Watch this BEFORE you thru hike the Pyrenees [I answer your questions]

Рет қаралды 29,315

3 жыл бұрын

In this video answer your questions about thru-hiking, particularly in relation to the Pyrenees.
The first 1000 people to use this link will get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership!: skl.sh/chasemountains06211
**Edit: Turns out there are about 70-80 Slovenian Brown Bears in the Pyrenees. More than I thought! I'm still not that concerned.
*Affiliate Links Below*
GUIDEBOOKS (Paperback)
HRP Cicerone Guide Book: amzn.to/3vDNclX
GR11 Cicerone Guide Book: amzn.to/3gquD06
GR10 Cicerone Guide Book: amzn.to/3gErcBI
You can get all the digital versions of these guide books from the Cicerone Website on Paperback, eBook or Kindle. www.cicerone.co.uk/the-pyrene...
Train with me:
►Membership: chasemountains.io/momentum/
►Mountain Proof Ankles: chasemountains.io/mountain-pr...
►Mountain Proof Knees: bit.ly/MPK-program
►All training programs: chasemountains.io/programs
LIGHTERPACK: All my gear for the HRP
lighterpack.com/r/vuxs0b
SUPPORT
Info on the Gear I Use ►kit.co/ChaseMountains
Support the Channel on Patreon ► / chasemountains
CONNECT
Connect with me on Instagram ► / chase_mountains
Visit my blog & website ►www.chasemountains.io
MUSIC
Interested in where I get my music for my videos? Check out FILMSTRO here! ► filmstro.com/?ref=19645

Пікірлер: 98

@ChaseMountains 3 жыл бұрын

The first 1000 people to use this link will get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership!: skl.sh/chasemountains06211

@peteperez5455 3 жыл бұрын

Chase, "black bears (ursus Americans) only exist in North america, the pyrenees bear population is comprised of the European brown bear (ursus arctos arctos) close relative to the American grizzly (ursus arctos horribilis) who is a bad mother F..... The bear population in the Pyrenees in 2020 is +/- 60 bears between Béarn and Ariége. Lastly, Bear Spray is extremely illegal in France and Spain.

@peteperez5455 3 жыл бұрын

Correction "ursus Americanus"

@ChaseMountains 3 жыл бұрын

@@peteperez5455 thankyou! I am certainly no bear expert and I'm glad I don't need to be hahha

@albertgarcia4932 2 жыл бұрын

almost all of the bears in pyrenees are in Val d'Aran

@ondrej_kraus 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the information. It's great that you are talking about trails in EU!

@ChaseMountains 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely! I want to keep exploring more of greater Europe in the future with similar videos. So much to do!

@Archie-td6ox Жыл бұрын

Thx so much Chase. You are an indispensable resource for my prep for this walk!

@MrCyberiad1 3 жыл бұрын

Really great Q&A video. Particularly dry camping water needs, mountaineering skills needed and of course the necessity of tasting the local beer! Looking forward to the planning video!

@davepinto7553 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! Thanks for all the info! 64 BROWN bears in the pyrenees as of 2020

@carojoha 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for these useful tips, especially about gas and the Spanish siesta! I will hike from Cap de Creus to Parzan (GR11) this summer. Can't wait to see your HRP videos 🏔

@TheRodNemisis 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for answering my question! I've been have done a lot daytrips and some longer trips in the Austrian Slovenian and Italian Alps Might just do the HRP soon :) Looking forward to see your journey :)

@morgs4mountains 2 жыл бұрын

Well, that was a shock!! I was enjoying the video when suddenly, a comment I made popped up!! Thanks for highlighting my observation and I do hope that I get into Spain (Covid-19 permitting), get onto the GR11 having postponed it from last year and even bump into you!! Great video as ever. And, the knee / quad issue is essentially fixed!!! Now it's a case of ensuring it never returns to where it had got to.

