Tio

2025-03-25 11:16:58

The most beautiful view from our window

ALARCÓN: this was a very beautiful place to stay for one night. Amazing view directly from our window. Tio also got his head stuck in the roof. A bird also shat on Sasha :).

Sasha

2023-08-21 17:57:58

GR11 thru-hike, Day 57-58. Almost there!

I’m getting close to finally finishing the GR11!
Here I walked from the hills of Hiriberri-Aezkoa, past Orbara and Burguete, camped on the side of a dirt road just before Elizondo, then walked in the scorching hot sun and finally got a glimpse of my destination- the Atlantic Ocean! I camped in a wonderful picnic area with a water fountain (it is near Iguzkiagerreko Borda, right on the GR11 trail).

Sasha

2023-08-01 13:49:18

GR11 thru-hike, Day 55- Crazy Wind!!

Day 55 of my thru-hike across Spain!

On this day I followed the GR11 trail from Ochagavia, up some extremely windy hills, down to the tree line, back up and over the hills, and then finally into the forest. I found a decent camping spot next to a dirt road not far from a freshwater spring. Whew.

Sasha

2023-07-06 14:35:40

GR11 Day 52- Foxes & Closed Grocery Stores

Day 52 of my thru-hike across the Spanish Pyrenees!

I woke up next to Rio Aragon Subordan (across Refugio de la Mina, which is abandoned), hiked up Chipeta Alto (a nice and easy peak just off the GR11), then hiked to Camping Zuriza.

There are some things you should know about Zuriza:
1. Several hikers reported foxes breaking into their tents and stealing their food here and near other campgrounds in this area.

1. The supermarket here is closed for good! There is an expensive restaurant only (and a very nice staff member who gave me a free chocolatey baked bread thingy- thank you to that guy!! :D ). You should plan on buying groceries in Isaba, where there is a bigger shop which is open until 9PM in summer.

Sasha

2023-06-20 11:45:09

GR11 thru-hike, Day 50-51- Getting Hot!

Days 50-51 of my thru-hike across the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain!

I started the day walking up some ski pistes west of Candanchú, then walked up and down some dry mountains taking a variation of the GR11 towards Refugio de Lizara. On my 50th night, I camped at Humedal de Plana Mistresa. Then on day 51 I walked past Ibon de Estanes (a beautiful lake), then down to Rio Aragon Subordan and camped across Refugio de la Mina (which was abandoned).

The days are getting hotter and hotter but I’m getting closer to my final destination- the Atlantic Ocean! 😄

Music:
“Gimme Love” by D Jay Koi
“Let's Have Some Fun” by Grégoire Lourme

Sasha

2023-06-06 13:32:22

GR11 Day 48-50- SHEEP and Weight Loss

Days 48-50 of my big hike across the Pyrenees Mountains!

I started day 48 by Rio de Canal Roya, walked to Candanchú (a ski town with only 1 very expensive small shop in summer), then I walked up a bunch of ski slopes to what I thought would be a lake - Ibon de Tortiellas (this was a side trek off the GR11 to find good camping). It turned out that this “lake” was dry, but there was a nice stream and small waterfall on the far side of it. It was so nice that I decided to have an extra rest day there. But then… I was invaded by thousands of sheep!

On day 50 I explained my thru-hiking weight loss problem and headed back onto the GR11.

Sasha

2023-05-16 17:09:19

GR11 Thru-hike, Day 47- Pico de Anayet / Pic du Midi d'Ossau

Day 47 of my big hike across the Pyrenees Mountains!

I woke up in one of my favorite camping spots ever- next to Ibon de Anayet Pequeño (the small Anayet Lake, in Spain), with an amazing view of perhaps the most famous mountain of the French Pyrenees - Pic du Midi d'Ossau. Then I hid my large backpack behind a boulder and climbed Punta de la Espelunciecha, Pico Anayet, and Vértice de Anayet.
Then I continued on the GR11 and camped in the valley below.

Sasha

2023-05-04 20:07:29

GR11 Thru-hike, Day 46- No More Gas

Day 46 of my thru-hike across the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain.

Here I ran out of camping gas and had to eat disgusting uncooked noodles with soy meat and a can of tuna. If only I had bread…
In the morning I walked from Lake Respomuso to Sallent de Gállego, where there is a supermarket. I bought more camping gas and a lot of food (didn’t film that part as I was running low on space on my memory card), then I hiked up another mountain to the beautiful Ibones de Anayet.

