Carros de Fuego. The high level route in the Pyrenees
Place
Aigüestortes and Sant Maurici National Park. Pyrenees., Cataluña España
Duration
5 days
Season
Summer
-
Level
**/***
⤤See table
Program in PDF GALLERY
THE TRIP
The concept of high routes (or haute routes) was born in the Alps in the late nineteenth century by the Alpine Club (UK) who proposed a summer itinerary between Chamonix (France) and Zermatt (Switzerland) which they called “The High Level Route”.
It was not until 1911, when the trip was completed on skis for the first time, that both the concept and the High Route (Haute Route) name became popular. Since then, all mountain routes lasting several days from hut to hut are known as high routes.
If there is an area in the Pyrenees that is associated with high routes, then it is the Parc National d’ Aigüestortes and Sant Maurici, and if there is a route that can be categorized as high route, it is the “Carros de foc”.
The National Park incorporates all the elements that characterise the high Pyrenees, featuring a dazzling and diverse landscape of snow, rivers, waterfalls and lakes. With a breath-taking geography interested with a chain of mountain huts, this is the ideal setting for a high route trail.
The story of “Carros de foc” began a little over twenty years ago with courtesy visits between mountain huts guards in the park, but since then has become a Pyrenees classic.
THE DESTINATION
The National Park of Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici is one of the fourteen national parks of Spain. Located in the Catalan Pyrenees is, together with the National Park of Ordesa and Monteperdido (in the Aragonese Pyrenees) and the Parc National des Pyrénées (in the French departments of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées), an excellent representation of the main ecosystems Of the Pyrenees.
Its main hallmark is water, which runs through rivers, canyons and waterfalls and stagnates in lakes and peat lands. All this is located between mountains of more than three thousand meters altitude and leafy forests of black pine, spruce, wild pine, birch and beech.
In the park there is an extensive network of sheltered mountain huts that allow mountain lovers to discover all corners with all comfort and at any time of the year. In winter, when the park is covered in white and its more than 200 lakes freeze, it becomes a perfect and beautiful stage for crossings with mountain skis or snowshoes.
Following the trail left in the Middle Ages by Romanesque art in the Boí Valley is another way of approaching this place. The church of Sant Climent de Taüll with its slender square-shaped bell tower is the most well-known image of the eight churches built in the valley under the influence of the Lombard Romanesque and they are declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Perhaps the most classic and famous trekking in the Pyrenees.
- Alpine landscape with spectacular views.
- Wide network of mountain huts.
MORE INFORMATION
Equipment required
- Backpack (30-40 litres). No more than 8Kg
- Trekking boots or mountain sneakers.
- Expandable hiking poles.
- Technical clothing:
- Socks.
- Long and short trekking pants.
- Thermal t-shirt (base layer)
- Fleece jacket or similar (2nd layer)
- Gore-Tex jacket or similar (3rd layer)
- Cap for sun protection and Sunglasses
- Head lamp (extra batteries)
- Water bottle or canteen (1 litre minimum)
- First aid kit and essential toiletries
- Sunscreen and SPF lip balm
- Camera
Notes
FEXIBILITY OF DATES
We always propose several departures with several dates but we also adapt the trips to your availability. So do not hesitate to consult us if the dates do not fit you and we will adapt an outing for you.
TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING
One week before the start of the trip we will send you the information about the place and time of meeting as well as the name and phone number of the guide that will accompany the group. In addition we will send you more useful information that will facilitate the final preparations.
BACKPACK DURING TREKKING
It is important to carry light weight in the backpack to walk in comfort, so it is recommended to carry only the essential material and clothing. Every day you can wash some clothes by hand and also do not have to carry food. We will inform you that the backpack will not weigh more than 6-10 kilos.
insurance
The activity includes accident insurance, but without any doubt, we recommend travel insurance and if you also hire “with cancellation” you will have more complete coverage. You can hire travel insurance for the period of time of the activity or the annual insurance (starting the day you decide) that will cover not only the activity you do with Muntania Outdoors but also many other sports activities that you do during year.
Without doubt, we recommend insurance with cancellation and so if you or a family member has any mishap before the trip will be entitled to the full refund of the amount paid both in the tickets and in the trip itself,
* Our travel insurance is managed with Intermundial and the cost is lower through Muntania Outdoors than if you manage it directly. The travel insurance with cancellation that we manage allows a refund of up to 900 euros for trips in Spain and up to 2.000 euros for trips abroad. If the amount of the trip plus flight is greater, you can increase the amount you want to insure (consult).
ANOTHER QUESTIONS
It is not necessary to wear a sleeping bag but a silk or cotton sheet bag.
Links of interest
PROGRAM
RELATED TRIPS
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- Group completed
5 days