May 31, 2022 — Stages 8 & 9 combined — Pietra Piana to Onda to Vizzavona — 13mi / 3,600'

We did a "double" today from Pietra Piana up along the ridge and down to Onda for lunch, and then up and over another pass and down to Vizzavona. Another outstanding day in the mountains and we have been very very lucky with the weather which has been ideal — mostly sunny, some afternoon clouds, very little rain, not too hot, with a nice west wind today. We came across some incredible granite swimming holes this afternoon with a massive plunge pool to dive into, in the gorge above Vizzvona. It was getting late and so I ran the last 5km hoping to get to ‘town’ before 7pm, and I did, but only just barely in time to find a place to stay and eat before everything shut down for the evening. Part of the challenge of doing long days on the trail here is finding food at the end as most refuges serve dinner at 6 or 6:30, shops close at 7, and hotels, where they exist, serve from 7 to 8pm. That aside, we did get dinner and a bed, although the owner of the hotel in Vizzavona was very anxious and basically unfriendly.

The village of Vizzavona is situated on the trail line that runs from Corte to Ajaccio, and is considered the halfway point of the GR20, because the train offers an easy entry/exit. There is a refuge / campground, but we chose to sleep in a gîte and eat at the hotel restaurant. 

Strava GPS: https://www.strava.com/activities/7233418219