@jamesrigby2271 Жыл бұрын

Ticks on the GR11 around Tavascan 2022 - We were warned that there were ticks in this area by an East/West hiker. I had one on my knee on stage 26 around Jou (I was a bit freaked as I'd had Lymes before and it sucks big time). Then a trail buddy got one (which had crawled under his shorts - I let him get that one off himself🤣) a day or two after near to Tavascan. We got in the habit of checking thereafter. Long grass, damp/shaded conditions (forest) and cattle/deer make for happy ticks. Just get in the habit of checking regualrly, if do you get one, don't panic and take the time to get them off properly, they have to be on you for 24hrs plus before they become a real issue. Bears, wolves, wild cats - don't worry you'd be very lucky to see one. Cows are probably the 2nd most dangerous, they can be inquisitive, stubben, unpredictable and there are BIG bulls hidden among the herds, just give them space. The Patou dogs are doing a job, respect them and you won't have any issues. Of course, humans remain the most dangerous animal, most often to themselves.

@charlesdirken6653 3 ай бұрын

To remove a tick use a qtip with some alcohol. Wen the tick smells the alcohol it will let go.

@tiedyem270 2 жыл бұрын

another really great video. You are for sure one of my favorite youtubers.

@ChaseMountains 2 жыл бұрын

😀

@AdamRifi 2 жыл бұрын

Great Video man! Recently returned to Europe and looking for some interesting spots to Hike, looking forward to more videos in this series for inspiration :)

@sonajero25 3 жыл бұрын

Just one clarification about wild camping. In many places is not allowed to camp. The Pyrenees are under the rule of several parks and bodies, and some of them are very straight. In Aigüestortes park you cannot camp under any cirçumstance ( not even sleep without tent) And they're very straight enforcing the regulation. In Ordesa there is a straight regullation too. In Andorra country you can only camp next to a hut, as long as the hut is full. It's true that, in general, if you camp from evening to early morning above 2000meters and away from roads and towns you are unlikely to have problems. But there are some places, such as Aigüestortes, where you will probably get a ticket. hope this helps. Good video. Thanks for sharing

@alitimonera5893 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing! Looking forward to the next vids :D The 2L of water tip for dry camping was nice

@ChaseMountains 3 жыл бұрын

That one was straight from the Cicerone guide book I must admit!

@takeahike2993 2 жыл бұрын

We have a Rams Horn from there back in the day. Have a good trip 🤙🏻

@alainememoirofficial Жыл бұрын

nice! nks for the information, i've been learning lately some a bit more advanced hiking matters for later use.. at the moment building some basic condition to be able for longer walks

@plntpwrdt2651 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for answering my question ! The moment - 13:14 - 13:21 made my day :D

@EK-mx7zb 3 жыл бұрын

As an American, your hiking experiences in Spain are extra fascinating because it's so far outside of my bubble! The only thru hikes we talk about here are the AT, PCT, and maybe CDT, with a few other odds and ends. I keep expecting you to refer to the Rockies or the Sierras, but you say Pyrenees and I draw a blank. It looks amazing there.

@ChaseMountains 3 жыл бұрын

I really hope to broaden the horizons of the American thru hiker... but I doubt it would happen, you guys have a lot of people places to do first!

@SaadonAksah 11 ай бұрын

Nice one! Thanks for sharing! 👍

@Heleen_Hikes 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this informative QandA :) I was actually planning to hike the HPR last year, but due to covid I ended up hiking the GRA (Grande traversata delle Alpi, which I highly recommend). Anyway I am still really interested in the HRP. My biggest question though is about footwear, I know you have talked about it before in video's, but I would love a more thourough explanation. I have questions such as this: how do you cross snow fields in trailrunners. In a mauntain B shoe you have a stiff sole to help you with kiking steps. And what about foot protection? In rocky terrain how well is your foot (and ancle) protected? The sole support, when hiking what is the difference between a trailrunning shoe and a hiking boot? Why would you choose one over the other? How fast do trailrunning shoes dry when they get wet? And I have a bunch more questions like this that I would love to get a detaild answer on Thanks for your vidio's and I hope to see you out there one day ;)

@NickandRachel 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome video!

@Abdal-RahmanI 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Chase!

@mahniclear1583 23 күн бұрын

Thank you, great videos

@richardmichael1445 2 жыл бұрын

Great info. Thks

@thewalkingsketchbook 2 жыл бұрын

Really engaging and informative vids, mate. Going to do either the gr10/11 or hrp...when life allows me a break, so they’re especially relevant. Just a question about food. Are there any references or recipe books/sites you’d recommend that make food on the hike more interesting? Cheers

@cockjohnson4510 3 жыл бұрын

Love your videos! I'm binging right now because I want to go on my first hike next week. Some constructive criticism: While binging I have to adjust audio a lot, you should try to match it with your other vids. It's not that noticeable but I'm a little on the spectrum so it bothers me.

