In 1925 a group of friends completed for the first time the beautiful excursion that leaves Toulouse, arrives at the Sanctuary of Aralar and returns back to Toulouse. Then, the march was carried out three more times, until 1972, when they began to organize themselves in the way that is currently organized: every four years, the year in which the Olympic Games are held. It is an Olympic year 2008, and May 18 is the day chosen by the members of Friends of Aralar to celebrate a new edition of the walk. By the way, they will pay tribute to the vital walker Joxe Albero. Alberto participated in that 1925 and died last year at the age of 101.

According to the organizers, the walking tour is in itself the object of the walk, for which they will place a minimum number of times that must be fulfilled in each control area. Four years ago around 3,000 people took part in the march, and this year the participation will be around that number again. On the other hand, 250 people will work in the organization, not counting the relief services, etc. that will be located in the strategic points of the route.

The route of the 14th Hour March of Aralar will remain unchanged this year. We will give the great excursion to start with the fact that it is still dark, so in the dark we will take the road from Tolosa to the Castle, from where the hill of Uli, located on the Lizartza, is our destination. On the way we will arrive at the village of Gorriti and from there, crossing the village of Azpirotz, to Lekunberri. Slowly, but without interruption, we will notice that we accumulate kilometers in the legs.

After resting in Lekunberri, the excursion takes us to Iribas, the time is approaching to face the ascent of the Sanctuary of Aralar, and the road leads us to the neck of Burniguru, which delimits the head of the Ata Valley. Once we have passed the neck, we will climb without rest, with the fortress of the angel of Aralar in sight from time to time.

Then we will arrive at the Shrine of Aralar. All that remains is to return to Toulouse. Nothing more than that! First, we will complete the route from the sanctuary to Guardetx by road and from here to Igaratza, following the trail left by eleven generations of mountaineers. Igaratza is one of those other special points of the route, but is there any corner in this unique excursion that is not special?

Leaving the Igaratza behind and going through the high pastures of Aralar, we will complete the route to Amezketa from the edge of the stream that carves the Arritzaga ravine; we will pass and descend continuously through the Pardeluts fountain and the Amabirjin stone, leaving the highest peaks of Aralar –Pardarri, Ganbo, Uzkuiti and Larraone, among others, on the left side and Irumarriu, and Bajo, on the right side, making a visit to the Baluarte, two of them essential. We leave the path that leads to the Saron de Buruncuzin on the right and continue to lose altitude until we reach the Amezketa. From there we can complete the Alegiaraino by road, do the Alegiatik Tolosaraino trail and, as if we were a sportsman who has finished an important sporting event, we will only have to enter the stadium of Berazubi. We will feel the Hunkidura about to overflow in our depths. It’s a pity that we have to wait four years to do this wonderful XIV Hour Hike once again. But that's his magic!