Читать книгу The GR10 Trail. Through the French Pyrenees: Le Sentier des Pyrenees онлайн

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Unless it states otherwise, the streams, springs and waterpoints mentioned in the text were running in 2014 and 2015 on through-hikes starting from Hendaye in late June. The waterpoints are only shown on the map if they are considered safe to drink without further treatment, however, some hikers will prefer to treat all water, using chemical treatment or filtration. Boiling your water to make it safe to drink only makes sense if you take most of your drinks in the form of tea, coffee or soup.

Eau non potable is widely put on fountains in villages. This generally means that the water has not been treated and probably has not been tested by the authorities. The main reason for the sign is probably the avoidance of any claim for compensation, rather than saying anything about the quality of the water.

Swimming

Hot springs above Mérens-les-Vals (Stage 44)

Swimming is often mentioned in this guide. Pyrenean lakes and streams tend to be distinctly chilly until after snowmelt is complete. They never get really warm but in the good weather lakes can reach 20°C, which is comfortable. Conditions vary greatly from year to year: a lake on the GR11 which provided comfortable swimming in mid July 2012 still had ice on it in late July 2013! There has always been a tradition of skinny-dipping in the mountain lakes and streams, and reliable information suggests that a recent British prime minister has skinny-dipped at over 2000m in the French Pyrenees. A swimming costume is not de rigueur for the ‘lightweight’ backpacker and skinny-dipping seems to be accepted by other users of the mountains.