Just arrived Gran Paradiso, close to my old hangout of Chamonix, France.

Wonderful, so far.

I grossly underestimated the difficulty of “Europe’s toughest trek“, the 180km long GR 20.

The second night was my low point, both hamstrings cramped. … I thought I’d need to quit, following two other hikers who decided to limp out due to blisters.

But each day I got stronger, the pack lighter. I ended up doing the tougher ‘half’ of the total route over 6 challenging days.

The last day was a long scramble to the summit of Monte d’Oro.

That was FUN. Perfect weather.

Less fun, from there (7837ft / 2389m) … it’s about 1400m straight down to the narrow gauge railway line at Vizzavona, where I made my escape.

That’s my toughest hike ever, by far.

The GR 20 is about 180km long.

The walk for most people takes around 15 days. I’m hoping to finish in 8 or 9 nights.

It’s a busy track this late in June, alpine huts and hot meals available. The first few days, including the “Cirque de la Solitude”, are the most intensely scenic. Unfortunately that’s when my pack will be heaviest. 🙂

Sarkozy willin’ and the ferry don’t sink, I’ll start trekking Sunday afternoon, June 26th.

Today I fly to some other island that starts with “I” …

But the next one is an economic disaster.

My Iceland hiking trip reports are posted on BestHike.com

Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park is the most popular wilderness in Iceland. I’m offline hiking there the next 3 days, 2 nights. … If you can call them nights.

My circumcision of the island is going well. Sheep, WIND, ponies, seabirds, WIND, cliffs, beaches, WIND, WIND, licorice candies, …

But I’ll be posting mostly over on my hiking blog …

Blue sky in the sunshine destination of Iceland today.

I can see the Arctic Circle from where I slept outside under the stars.

I’m supposed to be circumnavigating the island by rent-a-car, but can’t seem to get out of these gorgeous NW fjords

Climbed Bear Mountain today, out of Sedona. Gorgeous.

Tomorrow Vultee Arch via Sterling Pass. And Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness.

Trip reports will be going up on my hiking blog.

Locked and loaded.

I fly out of Halifax (after Gymnastics Nationals) on the red eye June 2nd one way direct to Reykjavik. ($315 on Iceland Air)

There are even cheaper fares out of Boston and Chicago on the discount airline, Iceland Express, but I had no luck contacting them by email or phone.

It’s not my style to book a flight so early … but both the last two summers I found that airfares skyrocket around June 1st. And those flights fill quickly.

I understand weather is a factor.

more interesting Iceland photos

I’ll be in Iceland a couple of weeks. Then likely fly on to Europe.