2023
Two trips in the pipeline: Pyrenees with Alfonso and Manu and Kanchenjunga Base Camp(s) with Val. Details to follow once I have some.
February 2023: The Pyrenees trip has firmed up!
March 2023: Kanch is moving from the tentative to almost settled stage… and we’re off to Italy in September too!
Trip No. 1 of 2023: Into the Pyrenees with Alfonso y Manu, Spain & France
Destination: The Pyrenees, mainly the Spanish side but with a couple of days / nights in France.
When: August / September 2023
What: Two treks, with a travel / rest day in between:
- Carros de Foc (Chariots of Fire) – 4 day trek in the Aigüestortes National Park in Catalonia. We’re doing a short version of the full route.
- Ruta de las Golondrinas (The Route of the Swallows) – 5 day trek in Navarra and France. We’re doing the Golondrina Clásica, Variante A. Distance: 62km; Total elevation gain: 3500m.
- On the travel / rest day the plan is to visit the Royal Monasteries of San Juan de la Peña.
How: With Alfonso and Manu, our lovely guides from last year’s fab Picos de Europa trek. Flights to/from Lourdes courtesy of Ryanair.
Why: Team Mucho Gusto – aka Steffi, Hazel, Rachel and me, plus Alfonso and Manu – reunites for more hut to hut trekking, this time in a different set of mountains. “Nothing we haven’t done before”!
Trip No. 2 of 2023: Aosta Valley, Italy
Destination: Aosta Valley, Italy.
When: September 2023
What: Flying to Turin, a few days there, then up into the Aosta Valley for a delayed wedding and a bit of exploring.
How: DIY, with Phil.
Why: A COVID-delayed wedding! Not ours 🙂
Trip No. 3 of 2023: Kangchenjunga to Makalu, Nepal
Destination: Kanchenjunga, Eastern Nepal, and back west into the Makalu-Barun National Park.
When: October / November 2023
What: Trekking to Kangchenjunga North Base Camp right on the border with Sikkim, India, and then heading back west to cross over the Nango La and the Lumba Sumba / Lumbha Sambha passes into the Makalu-Barun National Park. Hopefully we will be able to do the extra 4-5 days along the Barun River to Mera village to explore the valley below Makalu there before turning south and the long journey back to KTM. Precise route TBC.
How: With Val, of course.
Why: Hiking high in the big mountains with old friends, and another chunk of the Great Himalayan Trail – this time, the eastern section from Kangchenjunga / कञ्चनजङ्घा (8,586 m / 28,169 ft) almost to Makalu / मकालु हिमाल (8,481 m / 27,825 ft).
Map:
