HRP The Pyrenees 2023

Day 17: August 27th: From Tavascan to Refugi Vallferrera

Early morning at a dirtroad
I left Tavascan early in the morning, so happy to be on the move again. Meet some wild boars on the dirt road. After an hour I was happy to rejoin the HRP, I looked up towards Certascan, there was still dark cloudes, I was happy to leave them behind me.
Stream
Crossing a flooded stream
High threes in the wood
Valley
Snow on the mountains
Higher up there I could see snowy peaks and it was still cold.

I was still a little shaky after the storm, so I chose to stay at the Refugi de Vallferrera that night (it happened to be the same refuge me and Christer tried to stay at in 2018 but then it was full). Had a nice dinner and a shower.

Day 18: August 28th: From Refugi Vallferrera to Refugi Borda de Sorteny, entering Andorra

I left the refuge early. Just down at the stream, I surprisingly meet Marieke and Philipp again, the camped at the very same spot me and Christer stayed at in 2018. I was very glad to hear that they, all though freezing cold, had arrived safely in the storm to the Refuge Certascan I also understod that I still had made the right decision to turn back because there where others who needed to be resqued or suffered hypothermia.

We said goodbye in the belief that we would surely bump into each other during the day, but we only saw each other later in the evening, when we stayed at the same refuge.

Pla de boet, you can see Andorra mountains in the back
Pla de boet, with Andorra in the back
Mountain valley
Passing a valley me and Christer hiked in 2018
Port de Rat, entering Andorra
Entering Andora, leaving France at Port de Rat
Glass of white wine
I had some white wine at the refuge and enjoyed the view and some company of a Canadian hiking his last days.

Day 19: August 29th: From Refugi Borda de Sorteny to Refugi de Cabana Sorda

Left the refuge early, love this slightly chilly mornings. Further up I meet Bert from the Netherlands, we decided to have some tea and coffee together in the sun.

Having tea with Bert
Having tea with Bert
Panorama
Panorama view
Philipp and Marieke
At the col Serra de Cabana Sorda (2661 m) we meet Philipp and Marieke and we all continued down to the Refugi de Cabana Sorda (2295 m).

Day 20: August 30th: Refugi de Cabana Sorda to L’Hospitalet-près-l’Andorre

Early morning at the Refugi Cabana Sorda

We left the Refugi Cabana Sorda

We had a nice break in the sun
Reaching L’Hospitalet-près-l’Andorre in the afternoon. Strange village. We found one gaz canister and there were almost no food in the store. I was happy that I had my package waiting for me at the camping. The bakery turned out to be a really good one, we got some bread, nice croissants and some beer and wine. After some clothes washing and fresh showers we had a really lovely evening together at the camping.

Dat 21: August 31th: From L’Hospitalet-près-l’Andorre to Estany dels Forats

Early morning at the camping
Morning at the camping
Pic Carlit in mist
We stopped at the lake down below the Pic Carlit. The clouds blocked the view of the pic.

Day 22: September 1st: From Estany dels Forats to Auberge du Carlit

Early morning, taking down our tents by the lake
Early morning, preparing for the climb up to Pic du Carlit
Pic du Carlit
Pic du Carlit
Philippe on his way up the mountain, leaving the lake behind
Philipp on his way up the Pic du Carlit, leaving the lake behind us
Philippe enjoying the mountain view
Philipp enjoying the mountain view
Mountain siluett Pic du Carlit
The climb was exciting, steep and windy but still doable.
Me at the top of a windy Pic du Carlit posing next to the cross
Me at the top of Pic du Carlit
View from Pic du Carlit over the lakes
Plenty of lakes on the otherside of the pic.
Philippe and Mareike waving goodbye.
Time to say goodbye at the Auberge du Carlit, sad to see Philipp and Mareike leave, but so happy to had the pleasure to walk with them for a few days.
Cream caramell, wine and cheese
Nice evening and dinner with Bert

Day 23: September 2nd: From Auberge du Carlit to Orri de Baix

Lake with pine trees
Starting the day with another kind scenery with several lakes and pines
The church in Bolquère
Arrived in the middle of the day to the village Bolquère (1629 m), where we made some resupplied in a very well equipt supermarket, in the outside of the village.
Bert walking on the road, crossing the railway.
Leaving the village we had to do a lot of road walking in the baking sun.
A tarptent by the stream
We found a nice camping spot by a stream, down below a primitive unmanned hut (Orri de Baix).

Day 24: September 3nd: From Orri de Baix to Refugi d’Ull de Ter

Beautiful and amazingly wonderful day with a long ridge walk. I must say this day was one of the highlights of my entire hike on the HRP. I enjoyed every step of it.