@alpinisme07 9 күн бұрын

I never met any bears in the Pyrenees. But there are mice, that go inside your rucksack at night and try to get your food. And sheep flees, they like the warmth of your sleeping bag.

@robinmaguire6705 3 жыл бұрын

If you start your HRP in Hendaye, I found it very hard to find the gas canisters. The ONLY place that sold them was across the river in Spain - Behobra. As you cross the river Bidasoa into Behobra, you will see a “Burger King” on the right - about 100m SW of it is Tabacos Tellechea (A Tobacconist shop) - you can buy screw-top gas canisters there; but only the 450g size - not the 230g!!!! But! That was 3 years ago, thing change! Just a heads-up.

@gaylebeaudinette9639 2 жыл бұрын

Cool shirt Chase!

@jrclark2479 2 жыл бұрын

We have black bears here in Colorado, USA. Roaming all of our mountain ranges. 🥰

@laggmonkei 3 жыл бұрын

Check out the Amok Draumr hammock. It's a gamechanger for hammocking, even got "ultra light" versions now :D

@voql5133 3 жыл бұрын

Nice video, useful information, thank you. Great stuff for removing tick are essentials oils, I use doTERRA - one drop on that little b.....d and it leaves itself.

@anatexis_the_first 2 жыл бұрын

I'm looking forward to your planning-video. I've always wondered how people who navigate with their phone meet the electricity demands from it. Obviously I'm carrying a beefy powerbank as well, but my phone chews through it in 2-3 days, which is why I use a dedicated GPS unit (very heavy). How frequent do you seek opportunities to recharge your batteries, and how do you do it?

@jeffreykellett8660 3 жыл бұрын

Great video

@mhangn 2 жыл бұрын

I am a big fan of you. I am loving hiking a lot and your videos are really helpful for me. I would like to ask an advice from you about wearing a bell on my pack back. I got different advices from different people. Some people say that wearing a bell on your pack back will make the bear aware that you are coming close and to avoid a sudden encounter. Others say that the sound of the bell may drive the bear to you as it thinks pack back has food. I would like to know your opinion. Thank you very much. 🙏

@jonmichael6478 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Chase, been watching your yideos for sometime. Very informative and great routes. I'm not in a position to walk the length of the pyrenees but would like to do sections. Can you point me in the direction for reliable routes and info. Cheers buddy 😁

@tamie341 2 жыл бұрын

Dis guy peak baggin and wearing dem fly threads yo! Shiiiii dats some good stuff

@ChaseMountains 2 жыл бұрын

🤣 👉👉

@slashbot28Gent 2 жыл бұрын

Thnx for the information, always like your videos. Il´ leave for 2 months (augustus/september) to the spanish Pyreneeës. What is the app you use the see your route in 3D?

@Bramsjovelekanaal 2 жыл бұрын

Watching this from the end point of the GR10! Did the final week of the route as my first multi day solo trip. Got caught in multiple thunderstorms along the way which was quite scary.. perhaps some tips on the do's and do nots regarding weather conditions?

@ChaseMountains 2 жыл бұрын

Oh shit yeah this last week has been WILD! Yeah I got a video coming soon on weather and preparing for it!

@mr.-fight8280 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Chase, thanks for sharing and taking the time to make these vids, well appreciated! Question: you talked about the need for a stomach for heights on the HRP, I can have pretty bad bouts of fear of heights, especially on exposed ridges or narrow trails with steep drops. How should I estimate the gr10 or gr11 in these regards? Furthermore, it possible to skip the summits and stick to the necessary high passes only? Thanks so much!

@ChaseMountains 2 жыл бұрын

I cant speak for the GR10 but on the GR11 there are (in my mind) very few places where you are really exposed. Personally I love that stuff and I tried to show as much of it as possible in my Crossing the Pyrenees series but as you'll see there isn't much at all. And the places that spring to mind, there is generally options to avoid it. You'll be fine!

