GR20 May 2012 Trail Condition

I'll be hiking the GR20 beginning 11 May 2012. Please provide a trail condition report if you have been on the trail within the last week. Many Thanks

I doubt if anyone here will have walked the GR20 in the past week or so. Starting on 11th May is taking a big risk. I once started at the end of May and found a lot of snow and ice on the route. I was fine, as I had ice axe and crampons, but at one point I was kicking steps up an unbroken snow slope for 2000ft. I met three English guys who were on their third attempt, and each of their attempts involved starting at the end of May. Their previous two attempts had to be abandoned because of snow and ice so early in the season, but the were lucky on their third attempt. I think you might find you need all the luck you can get, starting so early in May. Remember that the refuges won't be staffed (though the doors will be open), and you'll have to carry all your food for several days at a stretch.

Looks like you might need to go and buy an ice axe!

Hmmm... I dunno... maybe just be resourceful. When I was there in the snow and ice, a group of Italian over-60s did some amazing birch-wood whittling and made themselves rudimentary crampons and spiky walking poles!

Paddy,
What trail would ya choose, or portion there of, within a 1000 or so mile radius during early May for a week? Something in the Pyrenees perhaps, volcanos in Sicily?

I think you'll find it's the same everywhere around the Mediterranean in May... if there's snow and ice on the mountains in Corsica, then there will be snow and ice on any other mountains of similar altitude. The Pyrenees are higher, so you won't win by going there. Best to aim for something 1500m or lower to be on the safe side. The 1000 mile radius doesn't really help, as there's too much good stuff there!

Hi,
Sorry to butt in on this thread but my question is related to Corsica, I'm doing the Mare a Mare at the end of may 2012 and finding any information on this route is really hard, Paddy you seem to know a bit any pointers?

It's all in Gillian Price's book.