FKT: Alecsa Stewart, Doug Stewart - Canigou North Balconies (France) - 2024-11-15

Route variation
Standard route
Multi-sport
No
Gender category
Mixed-gender team
Style
Unsupported
Start date
Finish date
Total time
11h 48m 42s
Report

We started the attempt from Millas train station at 7:52 am on 15 November 2024. Cold and overcast but conditions were good and we followed the waymarked trail up to the top of Força Réal to be rewarded with some impressive early morning views towards the Canigou massif. Most of the route through vineyards was clear and the day warmed up staying clear, no wind. We had one section of difficult trail finding as the markings were hidden under overgrown vegetation, then one tricky crossing through a field that had been temporarily fenced off by the farmer without prior notification (and it was the only way through towards Montalba-le-Château). 

After these slight delays we eventually reached Eus in the mid afternoon. The only point where there was a working public water fountain (all others had been shut because of drought earlier in the year). This allowed us to refill our water containers for the rest of the trip (final c. 21 km). The next section was uneventful into the night, with one final navigation challenge due to missing a turn at one point while crossing cow pastures. A tricky final descent into Prades on trails that had been turned over by cattle, before reaching the outskirts of town and then running in to the train station. 

We carried all our own food from start to finish and never resupplied. We carried lots of water from the start, knowing there would be likely no working fountains or safe rivers until Eus at 48 km. We only refilled there with water from the public fountain and carried on to the finish.