GR20 - Day 3 of 14 - "Slabs, Chains and Wires" - Check out Europe's toughest hike. Carozzu to Asco скачать в хорошем качестве

GR20 - Day 3 of 14 - "Slabs, Chains and Wires" - Check out Europe's toughest hike. Carozzu to Asco

The GR20 is Europe's toughest trek and day 3 is full of "Slabs, Chains and Wires" Wednesday 26th June Refuge de Carozzu 1270m to Hotel Le Chalet Asco 1442m Stage 3 Slabs/Chains and wires The campsite was a hive of activity when we woke at 5am. The food here was well organised with breakfast being left out with walkers' names on. Leaving at 6.15am we crossed a small Himalayan type bridge, with a sign saying only 2 people at a time to cross. Today cautious walkers were crossing singly. An exciting part of the walk then commences, the Spasimata slabs with many chains to hold onto. This was a tricky section, and gave us a taste of what was to come later. In parts of it, if you missed your step, it was a long drop into the valley! Part of the chain had come away from the rock, which does not inspire confidence. Great care needs to be taken, I would not like to even attempt this route (or most parts) in wet weather, and there does not seem to be an alternative. We fortunately were in the shade for the first 2 hours of this walk, eventually reaching Lac de la Muvrella 1860m at 9.15am. We ate part of our picnic lunch of tasty couscous, apple, bread and juice halfway up the next steep slope, again with fantastic views back to Calvi. Up to the top of the second col 2003m at 11.30am, with a lovely view down the valley to our destination Haut Asco-hard to imagine this is a ski station in the winter months. Even though it did not look far, it took us nearly 3 hours to reach it. The terrain again consists of very rocky ground, steep scree slopes, with rocks and boulders to be climbed over. We were also trying to keep out of the very hot sun, Europe being hit with a heat wave at this time. Eventually we arrived at Hotel Le Chalet, 1422m which I would really recommend. Arriving in the early afternoon gave us the chance to relax and complete our laundry - which cost €8 for a wash and dry. The hotel also has dormitory rooms in the basement. It offers a delicious 4 course meal for € 20, starting from 6.30pm. We arrived at this time, but realised we should have booked the time in advance as it was very busy with residents and non-residents. Dinner consisted of vegetable soup, chicken, potatoes and vegetables, cheese, and chocolate mousse. We wished we could have such great food every night. In the bar there is an excellent shop selling food, fruit, wine, walking sticks, souvenirs etc. We booked breakfast for when the restaurant opens at 5.30 am and ordered a picnic lunch. The hotel is on a road with 2 buses a day or a taxi service, some walkers decide to leave here, or spend an extra night in the hotel. http://www.hotel-lechalet-asco.com/ho... By this point we had realised that we had brought too much kit, making the rucksacks bigger and heavier than we wanted. At home we had not quite realised how hot it would be, necessitating carrying 3 litres of water each. Also the packed lunch supplied by the refuges, was sometimes fairly cumbersome. We had been told to bring a plastic lunch box of 0.8 litres, but when filled with lentils, pasta or chick peas, this does add more weight, with bread sometimes as well, also using space. The weather was a lot warmer than it usually is in June, we had brought warm hat/gloves crampons etc, as there is sometimes snow on the path in June. Talking to many walkers who were walking the path in the opposite direction we found there was no snow. We analysed all our kit, and ruthlessly gave some of it in at the hotel, hopefully they can give it to walkers in the future. I got rid of an old coat, winter hats, gloves, ponchos (as maybe impractical on the trip anyway), even the small French phrase book. We kept an umbrella, (always useful in sun or rain) waterproof coats, and one winter hat - just in case. By 6am every morning we were dressed in shorts and T-shirts, only wearing a fleece occasionally at dinner time. We did not need the 4 season sleeping bags we had brought for the trip, but as these were rather expensive, we kept them! A silk sleeping bag and lightweight summer sleeping bag would have been fine. But another time it may have been cold and raining/snowing. Distance 6km Total Ascent 860m Total descent 710m Suggested walking time without breaks - 5hrs 30 mins Our actual walking time with breaks/eating - 8 hrs 8 mins