The Pyrenees from SEA to SEA, from the Mediterranean to the Bay of Biscay

Quick Guide GR 11

with everything you need to know before undertaking the Pyrenean Path

Who said that age was an obstacle to making our dreams come true? This is the inspiring story of Francesc, a 70-year-old veteran mountaineer who, ever since he got his hands on Georges Veron's book "Travessia del Pirineu" in the 1980s, had been dreaming that one day he too would cross the Pyrenees from sea to sea.

Now, forty years later, alone, unhurried, the dream is fulfilled. A story of strength and overcoming that Francesc wanted to share with all of us through a short 30-minute documentary, awarded in the amateur film contest of the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya, with the Jordi Pons mountain film prize.

A PENDING CHALLENGE

I am now 70 years old and I had a challenge pending; to cross the Pyrenees, the gr11, solo.

Now I have all the time I need and still have enough physical strength.

I designed it by adding variants of the HRP..., either to do some summits or to visit places that were not very well known to me.

There were 46 days (two of which were rest days), 893 km and 49,977 metres of elevation gain, with 11 summits climbed.

STRATEGY, PHYSICAL PREPARATION AND LOGISTICS WOULD PLAY A KEY ROLE.

From the beginning it was clear to me that strategy and preparation, both physical and logistical, would be essential, as well as the following aspects:

 -Programming of the route, stages, refuges, hostels..., always with accommodation saved along the route.
-Minimise backpack weight while maintaining safety and comfort.
-Good nutrition and hydration.
-Good command of new gps techniques for safety in case of emergency.
-Time of year and direction of the route.
-Exquisite foot care, socks, hygiene, footwear, toe protection ....
-Sticks
-Survival food rations in case you had to improvise a bibac...
...and much more