Hey everyone! So here's the deal - I live in Madrid, and I'm seriously considering trekking up to Pamplona on foot at the end of June. This is a 3-400 km trajectory, so my question is: is it completely unreasonable for me to plan this out as something that will take me some 10-12 days? I cover 16km on foot daily, and it takes me about 3 hours; this would be atleast double that amount per day, but I would (clearly) have all day in which to do it (I'd like to try for 5 hour and a half sessions [roughly, 8 km] per day). Do you guys see this as do-able, especially when sustained over a 10 day period? I imagine I should start doing additional training (i.e., test days in which I try out covering these distances) well in advance, but what else do you guys recommend? Also, is anyone up to date on european laws regarding outdoor sleeping? Many thanks to everyone!

Hey, I live in Madrid as well. Found this site through a google search as I am looking for info on trekking any/all of the following mountain ragnes: Gredos, Picos de Europa, and the Sierra Nevada.

As to your question: I'm not sure that there are many trails that actually link Pamploma and Madrid. Maybe a network of old rights of way, but I find that obtaining information on them is pretty difficult, and what you do find is hard to verify in terms of accuracy. (I find this is the case when I go hiking in the Guadarrama.) Check out the bookstore Desnivel near Santa Ana - if you haven't already - they are great. Ask around there if anyone has any info, and I'm sure they will have all the maps you need. As for sleeping outside, I find that europe is pretty relaxed or up-tight about it - depending on the situation. National parks can be pretty well patroled in spain (surprisingly). Some landowners don't care if you pitch a tent for the night on their land, others are really against it. Technically, in most public places its illegal, but then again - they have to catch you. I've bivouaced in many places and come into no trouble - others I know have, and have been fined. Generally speaking, you're probably fine, but if in doubt I'd ask a landowner for a square meters of grass for a night. I've only twice had anyone say no.

Anyone else have info on some good 40-100km hikes around spain? (i.e. - something to knock off in a long weekend?) thanks.

that's actually fantastically helpful, thanks! i'm trying to do it late enough in june whereby i wouldn't need a tent, so it really would be just a 'setting up my sleeping bag somewhere for a few hours' sort of affair. re: the route, i'm thinking of just going town to town for most of castilla, as once you get past soria it's actually a fairly easier matter, route-wise, and once i hit navarra i can follow the old camino de santiago paths and follow the arga up into pamplona. the bookstore you mentioned sounds brilliant - i'm going to look into it on this (dreary) weekend. any advice on essentials to take along, by the way? i'm trying to go as minimalist (read: unprepared) as posible, kind of a map, compass, flashlight and backpack affair, but are there any particular things you think i should definitely not try to tramp about without? also, what's the stance on fires, and how did the fines work (did you have to pay them instantly? did you get a ticket? etc.)? many, many many thanks!