purchased at most large sports stores in the region, and in a few of the largest sports stores in the major cities in France. English guides are also available. The Spanish GR 11 is a similar route on the Spanish side of the border, while the only-occasionally-marked Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne (HRP) follows a generally higher route through the Pyrenees, from mountaintop to mountaintop, frequently crossing from one side of the border to the other. Weather The best time for hiking on the GR 10 is late spring/early summer and late summer/early fall. In the middle of the summer the heat can become a problem, though some of the ski stations on the route open their lifts for summer walkers, providing opportunities for hikers to avoid some ascents and descents. In the fall mountain storms become more frequent, making conditions dangerous. In winter most of the GR 10 is impassable due to snow. The first high pass walking from the Atlantic Ocean is the Hourquette d'Arre (2465m). Walking from the Mediterranean Sea, the equivalent high pass is the Coma d'Anyell (2450m). Both are normally snowed up until about 14 June (in 2013 two weeks later). These are about 14 and 9 days in from the respective starting points. Departments crossed The GR 10 passes through the French departments of: Pyrénées-Atlantiques Hautes-Pyrénées Haute-Garonne Ariège Pyrénées-Orientales Towns, villages and other stopping places Some commonly used overnight stops with camping or gîte facilities include: Hendaye Olhette Ainhoa Bidarray Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Esterencuby Col Bagargiak Logibar (Larrau) Saint-Engrace Arette-la-Pierre-Saint-Martin Lescun Etsaut Gabas Gourette Arrens-Marsous Cauterets (and Gavarnie and Gedre via alternative route) Luz-Saint-Sauveur Barèges Chalet Hotel Lac de L'Oule Vielle Aure Germ Lac d'Oo Bagnères-de-Luchon Fos Refuge de l'Etang d'Araing Eylie d'en haut Cabane de Besset Etang d'Ayes Aunac Rouze St Lizier d'Ustou Aulus-les-Bains Mounicou Goulier Siguer Refuge de Clarans Refuge de Rulhe Mérens-les-Vals Refuge des Besines Refuge des Bouilloises Planes Refuge du Ras de la Caranca Mantet Refuge de Mariailles Chalet Hotel des Cortalets Mines de Batere Moulin de la Palette Las Illas Chalet de l'Albere Banyuls-sur-Mer References External links GR10 – La Grande Traversée — complete trail topography (in French) The Pyrenean Way — A site dedicated to the GR10, here called the "Pyrenean Way" GR10 From Hendaye to Estérençuby (Pyrenées-Atlantiques) GR10 From Estérençuby to Borce (Pyrenées-Atlantiques) GR10 From Borce (Pyrenées-Atlantiques) to Oule Lake (Hautes-Pyrenées) GR10 From Oule Lake (Hautes-Pyrenées) to Bethmale Lake (Ariège)