Trip Reports, Information, Beta

Kevski

Posted: Tue, Jul 12, 2016, 10:50

Hi All
I think we'd all agree what great resources this site and forum are. I have one suggestion to make it even better....

Most posts come from people looking for information and advice in advance of doing the GR20. However, there are relatively few posts from people who have just completed their attempts and who, by definition, have the most recent experience and knowledge.

So, it would be great to get more trip reports with the latest information on things like:

1. travel to and from the start and the finish;

2. stages as they happened - as opposed to what was planned;

3. most importantly, information on the refuges, bergeries, camp-sites etc. What's good and bad this year? A star rating perhaps?

4. Food - choices, costs,

5. Miscellaneous: power supply, phone signal, internet, navigation issues, weather, equipment - what worked well or badly... encounters with animals, something funny that happened...

6. Overall budget.

An opportunity for those who have received help to give a little back.

Looking forward to reading lots of interesting posts

Kevin

Michele

moderator

Posted: Tue, Jul 12, 2016, 11:30

Kevin,

the hard truth is most people who post on this forum asking for information are not so generous as to give back after their trek. They just don't care.
The same happens on my blog.

Sad, very sad

--Michele

roesti32

Posted: Wed, Jul 13, 2016, 1:26

I'll return from my trip on 2nd September and will share my experiences, if anyone wants to know sth else just add it here :)

Regards, Simon

manac

Posted: Wed, Jul 13, 2016, 17:11

MnM

Michele

moderator

Posted: Wed, Jul 13, 2016, 10:43

Thanks manac for the pictures. Much appreciated

rosbif_rebuffat

Posted: Wed, Jul 13, 2016, 10:45

Michele, I would love to post my trip report but where ? just on the main forum ?

sorry if I have missed something obvious but I couldnt see any section just for trip reports

Gaffr

Posted: Wed, Jul 13, 2016, 12:51

Hello,
Many thanks Manac for the fine images.....I have just had a wee peek at the earlier stages from the south. That iconic 'gateway' that allows we backpackers to enter, or leave when coming the other way, into the terrain that is the GR20 is a treasure. I have images of this with different folks when on my own journeys travelling N and S on the island.
Thanks also for the Matalza images a place that I have not visited....I stayed at Croci when coming from the South.
I can't share my own images since I am not a member of Flickr.
The only forum where I have sent images to, not nearly so good as yours, is www.walkhighlands.com click members page 95. gaffr

Gaffr

Michele

moderator

Posted: Wed, Jul 13, 2016, 15:31

Hi rosbif_rebuffat,

I will ask the site owner to create a special section for it. Meanwhile I think you can post your trip report in the Community Section if you like.

Thank you
Michele

manac

Posted: Wed, Jul 13, 2016, 17:11

I cannot find your reference on the site www.walkhighlands.com

MnM

Gaffr

Posted: Thu, Jul 14, 2016, 5:51

Hello Manac,
Alternately ....on walkhighlands...go to the General Discussion area of the Forum...Item about Bridge Crossing at Achnashellach...I think the last reply that I have made to the Forum....simply click on gaffr (in blue). This should open up my scribblings and some images that I have sent in.

Gaffr

manac

Posted: Thu, Jul 14, 2016, 8:04

Hi, ok, found it ....... Achnashellach, now that takes me back, one February many moons ago, arriving by train somewhere then having to walk to first accommodation which had always been advertised in Clmber and Rambler. Then a week in bothies, up Liathach in a blizzard, not a soul in site, wandering up Ben Eighe in snow with no snow gear, imagining the news headlines!! All photos from then are still on slides, a project one day to digitalise them.
No paint flashes marking routes there.
I digress. Seems that you camped about 5 metres from where we camped at Paliri, in fact I think my tent photo was taken from your tent pitch.

MnM

Tarjei

Posted: Thu, Jul 14, 2016, 11:39

Thanks for the pictures, manac. It's great to see pictures from the new route between Haut Asco and Tighjettu. And of course, looking at the others brings back my fond memories from my hike as well.

Tarjei

Mostrup

Posted: Thu, Jul 14, 2016, 23:19

Hi there.

I walked the trek in 2014 and gave this report (http://corsica.forhikers.com/forum/p/24925) on some of the conditions, stages, refugees, general thoughts etc. Last year I walked the Alta Via 2, which was a trek much worthwhile as well. However, I will be returning to the infamous GR20 this year and I will of course, just like last time, give you a report on my experience and thoughts. This time it will be with a mentallity of using all 14 days and not rushing it. That really drained me last time and we wouldnt want that to happen again :-).

I will be noting down your points so that I remember to take note of them. If there are anything else you want to know, just give me a holla.

I will be doing it S-N this time with sidetrips to as many high peaks as possible. Since I have done the Cirque previously and the old route over Monte Incudine in the south, I will of course be comparing those with the new routes.

Backstroke

Posted: Fri, Jul 15, 2016, 5:36

Thanks for the photos. I enjoyed meeting you, repeatedly, on the hike.
My trip report to follow, soon.

www.trailnamebackstroke.com

manac

Posted: Sat, Jul 16, 2016, 11:14

People may have already seen this report as it's from 2009, but I've just been sent the link by my son and found it most amusing. For those having done the route, it will have echoes, for those still to do it, it rings pretty true.
Enjoy it.
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/nov/01/trek-corsica-grande-randonee

MnM

Fanta 65

Posted: Wed, Jul 20, 2016, 4:10

Hi Manac,
thanks for the beauiful photos. We did the southern part at nearly the same time. We are sad that we didn't meet each other. It was a great experience. We enjoyed your pictures, they are much better than ours :)

Many greetings from the black forest
Frank & Stephanie
(are we "snarky germans"?)

Fanta 65

Backstroke

Posted: Thu, Jul 21, 2016, 4:54

Ok we have to put this Snarky German thing to bed.
I only met one Swiss woman, she joined Francois on the hike at Vizzavona. Francois is Swiss-German, not German, and actually he could be a bit snarky, actually more in the snide and sarcastic vein, but also charming. He definitely took some time to get used to. Great hiker. He could be the guy. The snarky Swiss-German guy.
I had dinner with two Germans at U Fugone. The man works with autistic people, the woman is a librarian. Very charming and unassuming. Sorry, no points for snarkiness to be found here.
At that same dinner was another German. We called him Mr. Meat. He was all about how some people are "meat" people, and others are not. When I ran into him at Vizzavona he was not feeling well. He had a "gas bubble", and his time proven solution is to eat a large piece of meat, drink a liter a Coca-Cola, and periodically jump up and down to shake it out. I thought he might be the snarky guy. He had a low opinion of Americans, whom he generously called stupid, fat and lazy. Nothing personal was expressed, just facts, so as an American I was not supposed to be offended. Bigtime snarky.
Done.