In a tent with a French man : A daily thru hiking journal
By Cartapouille
Hi, I'm Cartapouille, a bored french guy who has co-created and hiked the HexaTrek, 3000km to cross France through the mountains in 2022. I previously thru hiked the Via Adriatica in 2020. I also finished a small hike on the French Pyrenees following the GR10 for 150km. Each hike is a separate podcast season here.
Season 1 : Via Adriatica, Season 2: GR10, Season 3 : HexaTrek.
This is a daily short log to reassure my friends and family that I didn't die eaten by a bear or got blown up by a landmine.
Insta: @cartapouille
Season 1 : Via Adriatica, Season 2: GR10, Season 3 : HexaTrek.
This is a daily short log to reassure my friends and family that I didn't die eaten by a bear or got blown up by a landmine.
Insta: @cartapouille
In a tent with a French man : A daily thru hiking journalOct 06, 2022
00:00
15:27
HexaTrek day 154: reaching Hendaye. The end.
This is it, after 154 days on the trail I crossed France by foot. I know many of you will discover this podcast with this episode, but it's not representative. Anyway who cares, that's done
Oct 06, 202215:27
HexaTrek day 153 : the last bivouac (special)
A very very long episode (sorry) about that last bivouac night. Coming back on a lot of things that happened in the past months. Hence the length
Oct 04, 202217:36
HexaTrek day 152 : bivouac invaded by strangers during the episode
After an amazing evening by myself and a view on the ocean, I have the annoying surprise to have other campers arriving at the last moment while I recorded
Oct 03, 202206:27
HexaTrek day 151 : feeling better
Sickness seem to be leaving me alone and other stuff like walking and hiking you know
Oct 03, 202207:26
Hexatrek day 150: saw the ocean while sick and injured my knee
What a day! My body is giving up on me, I'm getting sick and I didn't take enough care going down and injured my knee again, but brutally. Although I saw the ocean and it was quite a show!
Oct 01, 202204:46
HexaTrek day 149: so much rain I could swim
Found an amazing bivouac spot after a horribly rainy day. Somebody will get sick...
Oct 01, 202206:34
HexaTrek day 148 : breaking in the auberge I paid for
Didn't realize pilgrims were strict about the time an auberge closes, so I had to Mission Impossible it
Sep 29, 202205:09
HexaTrek day 147 : sharing the community life of pilgrims
I reached st jean pied de port and now embarking in a terrible experience: being trapped with pilgrims in a traditional auberge. Help
Sep 28, 202205:26
HexaTrek day 146 : from Frenchman to Batman
Staying in a disgusting place, but luckily sheltered from the rain after a day of pure showers.
Sep 28, 202208:30
HexaTrek day 145 : worst bivouac spot yet but with Bucks
In a cold rainy dark forest I almost had to setup on mud while I hear the horny bucks yelling in a distance
Sep 26, 202205:52
HexaTrek day 144 : the unexpected cabin
When everything is foggy, wet and cold, a non marked unguarded cabin feels like heaven. Even when it's invaded shortly after arrival by three other soaking wet hikers
Sep 26, 202206:21
HexaTrek day 143 : surprised by a real hotel
Life turned insanely comfortable tonight as my three best friends in Brussels surprised me with a free night in a hotel and a meal in a restaurant from a distance. Just lovely
Sep 24, 202207:09
HexaTrek day 142 : happy birthday to me!
Today is my birthday, it started terribly but ended way better than expected. And that was needed
Sep 24, 202206:30
HexaTrek day 141 : being insanely bored by a good hiking day
Sometimes you hate something for almost no reason, everything should be amazing but hate gets in the way. Like procedurally generated content
Sep 23, 202208:24
HexaTrek day 140: an emotional come back to Gourette
Years after my attempt at a bit of the GR10, I'm remembering a town where I had some last memories with my grandfather
Sep 23, 202205:01
HexaTrek day 139: losing Simon but getting a real bed
Bad luck happened with the lost of Simon who had to go faster, but good luck with Franck offering me a place to stay for the night . And a shower!
Sep 20, 202205:32
HexaTrek day 138: down and up to Ilheou lake
Finally I could see the lake! I missed it last year and this time could sleep next to it, fiou!
Sep 20, 202206:55
HexaTrek day 137: a nice walk down Luz Saint Sauveur and illusion of the end
I'm using more and more the sentence "well it's almost over anyway" but I'm just jumping the gun really
Sep 18, 202206:24
HexaTrek day 136: celebrating my birthday way too early thanks to coincidences
After a stretch that I knew but in reverse, a series of coincidences made me go for an early meaty celebration
Sep 17, 202206:37
HexaTrek day 135: starting the ultimate section
After trying for way too long to start this hike, I managed to leave the cabin. Because qi was late I didn't do the climb I needed completely and arrived at a nice bivouac with Simon
Sep 17, 202206:12
HexaTrek day 134 : hard to leave comfort
Today I'm just enjoying life in the grandparent's cabin, but it makes me think how I want to continue hiking
Sep 17, 202206:29
HexaTrek day 133 : back in St Lary but by foot and doubts
I'm in a safe place and an emotional one (where I spent my entire childhood) and feeling quite lazy
Sep 17, 202206:48
HexaTrek day 132 : rain, so much rain. Descent, so much ascent.
Big day of hiking in the worst possible weather condition, full of rain and intense wind. But I am making again more than expected
Sep 13, 202206:14
HexaTrek day 131: excited and bored to be back!
