Gr20 Corsica: Europe’s Toughest Trek & Adventure Hiking

The outcome is remarkably hard granite underfoot, which rarely generates more than a few meters of level course. Hikers tackle unrelenting climbs and descents that seem to go right up or down, crossing knife-edge ridges, rushing over stone areas and navigating areas where steel cables and chains are bolted to the rock.

There’s no question. The GR20 in Corsica is an obstacle. It calls for early beginnings, long days and treking along subjected, technological and high terrain, however the rewards are myriad: sweeping sights over deep valleys and jagged tops, peaceful swims in all-natural swimming pools, the adventure of browsing rugged towering passes, and the deep fulfillment of completing a fabulous trek.

It calls for early beginnings, lengthy days and hiking along revealed, steep and technical terrain, however the incentives are myriad: sweeping views over jagged optimals and deep valleys, calm swims in natural swimming pools, the excitement of navigating tough alpine passes, and the deep contentment of finishing a legendary expedition.

GR20: A Test of Endurance

Regardless, our guide repetitively informed us that she had never ever had a team that really did not have at least someone leave, and ours coincided. However, one employee needed to offer the final day a miss out on after developing extreme sores on their feet. The point is the GR20 is attritonal.

Sanctuaries also have dining locations serving simple but hearty meals, chilly and hot beverages, in addition to alcoholic drinks, consisting of red wine and beer. A lot of the sanctuaries likewise have actually shared bunkrooms available to sleep in, and warm showers and power, although these occasionally incur an added price.

Trail’s Key Features

Corsica’s infamous GR20 trail takes hikers the size of the Mediterranean island and is renowned for its difficulty and calling for a high degree of health and fitness. The Grande Randonnée 20 is usually hailed as Europe’s hardest trek.

Names apart, whether you’re a skilled mountaineer or trekker seeking the following obstacle or an adventurous spirit attracted to nature’s extremes, the GR20 assures a trip that is as gratifying as it is unrelenting.

Running roughly north-south throughout the island, the trip starts at Calenzana and ends at its southeast terminus in Conca. Traversing the spinal column of the island, the GR20 winds through a variety of topography, consisting of wild mountain ranges, towering meadows and deep forested valleys.

The dropout price on the GR20 is supposedly a lot greater than on various other Grande Randonnées. There is a fact doing the rounds online that in 2017, roughly 15,000 walkers attempted the trip, with a failure price of regarding 40% although I couldn’t find a dependable source for this.

Peter Watson is a writer, photographer and adventurer. He has been to 100 nations and climbed up the greatest mountains in Africa, Europe, South America and North America– 4 of the 7 Summits. peterjohnwatson.com

Aside from the initial day, we had relentless sunshine for the remainder of our expedition. Temperature levels on a regular basis pass 30 ° C, yet when the sunlight is at its greatest and reflecting off the granite high cliffs and boulders, the warm can become completely enervating, and there is usually little shade to be discovered.

GR20’s Unique Landscape

Formed from the same mountain-building pressures that developed some of Europe’s highest optimals, Corsica’s ridges and high cliffs share the exact same ancient rocks. Millions of years ago, the island was connected to the mainland prior to it wandered to its present setting, developing one of the most mountainous island in the Mediterranean, thus its tag as the ‘hill in the sea’.

The climate, too, can be picky. Commonly, the Mediterranean sun beats down, while abrupt storms can move in without caution, making some components a genuine marathon. The initial day of our trek was simply that, with rainstorms, thunder and lightning and reduced cloud cover, broken by durations of marvelous sunlight, only for the rain to arrive once more in the afternoon.

Unlike mainland hill routes, there are couple of gentle valleys to be discovered along the GR20– just diving canyons, wind-scoured plateaus and high passes where snow can stick around also right into summer season. There are on a regular basis difficult shuffles– practically and literally– throughout the course. During our trek, there was at least one shuffle to conquer each day.

Other competitors could be the Nordkalottruta, running along the borders of Norway, Sweden and Finland; the remote Kungsleden, primarily located in Lapland over the Polar Circle; the Skye Path in Scotland, possibly the UK’s hardest expedition; the Peaks of the Balkans Path, going across the mountainous border areas of Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro; or the Haute Course, the traditional mountaineers’ path, running between Chamonix in France, and the Matterhorn, in Zermatt, Switzerland. All can claim to be the toughest trek in Europe.

It’s nearly difficult to state without a doubt if the GR20 is the most difficult trip in Europe without having actually completed every path, but in terms of surface, it is possibly the hardest expedition I have actually undertaken. I have actually completed treks which have been just as practically challenging or physically demanding, but have actually been shorter total or had smaller everyday distances.

The trek likewise calls for long days and very early beginnings. On 2 out of our six days on the trail, we were up at four in the early morning and on the trail by five. Partially this was to damage the back of the distance before the heat of the day showed up, yet mainly it was even if the days could include as much as 12 hours of travelling. The latest we were up was six!

While it might not be the longest, highest or most remote, the surface is what really stands the GR20 apart. Geologically speaking, the mountains of Corsica are the much southwestern tip of the mainland European Alps.

The trek additionally needs long days and very early starts. Partially this was to break the back of the distance before the heat of the day arrived, but generally it was just because the days might involve up to 12 hours of hiking. Having stated all of that, the GR20 does have a number of creature conveniences that you seldom locate on even more remote treks.

Creature Comforts On GR20

Various other sleeping alternatives along the route include hostels, resorts and ski lodges, every one of which are an action up in terms of comfort from the sanctuaries. In this respect, the GR20 is perhaps more comfortable than teahouse travelling in Nepal.

Having stated every one of that, the GR20 does have a number of animal comforts that you hardly ever find on more remote expeditions. The lodging is amongst several of the most comfy I’ve located on any kind of path, throughout the world. For starters, there is accommodation, so you do not need to carry an outdoor tents.

That said, there are also animal conveniences to be discovered that you wouldn’t discover on many various other European routes. For starters, warm showers, cold beer and warm croissants certainly make path life more acceptable!

Inland, where the 4 primary massifs of Cinto, Retondo, Incudine-Bavella and Renoso increase, you’ll discover little in the means of civilisation. Rather, sheer granite comes to a head tower substantially over crystal-clear streams, emerald lakes glint in the sun, and spectacular hill views stretch in every direction in the direction of the Mediterranean.

The initial day of our expedition was just that, with rainstorms, thunder and lightning and reduced cloud cover, broken by periods of glorious sunlight, only for the rainfall to arrive once more in the mid-day.