Where Next?

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 & 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: Turin & 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 & Lumba Sumba, Nepal

Destination: Kanchenjunga, Eastern Nepal, and back west over the Nango La (4,776 m) and Lumba Sumba pass (5,160 m), and maybe as far as 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 there before turning south and the long journey back to KTM. Precise route TBC – depends on what condition the trails are in after the winter snows and the summer monsoon (landslides) and how far the road(s) have got….

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) – but Makalu Base Camp will need to wait for another trip….