First of all, here is a quick summary:
The trails of large hikes , or gr , were born in France in 1947 thanks to the association of several groups of hikers who decided to mark out trails. This association bore the name of "national c omitations of high hiking trails ", premises of the current French hiking federation.
Today, the GR paths accumulated in France bring together more than 60,000 km, created and maintained by volunteer members of the Federation. They are marked with a characteristic brand made up of two lines above the other: a white and a red.
One of the most famous hiking trails is the gr20, which crosses corse . He is known as one of the most difficult in Europe and is realized in summer, between June and September.
To cite a few figures:
The Gr 20 celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and is still more successful, both with hikers confirmed as Intrepids eager for Challenge . bri />
Its celebrity attracts between 15,000 and 20,000 hikers who rub it every year. They come from all over France and even from abroad to face the 200 km of sports walking in the mountains . It follows the backbone of Corsica, from the city of Calenzana to the north, to Conca in the south of the island.
However, this hike is recommended for people a minimum trained :
1,300 km of elevation, 16 stages in total, which represent between 4 and 8 hours of walking depending on the difficulty, and which are sometimes at the limit of climbing. Passages in the ridges and more than 2000 meters above sea level await you.
Even if the record is around 32 hours to do the whole Hiking , an average r r will need about 16 days to finish it, knowing that many of them abandon before the end. Indeed, about 2/3 of hikers do not arrive at the end of the trip.
The main cause of these abandonments can be due to weather , very changing in the heights of Corsica. It can become an important obstacle for hikers , who must sometimes compete in fog, rain, and snow, even in summer.
Shelters allow sleeping walkers or dormitory , as well as refueling. Note all the same, if you plan to get started at conquest of the G20 , that the wild bivouac is completely prohibited, and that you will have to turn to specific areas when establishing your camp.
But the refueling points are rare, and even if high mountain guides watch over passenger safety, you will need to perform the different stages in autonomy.
The course is sporty, and it is important to take enough equipment without being loaded too much. Each kilo too much in your bag will add to the difficulty of hiking , already demanding. This is the second cause of abandonments and the discouragement of the most motivated hikers. You will still need a few pounds of food, a lot of water, as well as the essential equipment such as the emergency kit, the tent and the down, a poncho, spare clothes ... In all, plan a bag of about 70 liters.
Getting started on the G20 is above all a personal challenge which will leave you incredible memories. The beauty of the landscapes, the meetings you will make on the way, the rudimentary and picturesque shelters in which you will appreciate finding a moment of respite and calm, the little lost paradise and the wild animals that are part of the trip ... the G20 is not a race. It is advisable to take your time, and to hold a road book in order to keep track of all the adventures of your journey.
You will come back from your journey with a few pounds less, but emotions full of heart. An intense and unforgettable experience.
And if you don't have the necessary experience yet, you can start practicing Hiking on more affordable trails.
Do not forget to tell us about your experiences on the hiking forum!
Below: the record video ## V1 ##
