Corsica, France (May 1975):
Northwest half of the GR20, from Calenzana to Vizzavona
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[This page was created in May 2020.]
The GR20 is a 180km itinerary across the
mountains of the island of Corsica from Calenzana (northwest)
to Conca (southeast). At its midpoint near Vizzavona
it crosses the railway that connects the cities of Ajaccio (south) and Corte/Bastia/Calvi (north). Nowdays the GR20
is regarded as one of the most beautiful and demanding long trail in Europe and
is extremely popular among hikers. But in the years following its creation in
1972, the ″trail″ was not as famous as today and definitively less
crowded. In fact, it was initially conceived as a long multi-day spartan hike with small refuges along the way, to be made
in full autonomy by carrying a heavy backpack. During our week-long hike
between Calenzana and Vizzavona
in early May 1975, my partner and I only saw a handful of other hikers. There
was still much snow on the high passes and ridges.
Map.
Source: https://generationvoyage.fr/randonnee-gr20-corse/
Traditional stone
houses at the start of the GR20 near Calenzana.
Suspension footbridge
of Spasimata.
Reaching a pass on the
mountain crest south of the a Muvrella
peak, above the Lac de la Muvrella.
View from the mountain
crest toward the village of Barghiana (toward the southwest).
View toward Monte Cinto (2706m), the highest peak in Corsica.
Sunset seen from the Altore refuge, with Punta Missoghiu
partially visible on the right of the photo.
Altore refuge.
Morning view over the
Haut Asco valley from the refuge, with Punta Missoghiu visible on the left of the photo.
The next 8 photos
were taken along the most challenging section of the GR20, which includes the
(in)famous Cirque de la Solitude area, west of Monte Cinto. Most of this section is on exposed rocks and (at
that time of the year) on snow.
Lac de Nino.
Refuge de Manganu.
Pig farming in the
mountains. With pigs living such healthy lives, it is no surprise that Corsica is
famous for its charcuterie.
Lac de Creno.
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The Corsican fire
Salamander (salamandra corsica) near Lac de Creno.
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Acrobatic river crossing!
Some
last snow before the end of the multi-day hike.
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