Читать книгу The GR11 Trail. The Traverse of the Spanish Pyrenees - La Senda Pirenaica онлайн

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Vignemale from Barranco deros Batans in July 2012 (top), and then in July 2013 (Stage 14)

Summer snowfall is unusual, but the author has experienced snow as low as 1500m on the GR11 in August. In 2012 there was hardly any snow on the high passes when the author through-hiked the GR11 with a mid-June start, and there would have been no problem starting in early June. However, a mid-June start in 2013 was a serious mountaineering expedition and there was still significant snow on the high passes well into August. Snow conditions vary tremendously from year to year. The inexperienced would be advised to wait for late June or July before setting off from Irún.

The best months to walk the GR11 are July, August and September, but if you are only intending to walk the lower sections of the GR11 in the Basque Country, Navarre or Catalonia, you may prefer May, June or October when the weather will be cooler.

Wildlife

You are bound to see – or hear – a marmot!

The Pyrenees are very popular with birdwatchers. The mountains act as a big barrier to migrating birds and in the spring and autumn they funnel birds along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines and through the lower passes. The casual birdwatcher will be most impressed with the large number of birds of prey.