Category: hiking

The Stevenson Trail, or GR70, is arguably the most popular hiking route in France. There’s probably a simple reason for this: everyone has their own good reason to hike it. It’s neither too tough nor too steep, fascinating for its history, its landscapes, and obviously carried by the founding account Robert Louis Stevenson wrote in 1879, accompanied by a little donkey. As for me, it’s the prospect of a long solo traverse of these rugged mountains and forests that excites me. The perfect opportunity for an introspective journey, in Stevenson’s footsteps.

For the second time, I’m tackling the making of a hiking backpack. This is a project that seems, to many, difficult, even insurmountable. In reality, with a minimum of patience and equipment, it’s a fairly manageable project. Now, would I recommend it to a beginner sewer? No! But if you have some basic knowledge, as I do, why not embark on this little adventure?

Why sew your own backpack

With my friend William, we wanted to live a memorable adventure for our thirtieth birthday. After brief deliberation, we chose the legendary GR-R2, also known by the not-so-famous race that follows it: the Diagonale des Fous. Landing planned for July 6th in Réunion, west of the Mascarenes…

A 10-day trek takes us across the Corsican slopes, in conquest of the mythical GR20. Will it be the sun, the diabolical elevation gain, or the overtourism that gets us?