We did not have problems with the pegs, it just took some hard banging with a rock. But it could be because my hubby is an engineer too
Won't the tent without pegs fly away while you're not in it? If you plan to wait until bed time before you pitch it, forget it! There is a tough competition for the best spots, waiting will leave you with the spot no one else wanted!
Lesson 1. Take a geodasic because wind is awful Lesson 2. Find a big pitch area (hard on the GR20) Lesson 3. Ear plugs needs to taped into the ear
Only 3/17 places we pitched had sleep disturbing problems. I would not take the SL3 on the GR20 again, need to buy a large geodesic, MSR Hubba Hubba looked really good.
All my tents have had mesh panels somewhere inside, but when you get a windy night on a sandy pitch on the GR20, it gets pretty horrible inside. Everything else, you can zip out, but not sand and dust. Sandwiches made with real sand are truly nasty!
So I have just bought an MSR Hubba Hubba, which I will probably take to Greenland to do the Artic trail (in SUMMER!). I don't know what I am going to do with my SL3 (may be some Southcoast walks) or my Vaude Hogan (may be some light light walks).
We did this in august several years ago now. We took a lightweight tent and regretted it - I think we used it once and then only because the refuge was overflowing. If I was to do the route again I would take a bivvibag. However, personally I consider the GR20 to be overrated and far too popular - like walking up Snowden on a fine summers day.
If you really want to experience Corsica and get proper feel for the island my recommendation is to walk one (or more) of the Mare e Mare routes from west to east. There are 3 routes in total, one in the north, one central and a southern one.
We did the northern one, then bus and trained it to the south of the island and did the southern one, ending up in porto Vechio from where we caught the boat back to France. The walking was wonderful and at the end of our 3 weeks we felt that we had really experienced the true atmosphere of the island.
I dont want to be a killjoy but at the end of the GR20 we felt that we had seen nothing except hard walking, which could have been anywhere, and been bombarded with Italian and French tourists.
There's nothing wrong with the GR20 as a tough mountain trek. In fact, it's one of the best, given that it's just about possible for an average walker to get into situations normally the preserve of rock-climbers.
On the other hand, for those expecting to immerse themselves in Corsican culture, the GR20 just doesn't do it. I've always said that people should be prepared to leave the route from time to time and visit nearby villages... some of which are only 3 hours off-route.
Doesn't he object? 
