Pyrenees hiking

Unfortunately I have zero first hand experience, although I have crossed that border a few times. :-) Nonetheless, the idea of hiking (and fishing) in the Pyrenees has been on my day-dream bucket-list for years. Ever since I read a piece that Hemingway wrote on the subject ("Sun Also Rises" also in " The Dangerous Summer"). Anyway, that's an explanation regarding my interest in something along the following lines: http://www.navarrafishingadventures.com/trout.html

Copied from my thoughts earlier in the year: If you want to start a project that you can come back to a couple of times, think about taking on the whole GR10. There's something like a hundred and fifty thousaand feet of ascent if you hump the whole thing. You can stay in the Gîtes d'étape or work sections and stay in regular gites. A good place to get a taste of it is in the Pyrenees National Park, walking the cliff section around Etsaut. There's several gites in Laurns, and the little village offers more than you'd think. The park itself is full of trails that you can use for day walks. The Laruns TI has fairly good information. Gedre is a smaller village that could support you that has good areas for day walks, some of which can be turned into loops. Diane is the smartie for the area. Here's the whole thread: http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/98536/day-hike-southern-france.html

Thanks guys. This is very helpful! Bielle looks particularly nice. Is it best, do you think, to do a loop or a return back each day, or to go out for two days and then come back for two days by a different route?

I don't like sleeping in the woods (or a hut for that matter) unless I have to. That makes it loops, or hornswagling somebody into helping me preposition a car - - which is surprisingly easy.

Hi Max! We've just returned from a trip to southern France. We stayed in Saint-Lary-Soulan and found it to be a really nice smaller village to use as a base to hike. While we were there we purchased a book at the local bookstore that mapped out hiking trails. You might be able to find something online or wait until you arrive. It's very beautiful there! The locals said that it snowed for a month straight this winter and the mountains are still snow-capped. We stayed in at a hotel in town called Hotel Les Arches for 50 EUR per night and it was very comfortable. We were surprised that many of the hotels and restaurants were closing for the season (we were there last week) as it's mainly a skiing center - not sure about other towns/villages in the region. You'll have a great time! Edit: The book we bought lays out the trails in loops - I think it'd be easier to return to a home base.

Be careful, and don't slip and fall! A woman fell off a cliff there several weeks ago and within an hour the eagles completely stripped her body (details on the net). Gruesome (sorry to raise the issue) but we want to have you come back and post a wonderful note on your trip!

...and I was worried about bears! Max, here's a website with information about the Guidebook that we used: (http://www.longwalking.com/walking-through-france-with-ffrp-topo-guides/). Ours is specifically for Saint-Lary-Soulan but I'm sure there are many for other areas in/near the Pyrenees National Park. The maps are easy to follow with good information about the difficulty of the trail. The cost was about 10 EUR.

Spent a week there recently. First of all, it's a beautiful region and hikers will love it. We hiked on different trails above Bareges (on both sides of the valley), also went to Cirque de Gavarnie, trails above Ponte d'Espagne and Lac d'Estaing. We had snow a couple days--and this was just a few weeks ago. The towns of Luz-St. Saveur, Argeles-Gazost and Lourdes are interesting. I particularly liked the Chateau-Fort above Lourdes. (Yeah, it's a touristy town, but I've visited worse.) We did not make it to the Pic du Midi or over the Col du Tourmalet due to the weather/lack of visibility at higher altitudes. Hope you have a great time!

For those who have experienced the Pyrenees or want to experience the area, I want to share that snow melt mixed with very heavy rain is causing a lot of flooding at this moment. Among others, Lourdes was closed today, the town is flooded. It shouldn't affect visits later this summer, but I thought that those who love the area might want an update.