The GR20 on Corsica
Often reckoned to be one of the hardest of the GR’s in Europe and one of the worlds classic trek the GR20 cover the high ground on Corsica using refuges and campsites. This was my first time on Corsica and the first time on the GR20 so it was a challenge!
We had a great couple of weeks on the GR20 and had the opportunity to stay in bergeries which are the high mountain farms used by farmers to keep goats, this is still a very traditional way of life and you can sample some of the locally produced cheese, in fact they’ll often send you out the next day with a picnic using local cheese and dried sausage. The island is famed for their charcuterie which they claim is so good as the pigs are free range and forage naturally in the forest particularly liking chestnuts, that seems pretty accurate as it’s very good indeed!
It’s a fairly hard route, there’s about 1000m of ascent each day and most days you’re crossing some steep and difficult terrain and scrambling. A few days involve fixed equipment like chains and ladders and some movement over small snow fields.
Ian Spare, a Mountain Leader and International Mountain Leader Aspirant based in the Swiss Alps.
You were lucky to avoid the cold blast that came down this weekend. There have been quite a few summer deaths on Corsica over the last decade which I think proves your point about how difficult this route can be.
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