Between 23rd August and 2nd September, eight members of the Birmingham University Officers Training Corps, accompanied by their instructor, participated in a mountaineering expedition in Corsica, France. They navigated through the northern section of the GR20 route, regarded as being one of the toughest treks in Europe, with rocky ridges, wild scenery and high altitudes. The team walked from Calenzana to Vizzavona, covering around 80km of highly technical terrain involving scrambling and steep ascents and descents. The expedition enabled the team members to gain their summer mountaineering foundation (SMF) qualification. This involved them using skills such as rock climbing, navigation, and deciding how best to approach walking the different terrains.
On arrival in Corsica, the team headed into Calvi to go grocery shopping for food to add to the standard issue army ration packs. This typically consisted of pasta, chorizo and a variety of pasta sauces. The team also enjoyed some time on the beach and swimming in the sea.
Day 1: The GR20 route commenced from the village of Calenzana and finished at Refuge de L’ortu di u Piobbu. It involved relentless ascents of steep and rocky climbs with the team climbing 496 metres over a distance of 11.9km. It took 6 hours 45 minutes to complete, passing Bocca Corsu, a well-known saddle with views of Calvi and the Mediterranean Sea. On arrival at the Refuge, the team started the afternoon routine of making camp preparing for the evening. 2 OCdt’s cooked pesto pasta for dinner and lunch the following day. This was followed by the daily briefing on the challenges ahead the following day.
Day 2: This followed a similar structure to day 1, albeit the team were trekking on what was a very hot day. They covered 9km in 8 hours with 770 metres ascent and a descent of 1070 metres. Much resilience was exhibited by the built officer cadets, some members described it as “a day of never ending, knee-jerking boccas (saddles)”. On arrival at Refuge de Carozzu, the -team enjoyed burritos for a well-earned dinner. Spectacular views were enjoyed throughout the day of walking. OCdt Taylor commented that:
“The GR20 had some of the most scenic trails and challenging yet rewarding routes I have walked”.
Day 3: On leaving Carozzu, the officer cadets embarked on a 6 hour trek covering 5.2km. They started the day crossing a suspension bridge, followed by a re-entrant of rocky slabs. The day involved challenging steep descents and was a fun day for all. Finishing at Ascu Stagnu, a meal at the ski resort restaurant was enjoyed which proved to be a welcome break from pasta for the team.
Day 4. The day played out differently to expectations. The previous hot and sunny weather conditions quickly changed. Following a weather report from mountain guides about a big incoming storm, the team decided that walking would not be possible due to the increased risk of becoming stranded at 2450 metres. So instead, the morning was used as an opportunity to rest, with card games and navigation lessons completed for the SMF qualification. In the afternoon, the team headed to the next campsite by bus. This was 2 hour drive to the next campsite at Hotel Castel de Vergio. Whilst at this campsite, the predicted storms came in. The tents struggled with the conditions, meaning that they became very wet inside and sleeping bags soaked through. However, officer cadets were able to enjoy a beautiful sunset once the clouds passed.
Day 5: After a wet night, a flatter day of walking was welcomed by all of the team. The day involved an ascent of 649 metres. The weather started off misty and wet, but eventually cleared by lunch, giving way to beautiful scenery. This also provided an opportunity for the team to try to dry out their sleeping bags and wet clothes before continuing with the walk. A total of 18km was covered in just under 5 hours. Upon arriving at Refuge de Manganu, the team enjoyed a much needed and refreshing swim in a glacier waterfall.
Day 6: Once again, the team navigated through a misty, cold and wet day of walking to reach the refuge at Petra Piana. A total of 9.81km was covered in 4 hours 30. This involving walking under ridges and an abseil using chains to descend down slippery rocks, reaching an altitude of 2270 metres. After this, a hot chocolate and chocolate bar were welcome treats to warm everyone up, followed by a ration pack for dinner and card games.
Day 7: After a very cold night, another 11.25km was covered on what turned out to be an extremely hot day – a massive contrast to the stormy wet weather experienced over the previous two days. The route passed through forests in a valley below a ridge and then followed along a river. The team stopped for a break and some of the officer cadets enjoyed a refreshing swim. En route to Refuge de L’onda, there was a small section of ascent, making the total climb for the day 472 metres. With the hot and sunny weather, all equipment was fully dried, allowing for a good night’s sleep before the final day of the course.
Day 8: The final day started with a steep ascent of 714 metres with amazing vista enjoyed by the team. This was followed by a long 8km descent of 1500 metres which down to Vizzavona. Before reaching Vizzavona, the cadets stopped at Cascade des Anglaise for another swim in the River Agnoe’s waterfalls. Ater completing the GR20 North Section, the team enjoyed a last meal together in Vizzavona before embarking on a 4 hour train journey through the scenic mountains, back into Calvi. For the final night, some of the team enjoyed accommodation in a static caravan, enjoying a good night’s sleep.
The journey home began with a quick swim in the sea and a look around the town of Calvi, before the team flew home to Birmingham.
Everyone on this expedition would like to thank the Ulysses trust for their donation, which enabled the expedition to take place. This provided an opportunity for the officer cadets to take part in adventurous training. The exercise enabled participants to enhance their teamwork skills while testing and building resilience and physical strength. Lifelong memories and friendships have been made.
