Is the GR20 the hardest trek in Europe?

Recent from my return from the Mediterranean island of Corsica, I look at whether or not the GR20 actually is the hardest trek in Europe

There’s no query. The GR20 in Corsica is a problem. It requires early begins, lengthy days and mountaineering alongside uncovered, steep and technical terrain, however the rewards are myriad: sweeping views over jagged peaks and deep valleys, serene swims in pure swimming pools, the joys of navigating rugged alpine passes, and the deep satisfaction of finishing a legendary trek.

Corsica’s notorious GR20 path takes hikers the size of the Mediterranean island and is famend for its issue and requiring a excessive degree of health. As such, the Grande Randonnée 20 is often hailed as Europe’s hardest trek.

I simply returned from trekking the northern part with Much Better Adventuresand may verify that there are various hardships to be endured on the GR20.

That stated, there are additionally creature comforts to be discovered that you just wouldn’t discover on many different European routes. For starters, sizzling showers, chilly beer and heat croissants actually make path life extra bearable!

With that in thoughts, I ask, is the GR20 the hardest trek in Europe?

What’s the GR20 trek?

Location: Corsica, France
Distance: 180 HP (110 Mi)
Length: 14-16 days
Ascent/descent: ~12,000m
Begin-finish: Chinaenzana / conca

Point out the island of Corsica to somebody, and they’re going to probably consider glittering yacht-filled bays, sweeping sandy seashores, and medieval citadels perched atop rocky headlands. And possibly Napoleon.

However inland, the place the 4 primary massifs of Cinto, Retondo, Incudine-Bavella and Renoso rise, you’ll discover little in the best way of civilisation. As an alternative, sheer granite peaks tower dramatically above crystal-clear streams, emerald lakes glint within the solar, and breathtaking mountain vistas stretch in each route in the direction of the Mediterranean.

Operating roughly north-south throughout the island, the trek begins at Calenzana and ends at its southeast terminus in Conca. Traversing the backbone of the island, the GR20 winds by way of a spread of topography, together with wild mountain ranges, alpine meadows and deep forested valleys.

What makes the GR20 so powerful?

Whereas it might not be the longest, highest or most distant, the terrain is what actually stands the GR20 aside. Geologically talking, the mountains of Corsica are the far southwestern tip of the mainland European Alps.

Fashioned from the identical mountain-building forces that created a few of Europe’s highest peaks, Corsica’s ridges and cliffs share the identical historic rocks. Thousands and thousands of years in the past, the island was related to the mainland earlier than it drifted to its present place, creating essentially the most mountainous island within the Mediterranean, therefore its moniker because the ‘mountain within the sea’.

The result’s terrifically laborious granite underfoot, which hardly ever produces quite a lot of meters of flat path. Hikers deal with relentless ascents and descents that appear to go straight up or down, crossing knife-edge ridges, scrambling over boulder fields and navigating sections the place metal cables and chains are bolted to the rock.

In contrast to mainland mountain routes, there are few light valleys to be discovered alongside the GR20 – simply plunging gorges, wind-scoured plateaus and excessive passes the place snow can linger even into summer time. There are recurrently difficult scrambles – technically and bodily – all through the route. Throughout our trek, there was not less than one scramble to beat each day.

The climate, too, may be capricious. Usually, the Mediterranean solar beats down, whereas sudden storms can sweep in with out warning, making some elements an actual take a look at of endurance. The primary day of our trek was simply that, with rainstorms, thunder and lightning and low cloud cowl, damaged by intervals of superb sunshine, just for the rain to reach once more within the afternoon.

The trek additionally requires early begins and lengthy days. On two out of our six days on the path, we had been up at 4 within the morning and on the path by 5. Partly this was to interrupt the again of the gap earlier than the warmth of the day arrived, however primarily it was simply because the times might contain as much as 12 hours of trekking. The newest we had been up was six!

Apart from the primary day, we had relentless sunshine for the remainder of our trek. Temperatures recurrently move 30°C, however when the solar is at its highest and reflecting off the granite cliffs and boulders, the warmth can turn into utterly enervating, and there’s typically little shade to be discovered.

Lastly, the dropout charge on the GR20 is reportedly a lot larger than on different Grande Randonnées. There’s a statistic doing the rounds online that in 2017, roughly 15,000 walkers tried the trek, with a dropout charge of about 40% though I couldn’t discover a dependable supply for this.

Regardless, our information repeatedly advised us that she had by no means had a gaggle that didn’t have not less than one individual drop out, and ours was the identical. Sadly, one group member needed to give the ultimate day a miss after growing extreme blisters on their ft. The purpose is the GR20 is attritonal.

On the plus facet…

Having stated all of that, the GR20 does have a number of creature comforts that you just hardly ever discover on extra distant treks. The lodging is amongst among the most snug I’ve discovered on any path, anyplace on the planet. For starters, there’s lodging, so that you don’t have to hold a tent.

And the choices are fairly assorted. The mountain refuges all have tenting areas with pre-pitched tents and tenting pads obtainable to lease. There are additionally lined areas for cooking and drying garments.

Refuges even have eating areas serving easy however hearty meals, cold and warm drinks, in addition to alcoholic drinks, together with wine and beer. A lot of the refuges even have shared bunkrooms obtainable to sleep in, and sizzling showers and electrical energy, though these typically incur an extra price.

Different sleeping choices alongside the path embrace hostels, inns and ski lodges, all of that are a step up by way of consolation from the refuges. On this respect, the GR20 is arguably extra snug than teahouse trekking in Nepal.

Is the GR20 the hardest trek in Europe?

It’s virtually not possible to say for positive if the GR20 is the hardest trek in Europe with out having accomplished each path, however by way of terrain, it’s in all probability the hardest trek I’ve undertaken. I’ve completed treks which have been simply as technically difficult or bodily demanding, however have been shorter total or had smaller every day distances.

I’ve additionally hiked longer trails, with fewer creature comforts en route, however they haven’t been as relentlessly demanding underfoot or had as a lot technically difficult terrain.

Different contenders might be the Nordkalottruta, working alongside the borders of Norway, Sweden and Finland; the distant Kungsleden, primarily positioned in Lapland above the Arctic Circle; the Skye Path in Scotlandin all probability the UK’s hardest trek; the Peaks of the Balkans Path, traversing the mountainous border areas of AlbaniaKosovo and Montenegro; or the Haute Route, the basic mountaineers’ route, working between Chamonix in France, and the Matterhorn, in Zermatt, Switzerland. All might declare to be the hardest trek in Europe.

Monikers apart, whether or not you’re an skilled mountaineer or trekker searching for the subsequent problem or an adventurous soul drawn to nature’s extremes, the GR20 guarantees a journey that’s as rewarding as it’s relentless.

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Lead picture: Atlas & Boots