Hey Spaniards I'm considering going there this summer to

Not spanish but hiked the GR trail that goes through Catalunya a few years ago. Did 7 days over one section and it was pretty boss. VERY quiet trails, as for wildlife - plenty of boar, also found some salamanders.

No problem with stealth wild camping, but please respect the fire ban and avoid solid fuels

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>French way
It's the most popular one so expect a lot of people

>GR11
Didn't even know it existed, seems quite good from what I've seen online

>Can you camp along the trail?
It's illegal here in Spain, tho legislation changes from one autonomous community to other so check for the ones your gonna go through

>do any of these trails get to experience any decent "wilderness"
I wouldn't expect that from the french way at least

>>1044781
Thanks, nice to know. How many kms did you do?

>>1044942
Yeah I know that the Camino Frances draws lots of interest and I got to experience it first hand in Compostela last year even in later September.

Do you recommend any trails or place to visit? Picos de Europa seem quite neat too.

Also, how is it Spain for hitchhikers? Starting on Madrid, how difficult would it be to catch a ride to the french border?

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I did a small section of the GR11, starting in Puigcerda (good luck pronouncing that) and finishing in Andorra. I think it's a very, very good choice, OP. Some of the best scenery I've ever seen in Europe. Just know it's a fucking difficult trail, if the stretch I did was typical. I did it in June and got hit by a nasty snowstorm. The trail disappears under snowfields in some places.
I'll dump a few pics. This is just above Puicerda.

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>>1044959
Spain proper is notoriously bad for hitchhiking, Madrid especially in my experience. A bus to Catalonia will cost you like 35 euro; it's well worth it.
Hitching around Catalonia is easier, though, plus there's more tourist traffic.
Sorry for huge file sizes btw

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>>1044988
The nature was the kind of thing I didn't realize existed in Europe. Totally untouched, totally isolated.

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>>1044989
This pole marks the border between Spain and Andorra. I think this was about 2500 meters, just before I got hit by the snowstorm.

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>>1044994
There were a lot of huts along that stretch, most in terrible condition inside. They were pretty cute, though.

>>1044994
>>1044989
>>1044988
>>1044984
Neat, did you wild camp?

>Spain proper is notoriously bad for hitchhiking, Madrid especially in my experience
Well that kinda sucks. But yeah Spain has decent trains too so it shouldn't be too difficult moving around.

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>>1044997
I've got a million photos; I won't post 'em all. Here's a pretty typical example of the landscape.

>>1044998
Yeah, I wild camp everywhere I go. It's especially easy in Spain since there's so much forest to hide yourself in. I can't tell you what people's attitudes toward it is, though.

>>1045003
What your setup like? Bivvy, tent, hammock and tarp? Also how many kms did you hike? Lone trip?

>>1045007
I use an ultralight free-standing tent. I wouldn't screw around with tarps at high elevations; the weather can be too brutal.
I don't know how long the stretch I did was, but it took me 3 days.

>>1045011
Yeah, gotcha.

Another question, what's the best way and region to find some fruit/vegetable picking jobs?

>>1045854
bump

I've done the french way and the portuguese way

Ask me questions if you want mayn

>>1049154
Brofist, one after the other?

>>1049154
Noice, I've done the Portuguese way too. Where did you start the French way? And what's the best way to arrive at saint Jean pied du Port? How many weeks did it took and did you wild camp? Finally, how many shekels did you spend? Thanks

Oh boy oh boy. I had a couple of hikes in mind for the second half of summer but a lot of them are looking affordable right now, mostly in terms of getting to and from the trail. The GR 11 has always been a solid contestant though.

This thread may have swayed me.

How did those who have walked it manage resupplying? Did you find plenty of water on route?

Also what do you think the best section is?
>>1044959
I've hitched all over Europe, including Spain. It's legal there so no worries. Just don't have a tight schedule as it might take you longer to get a lift than in some other countries.

>>1044415
Dude, the GR11 looks awesome. I am buying the guide book now and am going to try and be ready to set off in a week or two. When are you thinking of starting?

>>1049787
>Just don't have a tight schedule as it might take you longer to get a lift than in some other countries
Thanks

>>1049937
Tbh I don't know, I'm waiting to hear from a familiar, I'm also doing the math to see how much will it cost, if money weren't a problem I would have probably gone.

