Petite sortie rando avec Hubert. Passage obligé et pause café au refuge de Ortu di u Piobbu chez Marie & Jean-Paul. Merci les amis !

We (Hubert and I) have started a bit late from “fer a cheval”. Arrived in “Ciotullu di Mori” hut 1H45 later. Waved a quick hello to Patrick and Nicolas (hut custodians) and went up for “breche des chèvres” step in an attempt to rich the summit. As we have found the safety rope was removed from the crux chimney. After two minutes of weighing of “pros” & “cons” we have finally decided against for the sake of safety and went around to admire the Niolu valley from above. As well as incoming thick, black clouds closing fast on us. No summit for us today. But still another great day in splendid Corsican mountains. Next time I will know better and bring the rope. 30m of 8mm should suffice. On the picture below South wall chimneys and cracks. “Breche des chevres is hidden further to the right”.

I have walked up through vallon de Colga & bocca a Stazzona.
Great view of the lake and “pozzines” (grassy waterholes) with somewhat bizarre light (not long before the storm hit).

Monte Cinto 2706m.
The highest Corsican peak.
Long, long way up from Niolu valley (almost 2000 vertical meters combined).
The route that we have chosen at this time passes through Erco hut at 1667m and directly through Southern slope to the summit.
On the way down though we have walked through “la Pointe des Eboulis” and “lac de Cinto” valley back to Erco hut and further down to the camp site in Niolu valley.
A pair of running shoes and walking sticks were adequate.
Skies partly clouded up, hid away the magnificent view of Paglia Orba.
Happy birds (chocards a bec jaune) feeding session on the summit.
Small number of people present coming from both : Ascu and Niolu valleys.
Another great day in the mountains for which we are thankful

Monte Rotondo 8602 ft / 2622 m.
One of the best lookouts in Corsican Mountains and second highest summit after Monte Cinto.
(well.. that is a little disregard to Capu Ciuntrone and Pointe des Eboulis - some would say).
Excellent weather conditions during ascension from Restonica valley through bergerie de Timozzu, lac d’Oriente and across a few snowfields remaining right under the summit.
Running shoes and walking sticks were my equipment.
Piolet would have been welcome for the sake of safety though.
Did I mention the VIEW yet ??

Sur le GR-20 depuis le 24 Juin 2014.

l’Etat du Cirque de la Solitude le 21 Juin 2014.
Il reste un peu de neige cote Nord du cirque, cela passe avec prudence.
Bonne traversee !

We have cycled over two thousand km from Northernmost to Southernmost points of three islands (Tre Isole Project) : Corsica, Sardegna, Sicilia. Description, more pictures and video coming soon.

Rendez-vous dans le Niolu avec Christian et Fabrice. Ca me fait plaisir de les retrouver. Avec Christian on a vécus (plutôt survécus) l'éboulement dans les Choucas et Fabrice faisait parti des secours. Puis la face Est de Paglia Orba, cela fait des années que je dois y aller. La voie Finch est une grande classique et historique en Corse. Ouverte en début du XX siècle dans les conditions hivernales par légendaire M. Finch. Elle n'est pas dure, mais c'est une très belle voie de montagne. Après un cheminement un brin tortueux à travers le sous-bois, nous prenons le pied sur la roche. Christian, qui connaît le terrain, guide la progression. Deux heures après avoir quitté la voiture - nous sommes engagés. Je tire jusqu'à la vire Finch. Fabrice prend la suite. La météo est parfaite. Un magnifique tour d'horizon au sommet, puis la descente. Par la Cheminée d'hiver et le col de Foggiale. Voilà une superbe journée en montagne !

Un tour à la forêt de Bonifatu. La chasse-photo aux crocus nous mène à Ortu di piobbu. Nous ne savons pas encore, mais dans quelques heures toutes ces belles fleurs seront recouvertes d'une épaisse couche de neige.