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GR20 – Corsica

Billed as Europe’s “toughest trail”, whether that is true or not, hiking the GR20 is one tough trek.


My daughter Emily and I tackled the GR20 from North to South in August 2018. It was a very challenging trek, but worth every drop of sweat.

How we prepared for the GR20

Our Plan for Hiking the GR20

Travel to and From Corsica

Lessons Learned GR20

Day 1 Calenzana to Refuge d’Orto di u Piobbu (Stage 1)

Day 2 Refuge d’Ortu di u Piobbu to Ascu Stagnu (Stages 2 and 3)

Day 3 Refuge d’Asco Stagnu – Refuge de Tighjettu (Stage 4)

Day 4 Refuge de Tighjettu to Bergerie Radule (Stage 5)

Day 5 Bergerie Radule to Refuge de Manganu (Stage 6)

Day 6 Refuge de Manganu to Refuge de Pietra Piana (Stage 7)

Day 7 Excursion Ascent of Mt Ritondu

Day 7 Refuge de Pietra Piana to Refuge de l’Onda (Stage 8)

Day 8 Refuge de l’Onda to Vizzavona (Stage 9)

Day 9 Vizzavona – Bergeries de Capannelle (Stage 10/11)

Day 10 Refuge de Verdi to Refuge d’Usciolu (Stage 12)

Day 11 Refuge d’Usciolu – Refuge d’Asinao (Stage 13/14 Variant)

Day 12 Refuge d’Asinao – Refuge Palari (Stage 15)

Day 13 Refuge de Palari – Conca (Stage 16)

8 thoughts on “GR20 – Corsica”

  1. Grete says:
    June 17, 2019 at 2:09 pm

    Hi Ian,
    it was a real plesure to read Your blog!
    I and my boyfriend are going to GR20 this summer in the middle of July. We are also planning to take our own tent. I wanted to ask You, did You had any problems with not booking a place for tent ahead? We heard that sometimes there are not enough space to sleep near the refugees and then You must go to another one. Is that true?
    Thanks in advance 🙂

    Reply
    1. lordzeus says:
      June 18, 2019 at 2:56 am

      We never had an issue getting a tent space, and do not know of anyone who had to leave and keep hiking to the next refuge. Some of the refuges were definitely very full. We did leave early and generally arrived between 1pm and 3pm, and always found a spot.
      Best of luck, its a wonderful experience.

      Reply
  2. Jen says:
    May 31, 2019 at 1:21 pm

    Hi

    Thanks for your blog post – I loved it.

    Did you have any trouble pitching your tent? I’m planning on doing the hike in July from South to North – and my tent is not freestanding? Also what’s the likelihood of getting coffee at the refugios with breakfast or is it best to take your own?

    Jen

    Reply
    1. lordzeus says:
      June 18, 2019 at 3:28 am

      Jen

      I was able to stake my tent at all the campsite, even though my tent is free standing, i staked it anyway. We had a challenge at Refuge de Palari, since we picked a site overlooking the Mediterranean, but there were some other campsites in the woods that would have been easier. I saw people having to tie their tent lines to rocks to support their tents, sometimes you will have to get creative.

      Coffee and breakfast are available at all the refuges we stayed at. But we brought our own coffee, and would treat ourselves to a fresh coffee upon arriving on cooler days.

      Best of luck, if you have any other questions, please ask.

      ian

      Reply
  3. Jennka says:
    February 24, 2019 at 5:02 pm

    Hi Ian,
    Thank for sharing your experiences. We did GR20 in 2010, the Cirque de la Solitude was still accessible then. I can’t believe you doubled stage 2 and 3… and a backpack of 22 kg… OMG. I really enjoyed your blog!

    Reply
    1. Ian says:
      February 25, 2019 at 7:09 pm

      Thanks for reading. We both really enjoyed the hike, and are happy to share the journey and what we learned.
      It was a big deal to double stage 2 and 3. Emily did just fine, I suffered quite a bit. But it just seemed to stop at the end of stage 2, there was so much of the day left.
      I am happy with the weight of the backpack, and I did prepare for the weight in my training for the hike. I would not leave anything out, but add a light jacket and a pair of long pants (I only had one pair of pants). The backpack quickly got lighter as we ate the food.
      Thanks again for reading, and happy hiking.

      ian

      Reply
  4. Roger Gaff gaffr says:
    February 19, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    Hello,
    Glad to see that you enjoyed the trail. Thanks for your fine images of the walk. I enjoyed the route so much that I returned to the island and travelled from S to N during the return. I guess that we had a liking for walks in Corse and came back for five other multi day walks.
    Apart from one of the walks we came to the island in June…on just one day when there was rainfall when walking from col de Verde to Capannelle.
    Many thanks for your report.

    Reply
    1. Ian says:
      February 19, 2019 at 5:47 pm

      Roger
      The GR20 was an amazing experience. I would like to return to Corisca, many other trails to explore. The world is so big, and so many great places to experience.
      Ian

      Reply

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bootwreckers

View looking West over the Tonto Platform from the View looking West over the Tonto Platform from the South Kaibab Trail.