Anyway, are you a late 20s woman? That would really motivate me to just say fuck it and spend the cash lel. Also how are you going there?

>>1050018
Heh. Nah late 20s and male. Not looking for a solid partner for the whole thing just if we were on the trail at the same time might be cool to bump into each other.

Was thinking of flying to Bilbao which seems to be the closest major airport to the Northern start point. I reckon it can be done fairly cheaply. I mean if you are already in Europe.

>>1050144
Yeah, flights to Bilbao and Santander are cheap as chips from a lot of cities.

You and OP should still meet and fuck.

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>>1050460
W-who said anything about fugging?

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>>1050144
Fair enough.

>>1050460
But he ain't no qt, strong, independent wyman that you would hike with, fuck in Pyrenees, date and have beautiful European children with
:/ .

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Spain-anons, what would you call the alcohol for a stove in your land? In france it's Alcool a bruler. Is it Alcohol de Quemar? Is it widely available?

>>1051113
Yes it is called alcohol de quemar and yes it is widely available if you are in a regular town (3000 pop.). You can get it outdoors store or in hardware stores (ferreterias) and drugstore (droguerias)

>>1051156
Ace! Now just to make a little stand for my set up as the white box is great but a little unstable.

>>1045003
>>1044998
iirc it's actually allowed to wild camp between sunset and sunrise with a small tent for one night only. There are some more rules for certain areas but it's actually totally kosher to wild camp the GR11.

>>1049511
St jean yeah

Flew to Biarritz on the cheap - got a cab to bayonne - got a bus from bayonne to st jean. The bus was just a replacement for the train which might be running again now.

It took me 28 days, some short days so I could stay in the big cities instead of walking on

I wild camped some nights. No tent. Just a sleeping bag, a hammock, and some friends. Really I'd suggest just staying in hostels they're dead cheap. Especially donativos obviously

I spent a fair amount. probs a grand in total, adding together all the kit, travel, and everything else.you dont need much stuff

I did it in June/July 2015, and the portugues a year later, so bear in mind anything ive said is weather specific

>>1052257
Not the anon you replied to but I am a little confused. Is it the GR10 you are talking about? When you say a grand, what currency and where were you flying from to get to Biarritz?

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>>1044415
I did a section of the HRP a few weeks ago. I didn't see another soul on the trail for 7 days

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>>1050144
If you're willing to start from the south, Carcassone has a Ryan Air airport

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>>1052614
>>1052618
I took so many amazing pictures there. That place really is breath taking

>>1052614
Awesome! Do you have much mountaineering experience? I heard the HRP isn't for new comers?

>>1052564
No, the camino frances
£
London

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>>1052665
Yea, not so much as using ropes and shit, but extensive hiking throughout the Rockies and Apps. It's just like any other trail - be in good shape and you shouldn't have much difficulty. It was a shock to see snow still on the mountains in the middle/end of June though. I hate climbing the glaciers. The damn things gave me 2nd degree sunburns because they're so reflective

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>>1052748
Man, I want to go back. So many amazing, remote sites. The night I stayed here I actually got insanely lonely. I hit my 20 mile mark at 1930 and it didn't get dark until almost 2300. So I basically sat there with no fire and nothing to do for like 4 hours and I really started to miss humanity. Never felt that before

>>1052743
Ahhh ok a very different route!

>>1052748
Oh wow! So you didn't need any mountaineering gear to walk the section you did? It's a route that is one my list, but I definitely need some more experience in real mountains before attempting it.

>>1052751
Yeah that's tough! I have been recovering from a reoccuring injury that stops me going beyond ~25miles a day. Dunno why but as soon as I start walking 25 miles+ my foot buggers up. But sitting solo without a fire can get long. Books are your friend. Or the radio.

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>>1052752
YakTraks would have been nice on some of the glaciers, but nothing else was necessary. Keep in mind that this was June though

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>>1052755
I know, but at that point my phone battery and charger were both dead and I didn't have much space for books considering I was flying Ryan Air to get there

>>1044415
Did the GR11 with some variations through the HRP (a trail that goes mostly between the GR11 and GR10 and tries to follow the highest path possible).

I wild camped most of the way. never had an issue even when camping just outside villages or refuges (I did ask for permission if I was literally in their back yard, happened once).