@daneenlife 3 жыл бұрын

❤️🥰 love your vid 🥰❤️

@rebken00 2 жыл бұрын

What is the water treatment system that you use? I tried the link in your gear video but it didnt work - it was a small company... you really talked it up but I couldnt access it online.

@michelleferris9147 Жыл бұрын

I wondering about the culture around meeting people on the trail or at the refugios, I'm thinking of going solo and would love to meet some people along the way

@simply.matias 3 жыл бұрын

Great, now we have European Jupiter 👌

@jademacleod9115 Жыл бұрын

I walked (solo) from Barcelona to France via the Pyrenees in 2021 on the Gr92, it was unreal….question though?? Did you think all the mountains had monkey sculptures on? My kind was blown…was literally like planet of the apes

@yoann5934 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, thanks! Agreed that having a water filter is essential but, that being said, I never used mine on the gr11 last year. The water in the Pyrenees is amazing and if your pick carefully, innocuous. Well, I never had a problem at least! Because of the great availability of clean water, I would refill the entirety of the 2 liters I was carying only before setting camps (agreed also that 2 liters is what you need for dinner/breakfast/some cleaning). During the day, carrying more than 1 liter felt very suboptimal as you can refill every hour, so I quickly abandon that practice (which is essential here in the UK where I hike, as water is way less safe to drink).

@joshthompson9390 2 жыл бұрын

Hey brother, have you thought much about New Zealand's thru-hike Te Araroa?

@yunasburney2602 2 жыл бұрын

*Here in the UK the only wild life is the slugs. And I'm scared to death of them.*

@whatsnottohike 2 ай бұрын

Hi. Nice Video. Do you have GPX files that you share of your hikes in the Pyrenees? Thanks!

@honeybadger975 2 жыл бұрын

Easy to remove prescription if advertisement is placed and I pay good money to FB not to see any ads.

@ItsAdventureTime1 2 жыл бұрын

I have so many questions about this mid day nap thing....Since they open back up at 5 I assume they stay open later? Business hours in the U.S. end at 5 but we typically only have a 1 hour break for lunch up to that point. Where do you get the beers while waiting for them to reopen? The pubs don't get the nap time?

@ChaseMountains 2 жыл бұрын

Nah bars stay open, some restaurants do also and yeah, stores are often open in the afternoon from like 5-8 or later

@vickysparadise 2 жыл бұрын

Like hiking too, …, buying hiking gears is money consuming ☺️

@silkewind1711 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the information! Really needed to hear this before I’m starting. (Where am I gonna find a 1000 euros) 🙈

@ChaseMountains 3 жыл бұрын

become a hiking youtuber. Very lucrative. (thats satire)

@voql5133 3 жыл бұрын

it may be 500 euros without beer :)

@BrokenBackMountains 3 жыл бұрын

I reckon I am getting too old for any haute route :) Scotland and Ireland have a lot of ticks but I have never been bitten in over 40 years of hiking. I don't wear shorts for a start and always do a check when I strip. I do carry a tick removal card but it has only been used on the dogs.

@ChaseMountains 3 жыл бұрын

I don't know what your situation is but, don't sell yourself short!

@chuckburr517 2 ай бұрын

Oh my!

@sashaoutside1499 3 жыл бұрын

Do you know anything about hiking/setting up camp in Switzerland? I’m going to be hiking the Via Alpina this summer, and I’m finding it so hard to find info about camping on the trail.

@mars_hikes967 2 жыл бұрын

I am not Mr Chase however, I did the via Alpina (www.schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-01.html) with a tent. While you don't want to sleep in protected areas, there is enough "ordinary" forest in the valleys. I did stealth camp and of course orthodox LNT. In Switzerland camping above tree-line is not forbidden in general, but every town can have their own rules, therefore it is not allowed in many places either. If you plan to camp in postcard like areas, forget it, most likely it is forbidden by the town. Above tree line you will also need a heavier tent as in the Alps it's not exactly Duplex territory. During the pandemic, camping became a thing here and a lot of people had no idea about LNT. In certain areas the police had to visit twice a day. Hotels and manned huts are expensive and I didn't want to spend up to 150 $ per night. Some huts may allow you to put up a tent in their backyard but I doubt that some crew will allow you to stay free of charge. Often the huts are owned by sections of the SAC (www.sac-cas.ch/en/) and are run by individuals during the season. Of course you can preplan every stay in every town but this is the opposite of long-distance hiking. If you preplan, you can of course book airbnb and so on (although prices are not cheap either). Usually I check for a forest road, down in the valley, with a dead end and arrive there with the last light of the day (in order that the headlamp don't gives away my position). I always sleep near a human installation such as woodpiles, in order to keep human activity concentrated to a few spots in the forest. You will visit nearly every tourist town Switzerland has to offer and you will not suffer from hunger 😂

