Between 13-19 June, 7 students from Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron hiked the northern segment of the infamous GR20 in Corsica, which is often described as one of Europe’s toughest treks. This expedition aimed to challenge our mental and physical resilience, placing us outside our comfort zone in a testing environment. The students carried all their equipment needed for the duration of the expedition, either camping or staying in refuges or bergeries overnight.
Our first day saw us hike from sea level in Calenzana to the Refuge D’Ortu di u Piobbu, a distance of 12km and 1550m of ascent. This day was certainly a baptism of fire, with the high temperatures a stark difference to our Lake District practice walks in the wind and the rain. We continued the next day to the Refuge de Carozzu, in which we met our first scrambles of the expedition. For many of us, scrambling was a new skill, and therefore this tested the abilities of the students to grasp new concepts. Day 3 led us to Ascu Stagu, a hostel at the bottom of a steep valley. The undulating nature of the GR20 meant that whilst we ascended hundreds of metres of height each day, we also lost this height through incredibly steep descents. Due to the dynamic, unstable nature of the terrain, we had to be cautious with our route choice and footing.
The highest point of the GR20 was reached on day 4, just short of the highest peak on Corsica, Monte Cinto, which stands at 2706m above sea level. This was our longest day, with 1250m of ascent and 1230m of descent covered over 9km, ending at the the Refuge de Tighjettu. After an initial steep hike, we reached the glaciated peaks of the mountain range, enabling us to view the island from coast to coast, along with the incredible scenery. This was one of the most rewarding days, as we were able to see how far we had come just over halfway through the expedition.
Day 5 involved a gentle walk through some woodlands, followed by a steep scramble. Halfway along, our route passed a bergerie, and we rewarded our efforts with a freshly cooked omelette on the side of the Corsican mountains. After a beautiful sunset at Hôtel Castel do Vergo, we commenced our penultimate day. This route took us along less undulating terrain and past Lac du Ninu, where some of us took an obligatory swim. Our accommodation for the night was at the Bergerie de Vaccaghja, where we watched the sun set whilst a local played Corsican folk music on the guitar.
Our final day of hiking led us into Corte with 1420m of descent over 23km. Despite the seemingly straightforward route with no scrambles, temperatures were very high, requiring the rationing of water to ensure no one became dehydrated.
Ex Corsican Cracker was a successful expedition and developed students mental and physical resilience. Over 7 days, NUAS traversed 55 miles and had a total elevation gain of over 20,000 feet. We faced challenges, such as ensuring we kept our rucksacks as light as possible for ease of movement, requiring minimalist packing and the rationing of essentials. Additionally, the expedition encouraged self confidence, as there was initially apprehension at some of the steep scrambles. One student noted the importance of perseverance, stating “During Corsica I really learned how to keep pushing on and continue throughout the day. This helped with the challenge of long days of hard hiking.” Finally, the importance of eating the correct nutrition and maintaining hydration was appreciated, along with utilising the right foot care to complete arduous expeditions. Overall, the expedition was an incredible experience, and has taught each student lessons that they will take with them when pursuing future endeavours.
