Hexatrek: Ariège & Andorra

The adventure continues into one of the wildest and most remote sections of the Hexatrek as I leave the forests behind and head deeper into Ariège before crossing into Andorra. Welcome to Episode 4 of my Hexatrek 2026 adventure as I continue northbound through the French Pyrenees on one of Europe's most demanding long-distance hiking trails. This stage of the journey takes me through the incredibly remote valleys of Ariège, where tiny mountain communities are few and far between, and shops become almost non-existent. Knowing supplies would be scarce, I left Luchon carrying eight days' worth of food. Even that wasn't enough, so I relied on mountain refuges whenever possible, making use of the evening meals they offered to stretch my supplies. One planned overnight stop at a gîte d'étape didn't go quite to plan after discovering it had permanently closed, leaving me to fall back on my own rations for the night. Ariège is also home to one of France's last remaining populations of brown bears. I spent one evening quietly watching until after 10 pm, hoping for a glimpse, but the bears remained elusive. Other Hexatrekkers have been fortunate enough to encounter them, reminding me just how wild and untamed this remarkable region really is. Crossing into Andorra brought a welcome change, with villages, cafés and restaurants allowing me to enjoy proper meals again after days of carefully rationing food. Even so, the combination of carrying a heavy pack, limited supplies and tackling demanding mountain terrain has taken its toll, and I've lost weight during this section of the hike. For now, my Hexatrek journey pauses at L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre. Not because the trail has beaten me, but for a far more important reason. My daughter is about to have her first baby, and I want to be home with my family to share this incredible moment. My wife and I are about to become grandparents for the very first time, and there are some milestones in life that simply mean more than reaching the next mountain pass. The Hexatrek isn't over. I'll be returning to the trail in September, picking up exactly where I left off at L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre, and completing Stage 5 as I continue towards Carcassonne. The adventure is simply taking a short pause before the next chapter begins. Join me for real-world backpacking, wild camping, mountain hiking and multi-day trekking across France on one of Europe's newest and most ambitious long-distance trails. If you're interested in Hexatrek planning, thru-hiking, section hiking, ultralight backpacking, hiking gear, GPS navigation, outdoor technology and adventure travel, this series is for you. Expect honest trail conditions, route information, mountain weather, camping locations, navigation challenges, backpacking tips and the realities of life on the Hexatrek. Whether you're planning your own adventure, researching the Pyrenees or simply enjoy following long-distance hiking journeys, I hope you'll enjoy coming along for the ride. Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave a comment if you enjoy hiking, trekking, backpacking, camping and mountain adventures. More Hexatrek episodes will follow when I return to the trail in September to complete Stage 5 and continue towards Carcassonne. #Hexatrek #Hexatrek2026 #Ariege #Andorra #Pyrenees #WildCamping #Backpacking #ThruHiking #LongDistanceHiking #Trekking #MountainHiking #UltralightBackpacking #HikingFrance #AdventureTravel #MultiDayHiking #France Want to read more tales from the trail? Over on Buy Me a Coffee I'll be sharing extra stories, trail anecdotes and behind-the-scenes experiences from my Hexatrek journey. I never pass up the chance for a great coffee whenever I reach civilisation. If you've enjoyed following the adventure and would like to help fuel the next stage of the journey, I'd really appreciate a cuppa! https://buymeacoffee.com/morgs4moun3