This April will be our 10 year anniversary of our first trip to the Grand Canyon.

It is truly one of my happy places, have visited five times and camped below the rim three times.

Looking to get back sometime soon, but good things are worth the wait.

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Shot off my phone from the parking in downtown Canmore.

#sunrise #sunrisephotography #sunrise_sunset_photogroup #earth #outside #outdoors #naturephotography #nature #naturelovers #sky #skyphotography #sky_brilliance
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From our hike last year Emily hiking among the cactii towards the feature we affectionately named the Thumb, Passage 16 on the Arizona Trail

#teamzpacks #zpacks #zpacksduplex #aztassociation #aztrail #aztrails #hike #loveazt #desertphotography #desert #hikingadventures #hikes #backpacking #camping #getoutside #familytime #traillife #aztassociation , #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside  #rightnow #goparks #aztrails #aztrail #loveazt  #azt #arizonatrailassociation
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We stopped by on our way to Twin Falls CG after spending the day hiking the Iceline Trail

Like this photo of Siobhan getting close to the falls for her own picture. 

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #backpacking, #yohonationalpark #yoho #friendsofyoho #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #waterfall #waterfall #waterfallphotography #waterfallsofinstagram
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#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #alpine #lifeelevated #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail
#kananaskis #kananaskiscountry
Chasing th Aurora on Friday night at Lake Minnewan Chasing th Aurora on Friday night at Lake Minnewanka in Banff NP.

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Always fun to be outside in a dark place to see th glory of the night sky.

#outside, #hiking #camping, #backpacking,
#adventure, #adventureoutside, #nature, #landscapephotography, #nobaddays, #adventureholiday, #hikingadventures, #astrophotography, #milkyway #kootenaylife #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark #nationalparks
#parkscanada #northernlights #aurora #auroras #auroramax
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I remember remarking to Emily "this is why I hike"

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #alpine #lifeelevated #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail
#kananaskis #kananaskiscountry
Morning from Floe Lake with Floe Peak selection of Morning from Floe Lake with Floe Peak selection off the mirror smooth waters.

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#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #flowers #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail #goldenhour #goldenhourphotography #mirrorphotography #lake
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Morning sun shining off of Tumbling Glacier and the Rockwall. 

Waking up at Tumbling Creek Campground during my Great Divide Hike this summer. 

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #flowers #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail #goldenhour #goldenhourphotography
Flower Field, Tumbling Pass, Kootenay NP. From la Flower Field, Tumbling Pass, Kootenay NP.

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Awesome day, epic hike.

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #flowers #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia #gdt #greatdividetrail
As we head into winter, a shot from last spring at As we head into winter, a shot from last spring at the end of winter. The snow was just clearing from the trails, and flowers poking through to greet the warmth.

Heading out over Rockwall Pass, Kootenay NP, with @kbsymington  and @neil.real.deal .

Had some snowfields to cross, good day out on th trail

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #flowers #getoutside #lifeonthetrail #britishcolumbia
Fun photo from Twin Falls Campground in Yoho Natio Fun photo from Twin Falls Campground in Yoho National Park.

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Fun 3 day trip with @sio.mellors.

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #backpacking, #yohonationalpark #yoho #friendsofyoho #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #waterfall #rainbow #spectrum #hikingadventures #longexposure #longexposurephotography #river
Top of Guinns Pass, Kananaskis Country 2016 Guinn Top of Guinns Pass, Kananaskis Country 2016

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An early evening storm and the setting sun shining up and reflecting off the clouds. Completely surreal. 

August 17th

Kootenay NP

Part of a 10 day hike along the Great Divide Trail, from Upper Kananaskis Lake to Field, BC

#outside, #outsidethebox, #liveoutdoors, #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, #rescuer
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
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#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #banffnationalpark #banffalberta 
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Should be a grand adventure.

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#travelcanada #mountainstories #explorecanada #theearthoutdoors #paradisecanada #gdt #greatdividetrail
Amazing backpacking trip through Yoho NP with Volc Amazing backpacking trip through Yoho NP with Volcano (@senioradventurepups)

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Had a blast with her, she is always keen to go, jst not as far as before.

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Milky Way over Brachiopod Mt, Baker Lake, Banff NP Milky Way over Brachiopod Mt, Baker Lake, Banff NP. Super happy to get the reflections on stars in the lake.

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Got up at 2am to take photos of the stars. On the way back, the porcupine was guarding my tent, had to gently shoo it away.

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#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
#sunstar #sun #lake #sunrise #alpin #scenery #reflectionphotography #reflections #sceneryphotography
The light favours the early risers. The low angle The light favours the early risers.

The low angle morning rays from the sun makes a rainbow on Helmet Falls, Kootenay NP

#friends, #alberta, #parkscanada #rockwall #backpacking, #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #mountains #naturephotography #travelcolumbiavalley #travelbcp #waterfall #rainbow #spectrum #helmetfalls
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