How do you wash on the GR20?

Refuges on the GR20 often have showers, which are usually cold except in rare cases. Towels or flannels can be used with a little water for a quick clean-up. Some hikers choose to heat a little water on a gas cooker to wash themselves, although this requires more effort and equipment. For a quick, water-free solution, using wet wipes can be handy. It's important to note that, even with the use of biodegradable soaps, washing in natural waterways such as streams or mountain lakes is not recommended to avoid pollution. Respect for the environment is paramount.

What are the refuges like on the GR20?

Most of the refuges on the GR20 are fairly old and of limited capacity. They are often built of granite stone. To accommodate the large number of hikers who cannot stay in the dormitories, bivouac areas are set up nearby. It should be noted that the sanitary facilities in some refuges are not always adequate during busy periods on the GR20.

Can I bring my own tent?

Yes, it is quite possible to sleep in your own tent on the GR20. This means carrying it with you throughout the trek, which can significantly increase the weight of your rucksack. The weight of your tent is therefore an important factor to consider. You should also make sure that your tent is adapted to the variable and sometimes difficult weather conditions of the Corsican mountains. It's important to note that wild camping is prohibited outside the areas designated by the Corsican Regional Nature Park.

What does the word GR20 mean?

The acronym GR20 stands for "Grande Randonnée numéro 20". So the GR20 is the twentieth long-distance hiking trail. Prior to 1970, Corsica was effectively department number 20 in France, which coincides with the number assigned to this trail in the list of 370 long-distance hiking trails.

USS Corsica

08 March 2021

Discover Corsica

Sheltering around 50,000 US soldiers and airmen, Corsica was a stategic base towards the end of the Second World War, and there are still traces if you know where to look. The island was likened to an unsinkable aircraft carrier which, by its strategic position, played an important role for the allies.

"USS" is the code used for US Aircraft carriers, but "USS Corsica" was not a single airport or airfield, there were 17 in total, including Ajaccio Campu del Oru which already existed pre-war, and others built by the Americans including Calvi Ste Catherine and Bastia Poretta, the current international airports in the North of the island.

The island offered an optimum base used in the Italian campaign and the landings in Provence.

Bombers, fighters and reconnaissance aircraft were positioned on these airfields scattered across the island, particularly along the eastern and north coast. The bomber B-17 was the most famous American bomber of the World War II, also called a “flying fortress” because it was known for its stability, the aircraft was able to take on substantial damage and still fly on.

There is a magnificent example of a B-17 Flying Fortress located in the bay of Calvi, just below the citadelle. The aircraft had been on a mission to bomb the railway at Verona, Italy, but before they reached their goal, the bombers were attacked by German fighters.

The B-17 was badly damaged and had to make an emergency landing on the water off Calvi. The tail broke off and the aircraft sank within a short time. The site is a must for scuba divers as the aircraft is very well-preserved.

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