From the Mediterranean to the Bay of Biscay: 37 days on the GR11 solo route

Pyrenees and mountains 📩

Some people celebrate their 60th birthday with a surprise party, while others decide to treat themselves to an 860 km crossing of the Pyrenees. This is the case of Jorge ValenciaMexican, an experienced hiker and lover of solitude in the mountains. For 37 days he hiked the GR11of Cap de Creus to the Bay of BiscayThe aim is to find himself alone and with a clear objective: to find himself.

The full story was shared in the Jorditoms' podcast channel "Footprints on the Mountain Podcast with Jorditoms and Javier "We have collected the most valuable insights from the conversation here. You can watch the full interview here.

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Is it safe to do the GR 11 route alone?

Where can I find accommodation along the GR 11?

Is it possible to do the GR11 with a tent?

How many days does it take to do the GR 11?

The decision to do the GR11 solo

With routes such as the Pacific Crest Trail or the Appalachians closer to home, many ask: why choose the Pyrenees? [👉 Minute 01:09Jorge puts it bluntly: in Mexico it is difficult to walk alone and safely, and in the USA he did not feel comfortable at the time. The GR11, on the other hand, offered him what he was looking for: sufficient infrastructure, safety for solo travel, and a continuous mountain route.without the overcrowding of the Camino de Santiago.

He also had an intimate motive: to celebrate his 60th birthday with a challenge that was also an inner journey.

Direction of GR11: East → West

Although most people travel from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean, Jorge decided to do it the other way round [👉]. The reason? Minute 08:31] Walking with the sun on your back in the mornings and a more pleasant end, entering Navarre and the Basque Country, instead of ending up in the arid Catalan pre-Pyrenees.

It also adjusted the dates: it came out at the end of June to avoiding snow on the hills. "I preferred to pay the price of the heat rather than face a snowfield alone and without sufficient experience with ice axe".he recalls.

International logistics for doing the Trans-Pyrenees Crossing

Doing the GR11 from Mexico involves working out a lot of details: how to check your backpack on the plane, where to buy compatible gas cartridges, what food to find in small towns.

Jorge learned by trial and error: the wrong cylinder in La Jonquera, supermarkets full of alcohol and tobacco but no freeze-dried products, restocking less obvious than in the United States. [👉 Minute 14:55] "I was going with the American chip... and here it's different. You have to recalculate".he admits with humour.

Ultralight equipment for the GR11

[👉 Minute 35:20With the help of LighterPackJorge adjusted his team to a basis weight of 8.4 kg. Ultralight backpack and tent (the latter weighing 500 g, supported by poles), although he admits that he carried too much warm clothing that he did not use: down jacket, winter gloves.

Its conclusion: "If I were to repeat, I would wear less cold weather clothing and rely more on my preparation".

The toughest sections of the GR11

The GR11 is demanding in every kilometre, but there are sections that will stick in the memory of any hiker:

Pre-Llauset pass: vertical and demanding exit. [43:35]
Ascent from Pineta to the Añisclo passloose rock, very hard on the knees. [45:13]
Chains in the Wave Belt: store poles and tighten the chain to move forward safely. [46:00]
Collado de TebarrayTension when checking loose anchorages in the cables. [47:03]
Navarre with horizontal wind and rainfive hours without being able to stop because of the wet cold.

Moments when the mountain tests both physical and mental endurance.

Encounters with wildlife: bear tracks in the Pyrenees

One of the most shocking episodes took place in the Vall de Cardósnear Estaón. Jorge came across a wild boar cut in half and, soon after, with fresh bear tracks. [👉 Minute 56:10]

"I wasn't scared, I was excited... it would have been a gift to see it from a distance".he recalls. Further proof that the Pyrenees is still the territory of large animals.

Lessons learned and final reflections

Beyond the logistics and physical challenges, Jorge insists that the most valuable thing he took away with him was peace.
Moments when the fog opened up just to let him see a valley, advice received at just the right moment, improvised shelters when he needed it most. [👉 Minute 1:09:30]

"It's not that I overcame the mountain, it was more like a permission given to me by life".he sums up.