Through the Spanish Pyrenees: GR11 - A Trekking Guidebook

Walking the GR11 (La Senda) trek, as described in this guidebook, takes you through Spain's Pyrenees from the Atlantic at Iruns to the Mediterranean at Calaques, and is one of the world’s great trekking routes. Through wild country of great beauty and with good facilities and waymarking the 840km, 46 stages and 40,000m of ascent and descent make for a big but attractive undertaking.

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Day 6

Fábrica de Orbaiceta – Casas de Irati

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Distance        16.5km (10.3 miles)
Height gain    400m
Height loss    380m
Time              4hrs 15mins

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A much easier day, allowing a detour to the summit of Mendi-Zar for a panoramic view. The route climbs the Regata de Arrazola to the southern flank of Mendi-Zar before descending the Morate valley to touch the border, then continues south to the large man-made lake of Irabia. The pista then leads to the camping area at the end of the stage.

0.00 Fábrica de Orbaiceta, 840m. Ascend the cement road, E, beside the bar. In about 10mins or so take the left fork to a farm where the trail continues as a pista, E, along the right side of the Regata de Arrazola, gradually turning to the NE. After about 20mins, take the right fork (the main pista continues to a forest pista that descends back to the GR11 pista) to the road from Arrazola, some 500m to the south. Turn left, and after 2km the road turns ESE, then with a left and right turn it arrives at the…
1.10 Collado de Orión, 970m. Water point. Take the pista that goes steeply up N. Just below the second building on the left, take a track on the right, which goes to a water point that is barely flowing. Continue ENE on the upper path to a post marker, using  the summit of Mendi-Zar as a guide, keeping above the treeline to the right. Several hundred metres later, as the path enters the tree line, look for marks that indicate that the path above should be taken and soon climb rocks to yet another higher path, taking a right fork into the trees, ESE. A few minutes later a painted tree marks the…
2.20 Colladeta Superior de Morate, 1160m. Go down steeply through the wood, watching out as the GR turns NE just before the streams. Cross a stream and follow the path down SE, about 10–15m above the Morate stream seen on the right. This leads to a grassy pista, which passes a hut to the left, suitable for overnight shelter, and many places to camp. Follow the pista to cross the Morate stream turning right, S, to reach…
2.55 Puente de La Cuestión, 825m. Cross the bridge turning S along the pista beside the lake, Embalse de Irabia. Much later, avoid a turning to the right going down to a private cabin, but turn left, NE. Climb the pista leading to various loops and bends, which take you to the Río Irati, which then is followed eastwards along its right bank to a bridge that crosses the river to join the road end from Ochagavia below the ruins of…
4.15 Casas de Irati, 860m. The fuente just before the picnic spot was almost dry in the spring of 2006. A camping spot can be found by crossing the bridge and taking the path to the chapel, but turning off right below the Casas and then down a farm track, ENE, to a small meadow with water supply. It is possible to camp within the picnic corral. In 2006 the twin water taps had been vandalised and turned off. However, by lifting the farthest metal ground plate, the water can be turned on. Please turn it off again! If the Ranger is present, he may control the time of camping.