaruelo, Pont dels Navarresos, parking of Ordesa, Cirque of Soaso, refuge of Góriz, col of Arrablo, Fuen Blanca, col of Añisclo, Cirque of Pineta, La Larri, col of Piedramula, river Real, Chisagüés, Parzán, C.E. de Urdiceto, Paso de los Caballos, Bordas de Lizier, Es Plans, refuge of Biadós, Añes Cruces, Pass of Chistau, refuge of Estós, Santa Ana, bridge of San Jaime, Plan de Senarta, refuge of El Puente de Coronas, col of Vallihiverna. Junction - by the valley of Salenques: small col of Riu Bueno, Angliós, bridge of Salenques. By Aneto: dam of Llauset, refuge of Llauset and Aneto. There are two variants, the GR 11-1 that goes from La Mina to Canfrán by the refuges of Gabardito and Lizara; and the GR 11-2, a track from the refuges of Biadós, Ángel Orús and Estós.

























4. In Catalunya the GR11 has two sections with the Andorran section sandwiched between them. In total the Catalan section is 335 km long.

The first section has the following route: bridge of Salenques, hospital of Vielha (GR 211), pass of Rius, Tort lake, Rius lake, Mar lake, pass of Ratera Montardo, Sant Maurici lake, Espot, La Guingueta d'Àneu, Tavascan, Vall Ferrera, and pass of Baiau. From here on, the route goes into Andorra. It goes back to Catalunya by the pass of Vall Civera, with the following route: Esparvers cabbin (GR 107), Meranges lakes, Puigcerdà (GR 4), col of Toses, Planoles, Queralbs, Núria, col of La Marrana, Setcases, Molló, Beget, Bassegoda, Albanyà, la Vajol, la Jonquera, Sant Quirze de Colera, Llançà (GR 92), Sant Pere de Rodes and Cap de Creus.
It has the following variants: the GR 11-7: Núria, Camí dels Enginyers, refuge of Coma de Vaca, Coma de Freser and GR 11 near the col of La Marrana (this variant is 16 km long); GR 11-10: Les Escaldes, refuge of Perafita, refuge of Estanys de la Pera, refuge of Cap de Rec, Viliella and Esparvers cabbin (it is 31,154 km long); GR 11-18: refuge of Restanca, col of Güellicrestada, pass of Caldes and refuge of Colomers (it is 14,09 km long); GR 11-20: Pont de Suert, Durro, Boí, Taüll, pass of Rus, Tapat lake, col of Font Subirana, refuge of Colomina, col of Saburó, Negre lake, refuge of Josep M. Blanc and Espot (it is 27,400 km long); and the GR 11-20/1: refuge of Llauset, Aneto, Senet de Barravés, pass of la Gelada, Barruera and Boí.


























5. The Andorran section is about 40 km long and crosses the land from west to east. It enters by the Portella de Baiau (2,756 m) from the Vall Ferrera, and goes down by the Negre lake, the refuge of Comapedrosa, where it meets with the GRP1 and go on together until the beginning/end of the Andorran variant, the GR 11-8, where the GR 11 still goes down to Arinsal (1.600 m), from where it goes up again to the col of Les Cases (1,958 m). After it, it goes down again to Arans (1,300 m). After that, it goes up again to the peak of Sorovilles (1,740 m), descends to the Castle of Els Moros (1,450 m), up to the col of Ordino (1,983 m) and down to Encamp (1,250 m). From Encamp, the route goes up to the Engolasters lake (1,600 m) and goes on to Ràmio, where it meets the GR 7. Both routes go on together to Estall Serrer, where they meet the GRP1. The three routes go on by the same way until the refuge and lake of Illa (2,480 m), where the GR 11 separates from the other and still goes up to the pass of Vall Cibera (2,517 m), from where it goes down to the Esparvers cabin, in Catalunya.

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