Grassy valley with streams
Before coming up to the ridge
Bert walking on a mountain ridge
Bert walking on the ridge
Mountain tops
Bert on his way up
Mountain ridge
mountain ridge with a clear path
Voulture in the sky above the mountain tops
Bearded Vulture in the sky
well-trodden path in the mountains

Day 25: September 3: From Refugi d’Ull de Ter to Refuge Forestière de Mariailles

Another beutiful day, filled with great views, walks on flat grassy plateaus and some more ridges. An enjoyable day that ended with dinner with a beutiful view and sunset right outside of our tents.

Bert with backback walking on the flat grassy plateau in the mountain
Grassy flat platau with mountains in the back
Making tea with my gas stove
Time for a break with tea and cockie
Path on the mountain ridge
My tarptent facing the sunset
A horse infront of the sunset
A horse kept us company

Day 26: September 4: Refuge de Mariailles to Maison Forestière de l’Estanyol

Early morning, Bert walking on a stoney path in the mountains
Early morning on our way to climb up to Pic du Carnigou
Mountain valley
Looking down at the valley and the path we have just followed
Spiky mountain ridge
Almost at the top of the Pic du Carnigou
Me at the top of Pic du Carnigou, holding a cross with two yellow and red flags and with beutiful mountains in the back
Happy, I made it to the top of Pic du Carnigou. It was a demanding climb, also grateful that I had Bert as a company and support during the climb.
A black bird in the sky preparing to land on the top of the mountain
Great 360° view at the top
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View from Pic du Carnigou
We could see the Mediterranean Sea from the top.
Bert at the top of Pic du Carnigou, waving at me
Time to say goodbye to Bert, he has been a great company and it has been a real pleasure to walk together.
Path in the mountains forest
Continued on my own. Again the landscape shifted, followed the trail which now ran along a mountain edge, mostly through forest. After some hours I stopped and stayed the night at an unmanned hut.

Day 27: September 5: From Maison Forestière de l’Estanyol to Montalba d’Amélie (543m)

Early morgning view with soft green mountains
Early morning view
Having tea at the refuge de Batère
Took a short break and some tea at the refuge de Batère. From here I had some company with a guy who needed some company down the mountain to the village, Arles-sur-Tech. He had some knee problem and had been forced to end his trek.
The small village Montalba d’Amélie
Pitched my tent for the night at the grassy area infront of Montalba d’Amélie

Day 28: September 6: From Montalba d’Amélie to Las Illas (550m)

Closeup of chestnuts
Hiked through chestnuts forest
Path with visible tree roots
Concreat road in Mediterranean terrain
The surroundings are becoming more and more Mediterranean and it is noticeable that I am getting closer to my final destination.
White horse with black dots passing by in the forrest
Hiking spot in the village Las Illas
Pitch my tent at the campsite in the village Las Illas. Had some dinner and wine at the restaurant, I had some high expectation as someone had recommed the place, the chef was probably okay but unfortunatly the meal was a bit too overambitious. In the night I woke up by village dogs barking and later I was visited by wild boars, hard to get some sleep after that.

Day 29: September 7: Las Illas to Col des Terrers

Cactus on the side of the dirtroad
The flora has changed dramatically
Dirtroad
cork oak on the side of the dirtroad
Passing a lot of cork oaks
Autoroute A9 close to Le Perthus
After a quick stop in the busy village Le Perthus, I passed under the motorway, Autoroute A9.
Ridge path, with green grassy soft mountain hills
The Mediterranean Sea
Almost there, nice to see the Mediterranean Sea
Tarptent at a flat grassy area
Perfect spot for my last night in the mountains, with a great view. Feeling happy and sad at the same time.
Sunset in the mountains
Enjoyed the sunset while having my last dinner.
Two cows outside of the tarptent
Two cows keept me company

Day 30: September 8: Col des Terrers to Banyul Sur Mer

Sunrise in the mountain, above the clouds
Last morning in the mountains, started with a beautiful sunrise above the cloudes
sunrise in the mountain
The clouds covered the view of the sea, still, a very pleasent morning.
Clear leveled path in the mountains
The further down I get, the more the clouds disperse
Dirt road
Vineyards close to Banyuls sur mer
I pass several vineyards the closer I get to Banyuls sur Mer
Winemakers in Banyuls sur Mer
Arriving to Banyls sur Mer. Passing some buisy winemakers, cleaning their barrels. The entire street smells of wine.
The stony beach of Banyls sur Mer with my backpack, shoes and walking sticks
I have reached the final destination, an indescribably fantastic wonderful feeling to have made it all the way from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, although I had to devide the hike in two parts. I dive into the sea, a refreshing and rewarding swim.