Haute Randonée Pyrénéenne (HRP) / High Pyrenean Route (ARP)

Quick Guide GR 11

with everything you need to know before undertaking the Pyrenean Path

The Haute Randonée Pyrénéenne (HRP) or Haute Route Pyrénéenne (HRP)

The High Pyrenean Route (ARP) o Haute Randonée Pyrénéenne (HRP) in French, was born in the 1970s by the French mountaineer Georges Véron.who crossed the Pyrenees in 1968 with Jean-Pierre Neau and Claude Major in 41 stages. In 1974, Veron published his first ARP/HRP guidebook, which was a great success with 12 editions in French and translated into 3 languages. In total, more than 70,000 copies were sold.

However, the idea of linking the Atlantic with the Mediterranean by crossing the Pyrenees was not new and others had already done it long before. The first people known to have done so were: Augustin-Pyramus de Candolle, who in 1807 crossed the Pyrenees from East to West, making several ascents, and the French physician and naturalist Fréderic Parrot, who in 1817 joined the two seas with the aim of calculating the difference in height between them, placing it at 4.1m. Later, the crossing in 1906 by Jean Bepmale, described in 1907, completely reworked by Veron 60 years later, was the germ of the HRP.

The High Pyrenean Route that Verón describes in his book runs mostly along the northern slope and only passes into Spain when the relief makes it necessary or when the lack of equipment on the French slope makes it advisable. It could be said that the Haute Route Pyrénéenque is a intermediate route between the GR10 (northern slope) and the GR11 or Senda Pirenaica (Pyrenean Path). (southern slope), which generally runs at a higher altitude, although it sometimes coincides with these.

The original layout starts on the beaches of Hendaye and ends in Banyuls. It is described from west to east, although it can be done in the other direction if desired.

Generally alternating between free and guarded shelters, although on occasion a tent may be necessary.

The route has no climbing or ice difficulties, although in some areas there are frequent snowdrifts in early summer, so it may be advisable to take ice axe on those dates. Apart from that, the route is demanding due to its length (800km) and height difference (+/-46,000m), the length of the days, the lack of signposting, the lack of sheltered accommodation and services in some areas and the high mountain terrain it crosses. To compare the route with its twin GR10 and GR11 routes, the Alta Ruta Pirenaica will force us to be more self-sufficient, have a better sense of orientation and be more alert to the possible presence of snow in summer.

Recommended material/equipment

The equipment necessary to tackle the Alta Ruta Pirenaica is the same as that needed for other mountain hikes in the Pyrenees, such as the GR11 or the GR10. If you want, you can see an indicative list at the Equipment" tab in the GR10 guide.

Alta Ruta Pirenaica Books

In order to prepare and carry out the crossing, it will be very useful to have a paper guide. In this article you can consult all the guides of the High Pyrenean Route available to date. You will be able to see that, in addition to Veron's, some publishers have brought out different proposals of the route in which very interesting proposals and possible variants to the "official" route are added.

The High Pyrenean Route in 41 stages

Pyrenean High Route vs. GR11 and GR10

It can be said that the Alta Ruta Pirenaica (ARP) is harder than the Senda Pirenaica (GR 11), considering not its route, but other difficulties, such as the route's signposting, access to facilities en route, etc.

First, the PRA is not marked on the groundYou can, however, link signposted sections of other routes that are signposted.

Secondly, it tends to follow the main axis of the chain and the northern slope as far as possible, so that it passes through more shaded areas at higher altitudesi.e, you may find snow on some exposed sections well into the summer.. There are also a few cols at around 2,800 m and some shady traverses that require you to carry winter equipment (crampons and ice axe). On the Senda Pirenaica GR11, apart from the stage between Refugio de Respomuso and Balneario de Panticosa, it is rare to miss them if you go in summer.
Finally, the logic of the Alta Ruta Pirenaica ARP is more complicated than in the GR 11. Pyrenean Trail. In the ARP you sleep mostly in huts and free-standing shelters, and it is also necessary to bring a tent or bivouac equipment. It is also not possible to stock up regularly in villages. Sometimes we can go for up to a week without setting foot in a place where we can stock up.