We covered the GTE, the great Elba crossing in 4 days: here’s how it went!
STAGE 1
Set off for my tenth journey!! ????
Thanks to the spring temperatures and a few days free from commitments, we looked at each other and said: “Shall we pack a backpack?”
And so it was! Here we are!
We are on our wonderful Island of Elba, the most famous of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park and here today we will start along the GTE, the great Elba crossing.
4 days on foot on the hills that cover a large part of the island and that will cover the whole of Elba from east to west among stupendous sea views and picturesque villages where we will have to get off at the end of the stage to sleep.
And if the kilometers seem few to you (57km) it is because the difference in height will be very demanding: it is a real trek with a total difference in height of more than 3000 meters uphill.
1000 meters only on the first day (the one I’m telling you today in the stories that I’ll highlight!). From Cavo, where we disembarked in Porto Azzurro in 8 hours, between continuous ups and downs, a ruined mausoleum, wonderful views and a peak crossed between the clouds and the impetuous wind!
The first sensations at the first stage were that:
- compared to the paths proper, long hiking like this (i.e. multi-day treks) are much more muscular: tomorrow I’ll have different pains I know ???? it’s not the first long hiking we’ve done after two Alte vie in Valle D’Aosta and the path of the Dolomites Geotrail, but starting again is always tough!
- In this part of the island of Elba I found Azorean atmospheres that surprised me a lot: here the mountains are very rich in vegetation and these impetuous clouds reminded me of those of the ocean
We are ready for this new adventure and I’ll tell you more in stories ????????
Instagram @Ireneccloset
Instagram @Ireneccloset
STAGE 2
Day 2 – Grande Traversata Elbana • GTE – 57km and 3000m altitude difference in 10 photos ????????
(I’ll tell you more in stories!)
I am writing to you in the sun of a wonderful wooden table overlooking the sea and the Mediterranean scrub, a few hundred meters above sea level, in the deepest solitude and silence, in this marvelous peace that one breathes on an island which in summer is literally submerged by tourists and which, outside the central months, becomes deserted and you seem to be the discoverer of a wild island in the middle of the sea.
Today’s stage, compared to yesterday’s leg-breaking (but spectacularly beautiful) first stage, was “all rest”, as my traveling companions said ????
A few climbs and finally a bit of “slow”, if I can say so: today therefore an easy stage before the really tiring one tomorrow, according to what they say ????
Actually, if I may say so, I’m very tired today. ???????????????????? My calves are two half marble and my usual bladder has already peeked out and on the second day I no longer walk free from pain.. ???? But as always I know it will pass.. let’s hope before this is over short walk though eh ????
Uffffff I know blister sufferers like me will understand! See you tomorrow and thanks for following me on my (crazy) adventures ????
Instagram @Ireneccloset
STAGE 3 and 4
Day 3 and 4 – Grande Traversata Elbana GTE – 57km and 3000m of elevation gain ????????
Well, if the first stage was tough, the third, yesterday’s stage, was definitely harder: tough climbs rewarded with wonderful views. How beautiful our Italy ????????????
I tried to immortalize them in the photos you see today and in stories, you can find them all highlighted!
But I must confess that, if on the second day the muscle pains were felt by everyone, yesterday, the third stage and the most difficult, was facilitated by the body which started to be more trained…. And when you start to fuel, on short walks, you already know it’s about to end????????
In fact, we made the fourth and last stage, today’s one, “flying”, thanks to the section with little positive difference in height… and so, with the wonderful landscape that you see in the cover photo, our little journey ended.
This little journey was a gem: it gave us the opportunity to experience our Tuscan island in absolute tranquillity. The perfume that I have breathed in these days, among Mediterranean flowers and plants will remain forever in my heart ????
I can’t wait to show you the summary Reel of the whole journey ???????? I’ll work on it in the next few days and show it to you, so that you find all the useful information to be able to replicate it, if it intrigued you
Instagram @Ireneccloset
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