Last update 20.06.2010

Introduction

The GR®20 crosses the Corse Island along the crest of the corse mountains. It's a tough path: steep, loose stones, not well marked, pebbly, not much water available and usually high temperatures. The first few days on the north are usually covered at a slow pace of about 1km/hour due to the difficult terrain. Anyway worth to do it once to take advantge of the vicinity of the sea...Accomodation has been improved but still far from what can be found elsewhere.

Picture below is reprint from the Topo-guide® “A travers la montagne corse”, réf.067, © Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre, 14, rue Riquet, 75019 PARIS, Tél. : 01.44.89.93.93 or www.ffrandonnee.fr”. Reprint with authorisation.
GR® is trade mark of the french federation of trekking (Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre), for any question contact www.ffrandonnee.fr.

Ortu di u Poibbu 1570 m (6 h)

Starting from Calenzana at 05:30 we arrived at the refuge at about noon after a long climb on very, very pebbly path: this will be our daily nightmare all along this trek. The second half of the trek from Vizzavona down to Conca has a much better path and and quite different landscape, less alpine and more pastures.

Calvi (below) can be seen during a few days because the pace is quite slow due to the difficult terrain: about 1km/hour, while in other trek an average of 3 km/hour was common.

At the refuge: Cold shower with pretty cold water (we saved the soap) and we went to bed with sunset, still wearing sunglasses...

Refuge de Carrozzu 1270 m (6 h) [Top of page]

Nice refuge, although the shower is cold again, the water coming out directly from a source into a tube that was hanging from rocks placed in the middle of a group of trees (no cabin, no fence, no screen).

Refuge Asco Stagnu [Top of page]

After Carrozu, there is a small bridge and the climbs directly on large flat stones, chains on the side can help but the rock is good. Might be difficult in case of rain or hail.

Probably (?) the Bocca i Stagni 2020m and the descent to the refuge, which is actually a nice hotel.

The refuge is comfortable with good cooking, makes a difference from the other refuges that were all quite hardy with minimum cleanliness.

Refuge de Tighjettu - Bergeries de Ballone - Ciottulu di i Mori (1958 m) [Top of page]

After the Asco refuge is the famous "cirque de la solitude" a very steep descent and tough climb into the most famous part of this GR®. Not recommended with children, the path is a bit in the right of the picture below, which has been taken from the path on the other side, while climbing.... At first sight it seems almost impossible to get down, neither to go up again.

After this, a long, hot and terrible descent on the pebbly path to the refuge of Tighjettu and the Bergeries de Ballone where we first intended to sleep. The place was not attractive enough to spend a night and we decided to go to the next refuge and to skip this one, it took about another 5:30 to reach Ciottulu di i Mori (= almost 11 hours of walk).

Castel di Vergio - Manganu [Top of page]

The hotel Castel di vergio is at least convenient, anyway it's the only place available around.

The next step took us to the Bocca a Reta (1883 m) and to the "pozzines" (swamps).

The path goes down to Tavignano, it's possible to buy cheese there, although worth to have a look to the manufacturing equipment before considering to buy.