GR11 Day 7, Gorda de Xio to Izabar.

 11th June

A damp night, the cloud was down to camp level and while I don't think it actually rained everything was very wet.

A beautiful rainbow as I got away from the hill on the way down to Ochagavia.

The Saturano de Muskilda high above Ochagavia has an old cobbled path leading down to the church and the old part of the village.

Couldn't get into the chapel, it was locked

Ochagavia 

The newer section is along the 'main' road and river which I crossed to start the long climb into hills again.

The 'Roman' bridge

I met two hikers, one Swedish the other American but living in Romania and after walking together for a while they stopped for a rest, needless to say I carried on.

Along the top

The walk from Ochagavia was mainly on a track that climbed, steeply at first then more easily, to around 1300m, continued at this level before leaving the track and going down very steeply through more beechwood to Izabar.

The never-ending track

I had a view of the GR11.4 high route over the mountains ahead with a big snowfield on the north side of the top. The route goes up the ridge so should avoid the snow but I think I'll wait and see what the weather is like in the morning. The main GR11 route does go an easier way!

The first real mountains 

Staying in another hotel tonight, enjoying the comfort and prices.

View from my balcony

Some figures from the first week (including the first days short walk)

Total milage 97.4

Average 14 per day

Total ascent 6000m

Average 860 per day

For anyone interested in such things the phone tells me that's 42000 steps per day.