Carros de Foc Trail, Aigüestortes i Llac de Sant Maurici National Park, Pyrenees Spain

Backpacking and mountaineering is a journey where the destination is the present moment-to-moment embodiment of the now. Being in the alpine is a serenity that accentuates the trickle of water, the whistling wind that blows through the grass, the chirping of a marmot, and the texture of the ground below my feet.

In the Spanish Pyrenees there is a prolific section called the Carros De Foc trail. This 35–40 mile circumnavigating loop has a concentration of beautiful lakes, mountains, and some incredible scenery. This region reminded me of the Sierras in a lot of ways — one of the main differences is that the Carros de Foc trail doesn't get higher than 8900 ft.

There is a high saddle that you have to scale which can be a bit dangerous with snow and ice. Towards the end of June there was enough snow to posthole our way up the 35 degree slope. I recommend bringing micro spikes in the June timeframe. Reserve the refuge 6 months in advance so you can bring a lot less on the hike.

I can see why this region was rated one of the best hikes in Europe. Espot is an excellent launch place to start the trip but you can start and stop at many of the cities around the trail. Please reach out if you have any questions on how to prepare for your trip.