The GR10 Trail: Through the French Pyrenees: Le Sentier des Pyrenees

Guidebook to the GR10, a 955km trek across the French Pyrenees from Hendaye on the Atlantic Coast to the Mediterranean coast at Banyuls-sur-Mer. Described in 55-day stages of 7-27km, the route can be completed in its entirety, usually in around 45 days, or in shorter sections using the bus and rail links found throughout the Pyrenees. Step by step route descriptions are accompanied by 1:100,000 mapping and gradient profiles. Useful practical information is also included such as when to go, getting there and back, camping, accessing fuel and water, plus handy equipment tips and more. The easiest, oldest and most popular of the three long-distance routes that traverse the mountain range, the GR10 is well waymarked and follows good mountain paths. For many walkers, the highlight of the route is the magnificent wildflowers and associated butterflies. For others, it's the spectacular mountain terrain, while those keen on bird watching will delight in scanning the sky for the many varieties of birds of prey that can be seen in the region, from the massive Griffon vulture to the distinctly coloured Egyptian vulture.

Table of Contents:
Overview map Map key Mountain safety Author's preface Introduction The stages The route From the Atlantic to the Mediterrean Wildlife The weather and when to go Getting there and back Equipment Culture and languages Accommodation Camping Fuel Water Swimming Using this guide Section 1 Hendaye-Plage to Etsaut Stage 1 Hendaye-Plage to Olhette Stage 2 Olhette to Ainhoa Stage 3 Ainhoa to Bidarray Stage 4 Bidarray to Saint-etienne-de-Baigorry Stage 5 Saint-etienne-de-Baigorry to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Stage 6 Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Gite d'etape Kaskoleta Stage 7 Gite d'etape Kaskoleta to Gite d'etape Chalets d'Iraty Stage 8 Gite d'etape Chalets d'Iraty to Logibar Stage 9 Logibar to Sainte-Engrace (Senta) Stage 10 Sainte-Engrace (Senta) to Refuge Jeandel Stage 11 Refuge Jeandel to Lescun Stage 12 Lescun to Etsaut Section 2 Etsaut to Bagneres-de-Luchon Stage 13 Etsaut to Gabas Stage 14 Gabas to Gourette Stage 15 Gourette to Arrens-Marsous Stage 16 Arrens-Marsous to Refuge d'Ilheou Stage 17 Refuge d'Ilheou to Cauterets Stage 17A Refuge d'Ilheou to Pont d'Espagne (via Col de la Haugade) Stage 18 Cauterets to Refuge des Ouletes de Gaube Stage 18A Cauterets to Luz-Saint-Sauveur (via Col de Riou) Stage 19 Refuge des Ouletes de Gaube to Chalet-refuge la Grange de Holle Stage 20 Chalet-refuge la Grange de Holle to Luz-Saint-Sauveur Stage 21 Luz-Saint-Sauveur to Bareges Stage 22 Bareges to Refuge-Hotel de l'Oule Stage 23 Refuge-Hotel de l'Oule to Vielle-Aure Stage 24 Vielle-Aure to Germ Stage 25 Germ to Lac d'Oo Stage 26 Lac d'Oo to Bagneres-de-Luchon Section 3 Bagneres-de-Luchon to Merens-les-Vals Stage 27 Bagneres-de-Luchon to Artigue Stage 28 Artigue to Fos Stage 29 Fos to Refuge de l'etang d'Araing Stage 30 Refuge de l'etang d'Araing to Eylie-d'en-Haut Stage 31 Eylie-d'en-Haut to Maison du Valier, Pla de la Lau Stage 31A Eylie-d'en-Haut to Bonac Stage 32 Maison du Valier, Pla de la Lau to Esbintz Stage 32A Bonac to Esbintz Stage 32B Col de la Core to Estours Valley Stage 33 Esbintz to Refuge d'Aula Stage 33A Esbintz to Saint-Lizier using the Tour du Val du Garbet Stage 34 Refuge d'Aula to Rouze Stage 35 Rouze to Saint-Lizier-d'Ustou Stage 36 Saint-Lizier-d'Ustou to Aulus-les-Bains Stage 37 Aulus-les-Bains to Refuge des etangs de Bassies Stage 38 Refuge des etangs de Bassies to Marc Stage 39 Marc to Goulier Stage 40 Goulier to Siguer Stage 41 Siguer to Plateau de Beille Stage 42 Plateau de Beille to Refuge du Rulhe Stage 43 Refuge du Rulhe to Merens-les-Vals Section 4 Merens-les-Vals to Banyuls-sur-Mer Stage 44 Merens-les-Vals to Refuge des Besines Stage 45 Refuge des Besines to Refuge des Bouillouses Stage 46 Refuge des Bouillouses to Planes Stage 47 Planes to Refuge du Ras de la Caranca Stage 48 Refuge du Ras de la Caranca to Mantet Stage 49 Mantet to Refuge de Mariailles Stage 50 Refuge de Mariailles to Refuge des Cortalets Stage 51 Refuge des Cortalets to Gite-refuge de Batere Stage 52 Gite-refuge de Batere to Gite d'etape l'Ecogite de la Palette Stage 53 Gite d'etape l'Ecogite de la Palette to Las Illas Stage 54 Las Illas to Col de l'Ouillat Stage 55 Col de l'Ouillat to Banyuls-sur-Mer Appendix A Route summary table Appendix B Facilities table Appendix C Sources of information

About the Author :
Since taking early retirement from his career as a physics and sports teacher, Brian Johnson has found time for three thru'-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2700-mile round-Britain walk, three hikes across the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean as well as a single summer compleation of the Munros and has climbed all the Corbetts in Scotland. He has also completed a 2200-mile cycle tour of Spain and France and done multi-week canoe tours in Sweden, France, Spain and Portugal. In his younger days, Brian's main sport was orienteering. He competed at a high level and coached both Bishop Wordsworth's School and South-West Junior Orienteering squads. He also surveyed and drew many orienteering maps. A keen climber and hiker, he led school groups in Britain, the Alps, the Pyrenees and California. As a fanatical sportsman and games player, Brian competed to a high standard at cricket, hockey, bridge and chess. His crowning achievement was winning the 1995/96 World Amateur Chess Championships.