Into The Isolated Spanish Pyrenees
ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and I have day-hiked and walked extensively through Europe and the Alps over the years but never gave a thought to the Pyrenees. The Pyrenees are shared by France and Spain with Spain containing the three highest summits and, supposedly, the best scenery. The Pyrenees look like the Alps with peaks, flower-filled meadow, glacial amphitheaters, dense forests and rivers but are much less visited than the Alps.
I knew nothing about any of this until my yearly Wilderness Travel catalog appeared with a trip into the "Heart of The Pyrenees." A 12-day rigorous inn-to-inn hiking adventure. (Since we took this trip, the itinerary has changed slightly.) We've traveled with Wilderness Travel on nine (9) different trips. They are reliable, quick to respond and take action when a trip doesn't go to plan. For example, read about our infamous Hunza Odyssey. Wilderness rebated a nice chunk of money to all participants for the inconveniences and general trip dissatisfaction.
Let me repeat Travels With Sheila's code of ethnics:
- I never recommend anyone we haven't dealt with.
- I do not accept "freebies" and pay my own way.
- I will always tell you the truth and refuse to sugar-coat.
The hikes would all take place on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees with a day trip into France and include Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido, one of Spain's national parks with spectacular scenery. There would be visits to little village with ancient stone houses and would begin in Barcelona before transfering to the trailhead in Arties. Luggage would be transported between overnight stops in small hotels and inn and we'd have one night in a mountain refuge.
There are many other tour operators who operate trips into the Pyrenees: Adventure Center (see box on the side of this article and explore the umpteen Spain trips offered at some rock-bottom prices), Mountain Travel Sobek, Sherpa Walking Holidays to name a few. You can also make your own arrangements and either hike from place to place or plop yourself in one area and day hike. (Visit the Spain website for more information.) At the time though, I think Wilderness Travel was the only organizer that offered this trip.