@sashaoutside1499 2 жыл бұрын

@@mars_hikes967 Thank you so much for all of that information! I appreciate it a ton.

@fanrik9583 Жыл бұрын

I just did my first backpacking trip. A weekend trip (roughly 36 hours) where I hike approximately 30-35 kilometers of flat terrain. I managed to get by with 3,5 liters of water in total including cooking, dishes etc. Am I doing something wrong or is this very dependent on the person?

@ChaseMountains Жыл бұрын

Depends a lot on the temperature. I assume it wasn’t too hot during this trip, otherwise I would assume you would be at least a little dehydrated

@fanrik9583 Жыл бұрын

@@ChaseMountains yea, it was probably around 20C / 70F. My muscles were extremely sore afterwards, and I'm thinking I might have been somewhat dehydrated without thinking about it.

@TopperPenquin Жыл бұрын

I think we should just reintroduce Velociraptors. Then all the Gleeful Tourist can watch them eat the Brown Bears that used to eat the Plums, the Townsfolk and the Farmers Livestock.

@cmichaelhaugh8517 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting even to us armchair dreamers.

@markevanpowell2157 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Chase - do you have a program for the Achilles specifically?

@ChaseMountains 2 жыл бұрын

No but mountain proof knees will likely sort out any issues you have with the lower leg man

@markevanpowell2157 2 жыл бұрын

@@ChaseMountains thanks for the reply!

@trevorwarren3715 3 жыл бұрын

Gotta lookout for the ticks at Mt Barney not so much the bears

@ChaseMountains 3 жыл бұрын

What about drop bears Trev?

@trevorwarren3715 3 жыл бұрын

@@ChaseMountains oh yeah forgot that we have to warn people about them

@pyreneanparaphernalia6619 Жыл бұрын

Watched your video, but not all your advice is correct. I have live and travelled in the Pyrenees for 20 yrs plus and from personal experience (wife having had Lyme's), tics are a big problem here and especially so where deer are present and even in gardens. Bears are present in France and Spain and bear spray is illegal to use and where would you obtain it in the Pyrenees (except for little 100mil pepper sprays) Currently there are approximately 70 bears btw, not 8. Re camping; if you're wild overnight camping it's a bivouac and is generally only allowed from 20.00pm-08.00am. Could probably go on. If you are going to put yourself out there giving advice, make sure it's correct and not just about drawing interest for a channel.

@gavijal 2 жыл бұрын

Black bears? As I know there are brown bears and population (at least on French side) is around 60

@ChaseMountains 2 жыл бұрын

yeah I messed that up - They are brown bears and estimates are around 60 to 80

@themerrymushmen6390 8 ай бұрын

About 80 bears in the Pyrenees, not 8.

@stewie055 2 жыл бұрын

Where are your accent from and where do you live near the Pyrenees?

@ChaseMountains 2 жыл бұрын

I'm Australian but I live in Barcelona

@stewie055 2 жыл бұрын

@@ChaseMountains awesome ! Great vid

@rebken00 2 жыл бұрын

@@ChaseMountains I was wondering that. Your Spanish is quite good! I am a fellow aussie and visited Spain four times now and planning the GR11 next year and trying to work out how I can live in Spain for a while. Where is the the Mountain Proof knee link?

@TopperPenquin Жыл бұрын

I think we should just reintroduce Velociraptors. Then all the Gleeful Tourist can watch them eat the Brown Bears that used to eat the Plums, the Townsfolk and the Farmers Livestock.

@ChaseMountains Жыл бұрын

I think a brown bear would probably take out a velociraptor.