Surprised myself with a gigantic climb after starting really late. It's as nice to be back on the trail as it's ... Kinda boring, same old same old
Sep 13, 202205:26
HexaTrek day 130 : almost back on the trail after a tense family ride
Tomorrow I'll start hiking again but today was full of personal emotions
Sep 13, 202204:09
HexaTrek day 129 : switching gear and walking grandma to the local market
This day wasn't necessarily hiking related but I could spend a bit of time in family, and that was worth it
Sep 11, 202205:30
HexaTrek day 128: hitch hiking to spoil myself
I took the decision to jump ahead in order to visit my grandma in St Lary, before hitch hiking back to get on the trail again. But today was all about thumbs
Sep 09, 202205:34
HexaTrek day 127 : bad news for my moral from Chez Jo at Portet-d'Aspet
I was looking forward for months my arrival to St Lary where my grandma would wait for me, but today I realized it won't be possible. So i had to take a decision
Sep 08, 202208:47
HexaTrek day 126: arriving in the night is not made for me
Gorgeous hiking day with plenty of nice views, but I tried to push to get in time a dinner I'll never see. Hence disappointment
Sep 08, 202205:27
HexaTrek day 125 : this steamy episode is all about Seix! And a nice gîte.
Came back to a funny named town of Seix with childhood memories, and ended up in the amazing gîte d'Esbintz
Sep 07, 202208:57
HexaTrek day 124: back to great bivouac spots
Bivouac spots and good food make for a lot of the pleasure in the mountains
Sep 05, 202204:03
HexaTrek day 123 : a late climb and stealth camping
I don't like money grabbing schemes of paying to stay by a refuge in tent with no advantage. So I am ranting
Sep 05, 202204:08
HexaTrek day 122: sleeping in a model dry stone cabin
Sometimes you have to adapt to the trail, like when it gives you a fake house that can turn into a real one. And so I did. And i was good without network
Sep 04, 202206:31
HexaTrek day 121 : the shortest day, but got lost
Sometimes hiking with a hangover is not great. Especially in the mountains, especially in the rain, especially when you're lazy
Sep 03, 202205:34
HexaTrek day 120: I'm sorry Andorra got me drunk
Probably the best climbing day ending in a crazy bar by the mountain
Sep 03, 202204:02
HexaTrek day 119 : impressively slow at this point, blaming the rain
Today wasn't a good hiking day, but then again it seems to be the theme for the Pyrenees now. It'll get better
Aug 31, 202204:35
HexaTrek day 118 : a real hiking day that got real difficult, a fire and Simon!
Pretty day but difficult day too! Getting back into mountain hiking after my sickness is harder than I thought, so taking it slow. Also... Simon returns! And the campfires!
Aug 31, 202205:59
HexaTrek day 117 : starting back to walk on a cute trail and meeting the most resilient hiker
It's been months I wanted to meet with Emjoto, the most resilient hiker on the trail. And I could walk again a bit!
Aug 31, 202205:37
HexaTrek day 116: staying put, curing my ego in a solar oven and thinking about a meeting
I thought I could continue but apparently I absolutely couldn't. So I'm looking forward to get back out there
Aug 31, 202207:24
HexaTrek day 115 : a rest day with Mother
Made it down the mountain to shock Mother with my smell, before seeing my videos in big screen. And my podcast game is not on point with a mornikg podcast again
Aug 28, 202208:37
HexaTrek day 113 and 114 : food poisoning while wild camping? I tried for you!
First Time I can not record my podcast yesterday or this morning because I was so dead, puking all night is not fun in a tent. So this is a special double episode to cover those difficult last 48h
Aug 26, 202208:16
HexaTrek day 112 : the Pyrenees are here...
It's climbing time! The high mountains are back and it's not that easy to get there without my trail legs for ascent. And i got new shoes!
Aug 24, 202205:29
HexaTrek day 111 : unexpected chili and burnt eyes
Although it was a bad hiking day, it's been a great humanity day. I did lose my sunglasses though
Aug 23, 202205:58
HexaTrek day 110 : rocking it at Le Vivier
After waiting almost a day to get my package, I'm lucky to meet the unexpected villagers of Le Vivier, from old to very very new generation
Aug 22, 202206:48
HexaTrek day 109 : forced rest day and becoming a local
Sometimes I like to stop the trail, sometimes the trail stops me. Forced to stay in a tiny village waiting for a package, I made the best out of it and became a local
Aug 21, 202205:52
HexaTrek day 108 : stuck in a campsite waiting for shoes
Damn talked about many things here, like introspection, other hikers' discussions and forgot to mention how gorgeous the Gorges de Galamus are! Well... They are
Aug 20, 202207:22
HexaTrek day 107 : milking goats and meeting another Hexatreker
Left really late our improvised castle because the place was too nice, and i could interview the farmer. And at the very end this guy appeared that was an actual Hexatreker!
Aug 19, 202207:37
HexaTrek day 106: finding a new abandoned building for the night
A clean abandoned building is rare, but one that is in the middle of nowhere is incredible! Perfect to shelter from the wind
Aug 18, 202205:42
HexaTrek day 105 : hiking too long and the amazing bittersweet party village night
Because of the rain I was forced to hike way longer than expected, and I arrived in an exquisite village party. But it took a bitter turn just before going back to bed
Aug 17, 202208:59
HexaTrek day 104: leaving carcassone and forced into a hitch having beers with locals and an actress
Some days go according to plan and they are boring. Some go according to nothing and you end up in the title of this episode
Aug 16, 202206:04