How crowded is 'crowded'?
Could someone please tell me how busy the GR20 is likely to be at the very end of Aug/early Sept? In a Cicerone guide it says as many as 300 people can decend on a hut each night in the busy season, which would really spoil the experience for me! Would there be queues for the toilet and tap, and bottle-necks on some of the paths at this time?
Advise desperately needed! Would I be better off waiting till early summer next year?
Dinny
Posted: Mon, Jul 19, 2010, 12:57
Hi Dinny, what are your plans?
Things start to quieten down at the end of August as the French holidays finish.
Do you plan to camp or stay in refuges?
Do you plan to cater for yourself or rely on eating in the refuges?
All these things will have a bearing on your enjoyment of the trip.
Simon
Posted: Mon, Jul 19, 2010, 15:29
Hi Simon,
(This is my 3rd attempt to post a reply - I'm not computer literate!)
I'm planning to camp and cater for myself. I hope you can help predict how busy it might be...an alternative plan is to do a coast to coast walk, but its the GR20 that I'd really like to do.
Awaiting advise...
Dinny
Posted: Tue, Jul 20, 2010, 7:05
Hi Dinny,
As you intend to camp you should not have any problems and will be able to pretty much please yourself with regard to timing and pace.
Are you travelling north to south?
Where are you from and what made you decide on the GR20?
I am off to do a chunk of the GR10 in early September, starting at the western end and walking towards the Med.
Let me know what you decide,
Simon.
Posted: Tue, Jul 20, 2010, 22:38
Hey Simon,
I'm starting in the North...that's the plan anyway. Travel from the UK during the quite restricted time I have is proving difficult!
I haven't done such a long walk before - my best experience was a 3 day hike in the White Mountains of Crete when there wasn't another hiker to be seen. I realise this won't be the case in Corsica, but I'd like to have an idea how many people will be around the huts. I read somewhere that a French film about the GR20 has made it more popular than ever...not that I'm so unsociable, but some tranquility would be nice!
Dinny
Posted: Wed, Jul 21, 2010, 20:42
Hi Dinny,
How long do you plan to take for the walk?
Air travel over France is a real pain at the moment with the air traffic controllers striking as and when they feel like it. Lots of flights cancelled this week.
Are you flying into Calvi?
The trail should start to quieten down a little at the end of August so you should be able to enjoy a little solitude, I agree with you, it is what it's all about.
Let me know how you get on with travel arrangements, we live in SW france so may be able to assist.
Bon Chance
Simon
Posted: Thu, Jul 22, 2010, 21:24
Hi,
I went in September and it was OK; pleasantly buzzing with people at the refuges, but quiet on the trail. We had plenty of time, so stayed on for the day at some of the camps, deliberately getting out of synch. with the general traffic flow. When the crowds have departed and you have the place to yourself, it is truly awesome! Silence descends, wildlife returns ....
The only thing I would say about late season is the lack of food for sale in the refuges; we pretty much starved on some sections.
Mike
Posted: Fri, Jul 23, 2010, 11:38
Thanks for the advice - its been very helpful.
Can I ask one more thing (although maybe I should put this as a new forum question?)...because of euro rail costs/timetables not working well with ferries, we have decided to drive to Nice. The thing is, is there secure long-stay car-parking near Nice ferry port? Does anyone know? And if there is, how much will it cost for two weeks? I can't seem to find out anything about it...
Dinny
Posted: Mon, Aug 16, 2010, 21:36
mdavies007 said:
"The only thing I would say about late season is the lack of food for sale in the refuges; we pretty much starved on some sections."
Are you talking about food to buy to cook yourself or that the refuges were running out of food to serve at meals?
We're also going out in early September... :)
Posted: Thu, Aug 19, 2010, 21:10
I can't imagine 300 people. I came back a few days ago so went at the busiest time. The first two weeks of august.
Maybe 40 people at max one night, 20 in 20 camping. Possibly at a stretch 50. But still walking the trail was pretty quite. People at the camping/refuge is a good thing as you can socialise with like minded people.
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Posted: Sun, Jul 18, 2010, 18:35