Generally, and it's true for most of Europe, as long as you camp late, and up and packed early. No one gives a fuck.

>do any of these trails get to experience any decent "wilderness" as far as being away from any type of civilization?
There is indeed some wilderness. Less so near the coasts, and way way more people in the national parks you pass through. Indeed for the GR11, the parts before and after Andorra are some of the least traveled and populated areas.
As wild as Europe gets, perhaps aside from the Nordics.

>>1044942
>It's illegal here in Spain, tho legislation changes from one autonomous community to other so check for the ones your gonna go through
Didn't have a problem camping anywhere, though I guess in the national parks you are supposed to camp by the refuges or out of park boundaries.

>>1044959
I hitchhiked some, to towns and back multiple times without an issue. but no long distance hitch hiking.

>>1049787
>How did those who have walked it manage resupplying?
Depends on the exact part of the trail, passed near a village/refuge every 2-4 days for most of the way, though there are few parts where it was longer till a resupply.
Though I have to say, we had a very fast pace, going 25-40km on most days (depends on elevation gain, how much we spent in towns or fucking around in lakes and rivers etc).

>Did you find plenty of water on route?
While in the mountains there were plenty of streams (late July-August), though in lower elevation (especially in the hilly parts near the Atlantic coast) there were none.

>Also what do you think the best section is?
The national parks are very beautiful, but crowded. As someone who prefers wilderness... there are many great parts, you can probably parse by altitude. Areas near the coasts, where the elevation drops, are much less pretty.

>>1052751
Fucking awesome pics, anon.

>>1052751
I am also super envious of your tent. I still love mine so can't justify buying a zpacks. But as soon as my current tent packs it in I'm getting one.

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>>1052874
I've always been a hammock camper, so this past year when I went to buy a tent (my girlfriend wanted to come, but didn't want to hammock), I chose the best on the market. It's come in handy quite a few times since then when I've camped above the treeline, or when I camp somewhere like Ireland that has no trees

>>1049511
did portuguese and french same year, from saint jean to lisbon

So I'm about to book my ticket, I have been planning my route, looking to average 15 miles a day with a couple of 20 mile days in the mix. Is this overly ambitious? Everywhere I look it says it'll take 45+ days!? Is this number just for older people? I'm hoping to complete in 30ish days.

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>>1054962
I think you'll be fine. The days are ridiculously long up there right now. From like 6:00-22:30. I can't say what your physical condition is or anything, but I was doing 20 minimum on the HRP. This was my first day, which was 8,000 feet of constant elevation gain. I also set up camp at 1930. Every other day was 20+ miles

>>1054962
you will normally do 30 to 60km so yea 15 miles is for retards

What the hell does this thread have to do with america?

>>1055201
>>1055258
That's the impression I was getting but started to doubt myself despite knowing what I can achieve.

>>1055265
>What the hell does this thread have to do with america?
That fictional land that I hear stories about? Not much.

>>1055265
what are you even asking?

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Ticket to Biarritz booked! Fly out on Monday. I got a weeks work just to pad my wallet a bit.

Does any one know if there is snow on the route currently?

I wasn't going to buy a map and just use a guide book but I've changed my mind.

Looking at the route it seems like I'll have to carry 3 day food max.

Anyone else here on the trail or heading there soon?

I'll try and update if/when I can. May as well take advantage of the new roaming charges, or lack of, while UK citizens are affected by it.

Excitement!

>>1057240
>Trail
This is the GR11

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>>1057240
There was snow there a month ago, but nothing you can't walk on. All the refuges were shut down when I went through, but I heard they all open up in July. Good luck

>>1057311
Wild! Yeah it's the snow that's made me think again about buying the maps. Was it tricky to navigate with show? Did you carry maps?

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>>1057335
I had Caltopo printoffs and Gaia GPS maps downloaded to my phone. I only did a 120ish mile stretch, but didn't have too much difficulty finding the trail. Only when it was insanely foggy (happens when the snow starts melting) did I have trouble seeing the blazes. I guess there were a couple stretches of snow covering blazes, but I could still find one further up easily enough since there were no trees

>>1057353
Yeah I have my daily routes all planned out on gaia, I don't 100% trust my current charging system though which makes me a little nervous relying on it for a long walk like this. How were you charging your phone?