Pyrenean Triple Crown: an adventure in self-sufficiency

Editorial: From Travesía Pirenaica, we are excited to share this adventure signed by Geert van Nispen, one of the European references in self-sufficiency and long distance in the mountains. His challenge: to join GR10, GR11 and HRP in a single trip. Here is his account, in first person.

This article is an authorised translation of the original published by Geert van Nispen on his website: Pyrenean Triple Crown Adventure.

Sometimes you don't choose the adventure, but it chooses you. It is a whisper from the mountains, a call that makes your heart race. For me, that adventure is the Pyrenean Triple Crown, self-sufficiency style.

Three routes. A gift. A journey that calls me and that I no longer want to postpone.

The Pyrenean Triple Crown is my tour of the three great long-distance routes of the Pyrenees: the GR10 on the French side, the GR11 on the Spanish slopes and the Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne (HRP), which follows the wildest and highest trails of this mighty mountain range. An epic adventure in which I will join the three routes in a single journey, from coast to coast. In total, some 2,540 kilometres and 133,800 metres of positive height gain.

📋 The "Pyrenean Triple Crown is a concept inspired by the renowned "Triple Crown"The Triple Crown is a challenge to complete three of the most iconic long-distance treks in the United States. The American Triple Crown is a challenge that involves completing three of the country's most iconic long-distance routes: the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the Appalachian Trail (TA) and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). These trails total more than 12,000 kilometres through some of the most breathtaking scenery in North America. HERE ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ROUTE.

An anniversary gift

This trip is my personal gift for my 50th birthday. A route between mountains and valleys, but also an inner journey. Because it's not just about going up and down. It is an ode to movement and its positive impact on our mental health. Every step reminds me that to move is to live, that fresh air and the silence of nature heal and give space.

The Pyrenees are for me a place of strength, myth and mysticism; of untouched nature, inspiration and simplicity. Time and again they show me the beauty of the fragile and the grandeur of the essential. That is why I want to share my love for these mountains and show how nature and movement can be a source of resilience.

The Pyrenean Triple Crown is not a race or an achievement to tick off a list. On the contrary: it is an invitation. To discover the mountains, to challenge yourself, to let nature lift you up, challenge you and bring you closer to who you really are.

In short, the mountains are calling. And I answer.

"The self-supported style is not just a way of travelling, it is a philosophy of autonomy, honesty and inner strength." - Geert van Nispen

Are you coming on this epic adventure?

I will be writing about the route, sharing photos, videos and thoughts. I will tell you about the encounters, the difficulties, the moments of joy, the doubts... and everything that comes up along the way.

Partners of the "Pyrenean Triple Crown Adventure"