Thank you. Part 2 is just uploading. It's not the stunning mountains of the french alps but it surely welcomed us and make us enjoy ourselves :):)

Thank you! 😃

We agree! :)

Yeaaa...its not going so well is it hehehe

Hi :) sorry for not answering for so long. Noo visa issues for us luckily. I am a German and Rene has a Dutch passport that allows him to travel without restrictions in the EU. heard it can be a tough one. Have you had a look on the hexatrek homepage? They have a visa topic there. Also maybe on the Discord App and hexatrek group you may find people who have been through the process of extending visas. Could be an idea? :):)

The caterpillar was certainly competing with Rene. I wonder if it had tent pitching and cooking skills 🫢

Jinx. I am hopeful that I can upload either today or tomorrow :):):)

🦧🙊

Hi, the gr5 and the hexatrek are similar. But the hexatrek diverts into more crazy PUDS (like that definition) in hindsight we should have always stayed on the GR5 rather than following the hexatrek. I mean it's very pretty where it takes you but as a thruhike of 3000 it is pointless to see one highlight after the other, because you will see so much in 3000ks that it really doesn't matter to see alpine lake after alpine lake. If you section hike it, then the hex is definitely scenic. But thruhiking, you want to be able to hike the daily required distance without physically tormenting yourself too much. Also, I would spend some time looking at maps and tracks around the ecrins. For us it was definitely the part that finally took the joy and fun out of it, it was just a hassle. There must be trails from the end of stage 2/ col du lautaret where one can divert and avoid the ecrins. (This seriously is a PUD. Pretty..but pointless) The GRs are challenging enough in parts, stick with them on your journey where the hex diverts and you should be fine :):) you could read the comments by cartapouille on my last hexatrek video, they might be helpful. Otherwise france is so beautiful. The hexatrek really takes you through awesome mountains, it just wants you to see TOO MUCH. The people were amazing in france, too. It is worth it. But we should have done more planning rather than relying on the given information.

@@atalefromatrail8181 Thanks for responding. What's an ecrin? Also, is there the structure just to do the GR5 like there is for the hexatrek? An app like far out? I've thru hiked the AT, the Arizona Trail, and the Colorado Trail all in my 60s. I'd be 67 by the time I get to the HT. I just don't know if I have it in me for endless PUDS. So, I will investigate the GR5 more closely. I enjoyed your videos and your candor. Thanks.

@jeffbgoldman the Ecrins is a part of the Southern Alps. You can see it clearly on the hexatrek map. It's the part where the trail takes a huge dog leg, heading south and then turning back on itself to head straight back north. The tour des ecrins is another GR. and here the trail does these massive PUDS. the ecrins was pretty but to us not pretty enough to justify daily climbs over big passes only to drop into deep valleys.. especially on a thruhike...after such a long journey through the alps it really felt like trudging, daunting to still not being able to easily cover distance. When we downloaded the hexatrek app there sadly where no information on whether and where to take possible GR trails. Not sure if there is now. If you want to continously hike the hex without skipping parts then I would really study the maps to find ' connecting shortcuts' and all parallel running GRS. You have them everywhere. I remember meeting GR thruers who were incredibly quick through the alps just because the trails were easier and more direct. Especially around the area before chamonix. You have great thruhike experience, you could be absolutely fine on the trail and wonder what we were fussing about...maybe it was just not a good season for us.

@@atalefromatrail8181 Au contraire, I have struggled with PUDS and find them endlessly tedious. The AT is full of them. And I'm older now, so I would like to cobble together a thru hike with the HT as a backbone, but possibly eliminating some of the endless up and downs. I will continue researching. The GR people must have had some kind of source to help them navigate. Perhaps it's just a highway map. I will explore... Thanks for your generous help. I wish you luck and may you keep thru hiking. My favorite trail so far has been the Arizona Trail if you find yourself up for it. Not easy, but very varied in terrain and eco systems. Cheers, Jeff

@jeffbgoldman some of the GR peoples have used an app on the phone. For the life of it I can't remember which one. Maybe Hiiker? Loooots of them carry guide books too. I'd almost say the majority uses books...yes please do some research. I totally understand the energy-draining PUDS.. you won't be able to escape all of them but surely the GRs will help! On the flip side: I think there may be a really cool trail in france that is a lot more balanced and older than the HEX. It hasn't gotten a lot of publicity, it is much longer. It is called LE CHEMIN SAUVAGE and this one really takes you into the heart of France. But I understand the Hexatrek. It is suuuper scenic! Good luck planning your journey. Remember, all trails are CORRIDORS. No need to stay on the red lines. :):) cheers :)