GR 20 Trip Report 2016

fantastic!

Cameron,

Great trip report, looks like the GR 20 is challenging but doable for many people, including experienced lightweight or UL backpackers from the US.

Which seems in contrast to many other GR 20 descriptions that make it seem just short of death-defying.

Why do you think that is?

— Rex

Hi Rex. Several reasons. I think the vertical rock areas are probably the number one reason it has this reputation; most people have never done any real rock scrambling, and the rocks look intimidating. My wife is a strong hiker but there are several places where she would be pushed to the edge and over her comfort zone, both from fear of heights and from the need to depend on upper body strength. The Cirque de la Solitude portion is the one cited as the most as scary and indeed it is now permanently closed after loose rocks killed seven people. There are also some very steep trail descents that tease out knee issues for people of all ages. Finally, July and August hikers can get nailed by obscenely hot days.

I am not any speed demon but many of us agreed that we would have preferred doing it in 10-12 days if the refuges were spaced farther apart. Alan Dixon has not posted his trip report yet but he did it in 8 days, which in physical difficulty I would compare to doing the JMT in 10 days. Mitigating elements include clear wayfinding, very firmly settled rocks, and not much of the slippery sand-on-granite conditions so common in the Sierra.