Sasha

2023-04-25 21:24:26

GR11 Thru-hike, Day 45- Peak Tebarray - Respomuso

Day 45 of my solo thru-hike across the Pyrenees Mountains!

Here I walked from Ibon Azul Superior, up Cuello del Infierno, past Lake Tebarray, to the top of Peak Tebarray and then to Lake Respomuso.

A short but very beautiful day of hiking :)

Music:
“Gimme Love” by D Jay Koi
“Let's Have Some Fun” by Grégoire Lourme

Sasha

2023-04-03 22:11:08

GR11 Thru-hike, Day 42-43: Ordesa Valley - Rio Ara

Day 42-43 of my solo thru-hike across the Pyrenees Mountains!

I woke up to an amazing view of Ordesa Valley, then hiked into the canyon (which was very popular with tourists). On day 42, I camped in the forest across from Camping Valle de Bujaruelo (a camping site with a food shop), then walked up Rio Ara on day 43 and camped in a beautiful spot next to the river.

Music:
“Gimme Love” by D Jay Koi
“The River” by Stingray SZN

Sasha

2023-03-23 22:33:03

GR11 Day 41- Collado de Añisclo - Punta de las Olas - Ordesa Valley

Day 41 of my thru-hike across the Pyrenees Mountains!

I started the day on a ridge between Refugio de Pineta and Collado de Añisclo, then I took the GR11.9 and did an extra hike to a peak called Punta de las Olas. Later, I set up camp in a beautiful spot overlooking Ordesa Valley.

Music: “Gimme Love” by D Jay Koi

Sasha

2023-03-14 16:42:58

GR11 thru-hike, Day 40- Comodoto to High Ridge Camp

Day 40 of my solo thru-hike across the Pyrenees Mountains!

Here I walked from my camping spot (located up the valley from Parzan), climbed a mountain called Comodoto (a short side-trek off the GR11- very much worth it), then to Refugio de la Estiva, down valle de Pineta (a beautiful but touristy valley), and up another mountain. I camped on a ridge next to some piped water on my way to Collado de Añisclo.

A very big and beautiful day! 😀

Sasha

2023-03-03 15:53:05

GR11 Day 38-39. Preparing for the Storm

Day 38-39 of my thru-hike across the Pyrenees Mountains!

Here I walked from Parzán, past Chisagüés, and found a safe camping spot below the next set of high mountains. Then I took a rest day, waiting out the thunderstorm.

Intro song: Gimme Love by D Jay Koi
Time-lapse song: Let's Have Some Fun by Grégoire Lourme

Sasha

2023-02-17 20:18:30

GR11 Day 36- Hiking in a Cloud

Day 36 of my solo thru-hike across the Pyrenees Mountains!

Here I hiked a variation of the GR11 (the GR11.2) from Torrente Llardaneta to Ibon (lake) Llardaneta, up to Collado de Eriste, then down a beautiful valley. I camped in a forest full of wild strawberries, somewhere between Refugio de Viados and Refugio de Es Plans.
Very excited about the berries 😁

Sasha

2023-02-10 15:53:52

GR11 Day 35 - Poison Berries!

Day 35 of my thru-hike across the Pyrenees Mountains!

Here I took the GR11.2 variant up to Collado de la Plana (2,703m), down to Ibon de Eriste, then to a beautiful waterfall. (All in Spain :)).

Intro song: “Gimme Love” by D Jay Koi
Time-lapse song: “Let's Have Some Fun” by Grégoire Lourme

Sasha

2023-02-06 19:17:29

GR11 Day 34- COWS!

Day 34 of my thru-hike across the Pyrenees!

I started the day at Cabana de Quillon, got food from a campground shop, then saved myself from the rain at Cabana de Santa Ana. Then all the cows in the world came onto the GR11. I don’t know what was going on there but it smelled really bad!
I found camping a bit off the GR11 next to Barranco de la Aigueta (near Ibonet de Batisielles).

Intro song: “Gimme Love” by D Jay Koi

Sasha

2023-01-31 23:21:26

GR11 Day 33 – Mountain Lodging VS Bothies vs camping…

Here I walked from Estany Gran (by Refugi d’Anglios), up to Collada de los Ibones (2521m), then past Refugi de Cap de Llauset (mountain lodging) and on to more spectacular mountains and mountain lakes.

Music: “Gimme Love” by D Jay Koi