Comments on: The Challenge Draw

By: Des

Des — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:33:37 +0000

I did a nice walk from Martigny to Zermatt some years ago and that was good fun.

By: andy

andy — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:06:51 +0000

That is an issue with the HRP as well. Effectively the higher you go the more compact the season, though on the HRP it is usually safe to follow in some folk’s footpaths when they have been well travelled already (if you get what I mean).

By: Des

Des — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:02:52 +0000

You’re probably right and the GR20 didn’t look too welcoming as a long distance backpack. There was a lot of snow on some of the higher north facing ridges the first time I went there.

By: andy

andy — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:08:14 +0000

Not in May though Des !!!

Actually, I’m not really that attracted to the GR20.

It has the reputation of being Europe’s toughest waymarked trail â€” and the clue is here.

The HRP in the Pyrenees is far superior as far as I can see (and those who’ve done both tend to say that). THe HRP isn’t an official waymarked trail though!

THe HRP is bigger, wilder and quieter. You have endless wildcamp possibilities (which you don’t on the GR20) and is quite a way from any over commercial exploitation.

These things are clinchers for me!

By: Des

Des — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:57:08 +0000

That GR20 across Corsica looked pretty interesting when I walked bits of it many years ago. I was on honeymoon at the time and Catherine wasn’t too keen on treacherous ridge walks!

By: andy

andy — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:28:46 +0000

DOn’t mind the hard bit, mind you I’m sure it’s not as bad as some other French trails.

By: Des

Des — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:50:25 +0000

The Stevenson Trail has always been on my list of ‘future possibles’. Somewhere I have a copy of TGO magazine that ran a feature on the inaugural walk by a few members of the UK outdoor Press, which included Cameron M, Robin Adshead, Peter Lumley plus a couple others. It looked hard enough.

By: andy

andy — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:02:05 +0000

Chris â€” you may have to put up with me yet!

By: andy

andy — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:01:38 +0000

Thanks Gustav â€” I’ve been meaning to go to Sweden (for hiking) for years!

By: Gustav BostrÃ¶m

Gustav BostrÃ¶m — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:44:59 +0000

Indeed there are many interesting places to walk. Maybe you should consider Sweden if you are looking for a true wilderness experience away from people? I can suggest a lot of places with great views where you won’t see a soul for two weeks, Sarek, JÃ¤mtland, VindelfjÃ¤llen etc. You don’t really have to go that far north to find that. You just have to walk a bit a away from the trails.

I’ve just posted a route for a quick tour into the heart of Sarek on my blog.