In the first two weeks, we were able to cover a good 25 kilometers a day in the Pyrenees. From the third week onwards, our calculations didn’t quite add up. More and more meters of altitude difference affected our average and prevented me from making it to Andora in the planned four weeks. 600 kilometers, which would have been no problem with less climbing.

When planning, we take each day as it comes. It’s often impossible to predict the day before what the conditions will be like, what the weather will be like and how well the campsites we’ve picked out on the map will work out. This can change very quickly here in the mountains, especially during thunderstorms. According to the forecast, one evening there was supposed to be a dangerous thunderstorm from 5 pm. That didn’t turn out to be the case, so I pitched my tent instead of sleeping in the hut next door. The others immediately opted for the cot in the old shepherd’s hut. A good choice, as it turned out later.

When I went into my tent at around 10 p.m., we could still see the most beautiful colors on the horizon. The sun had slowly disappeared behind the surrounding mountains and had painted the wildest pictures in the sky as a farewell. Various shades of red, orange and blue danced across the mountains.

Half an hour later, the wind picked up strongly. I read a few more pages of The Alignment Problem, a book about the pitfalls of artificial intelligence, until I could no longer keep my eyes open. But my sweet sleep didn’t last long. The waves of the sky beat louder and louder against my white dwelling. It is pitch black. The strobe lights come on again and again. It lights up my tent at an ever faster rhythm. The bass of Thor’s hammer gets closer and closer. First it trickles softly, then the rhythm of the snare gets faster and faster.

I start packing everything into my rucksack, leaving only my sleeping bag and sleeping mat outside for the time being. This is the baptism of fire for my new tent. It has to prove itself. Not much can break. Unless the fabric tears.

Rule number one during thunderstorms: stay away from metal parts. I have both hands on the poles, which hold the tent together thanks to my support. It doesn’t come with its own poles. Everything depends on the pegs, which I have anchored firmly in the ground.

The wind seems to come from all sides. The tent is torn back and forth. After half an eternity, one of the pegs gives way. My curtain collapses. I grab everything I have under my arms and flee into the neighboring hut.

I swing the door open. “Seba, help me quickly!” As if on cue, he sprints out. Without his glasses! He says he only saw a white spot on the floor. We rescue it. Nothing broken, but wet.

I set up my sleeping place in the attic of the hut. The walls are so thick that it feels as if there’s no wind outside. I don’t sleep soundly, but I’m dry.

Five days of food in my rucksack

Once again, I have bought so much food that I can barely lift the rucksack. I have opened all the straps to adjust the rucksack to the heavy weight. In the process, the reinforcement of the back section tore. It’s not too bad, but I’m sure it I won’t let it happen again.

For the first day in the mountains, I like to take something special to eat that can weigh a lot, as it will be eaten straight away anyway. This time it was a pre-cooked tortilla de patata. What a treat to pop it in the pan after a climb of over 1000 meters.

I like to take lots of fresh food with me, such as fruit and vegetables. I could do without, but I enjoy having crunchy cabbage, onions, avocado and peppers on my wraps.

For breakfast, I have peanut butter, jam and nuts, which I also wrap up in a wrap or put on fantastic french baguette. Sebastian and I call it peanut slap.

In the evening we have either rice or pasta with ready-made sauces. I’ve already tried a few. My favorite at the moment is the mushroom sauce.

They have the craziest soft cheese here in France. I can’t resist taking one or two pieces with me and eating them for the first two days. After that, I continue vegan.

After three days, the rucksack is finally noticeably lighter. My knees thank me for eating so much of the delicious food.