Introduction

GUIDO BIANCIARDI

Teacher of Physical Education, Nature Guide, FASI Instructor, Subject expert of “Preservation of Nature” and “Techniques of environmental monitoring” at the University of Siena. When in clear winter days you climb up to the Monte Capanne of the Elba island or you walk along the ridges of the Uccellina Mountains, you can scarcely believe to what you see to the West. And those who are less familiar with hiking and mountains, can barely work it out. A neat expanse of snowy peaks stretches in the distance, a vision which has little in common with the warm sea dividing us from those mountains, an alpine-like surge confusing the observer.

Then, wonder replaces surprise, scepticism gives way to amazement and Corsica conquers us, forever. A true, severe alpine mountain range in the middle of the Mediterranean sea, the mountain tops of which can be reached from wonderful beaches and jagged cliffs crowded with sea tourists, up along rivers and streams frequented by unstoppable canyoners, and scary rock faces visited by climbers. A paradise for hikers, who perhaps experience a quieter and more reassuring dimension than that of lovers of the extreme, but surely the most complete one, as they can grasp all the contrasts of this rough paradise.

The GR20 tells us about the Île de beauté as no other experience can. Besides encounters, which are probably the most precious gift that we bring back home after many days of walk, what strikes us the most is the wilderness of the itinerary and the environment. The devastating consequences of modernity cannot be found here, and it is also difficult to find traces of the heavy Roman work, that has deforested everywhere else in Europe, as well as traces of the underestimated works of the Neolithic period. We are in front of a landscape that has maintained its original natural state, an incredible rarity in our beautiful sea. And even where human intervention can be seen, it has adapted to the morphology of the territory and to previous interventions. Absence of intensive farming, roads following ancient paths, extremely limited coppicing. Even the constant presence of grazing animals reveals a restricted human intervention, since animals are almost in a natural state, shepherd being confident of the mountaineering skills of their goats, the sense of orientation of their cows and the ability to survive of their pigs. Also fires, that have burned vast areas of the island during the 90s, can now be considered as a memory whose wounds are imperceptible almost everywhere. Fortunately, this untamed character can also be found in the management of the Grande Randonnée, along which, for example, mountain huts and bivouacs shelter you without spoiling you. Over the last few years, though, red and white signs have increased excessively. However, they are not so unpopular when they reduce errors that might be a great frustration at the end of strenuous hike.

This is certainly due to the increasing number of randonneurs, travellers coming from all over the world, whose orientation skills and ability to cope with such a demanding trek aren’t sometimes equal to their enthusiasm. With this work we hope to help them and to provide a valuable support and company also to the more experienced explorers.