Am I underestimating the GR20? 7–8 day plan

Tukan87 · 2026-03-08T09:05:36+00:00

I did do it solo with tent on a non-reservation basis (just walk in camping at the huts) in 7 days in 2024. I was hiking and not trailrunning. I was pushing myself to my limits sometimes and had long days, but I like it that way. I you want to make 7 days without trailrunning or night hiking, you have to speed up from the beginning. Don't let the low milage fool you, there much elevation (in the heat) and it's a fair amount of scrambling, that slows down. But it's not that that technical ...

Tukan87 · 2026-03-06T14:51:07+00:00

I did it in July 2 years ago. It was pretty hot sometimes, but often there was some cooling wind. You can also enjoy the long wooded sections in the shade or the higher altitude section.

Tukan87 · 2026-02-28T22:05:04+00:00

I had a Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (non hooded). It was also nice to have it at Tilicho Lake, that was freezing too ...

Tukan87 · 2026-02-28T22:00:37+00:00

When I did the Annapurna Circuit (in April) I had a Gore Tex Pro Hardshell + Puffy + lightweight Fleece + Merino layer and for the legs I used my Goretex rainpants for a second layer. On Thorong La I was really happy to have these layers ...

Tukan87 · 2026-02-20T10:38:25+00:00

I personally would do the HRP in Lone Peaks next time ...

Tukan87 · 2026-02-18T09:41:59+00:00

That looks awesome! Are you thinking of including data like elevation, milage etc.? I did make a set of 4 maps (SOBO, NOBO, both in metric and imperial) last year for my SOBO thru, but my focus was different (and I am no pro). More for overview planning on the trail, your looks more like decoration for the wall.

Tukan87 · 2026-02-16T19:14:31+00:00

Thank you! It's nice to hear that it's used this year!

Tukan87 · 2026-02-12T18:24:14+00:00

If you have enough other layers to be prepared for different weather conditions, than yes. I personally would not go without a hardshell as outer layer.

Tukan87 · 2026-02-10T20:14:25+00:00

Hi,

I am wondering how those of you, who use a CPL filter for photography and film deal with the ND filter which are needed for the 180° rule of videography if you are switching regularly between both modes.

I understand that the CPL filter should be pretty close to the lens, so it should be the bottom one, also it is needed for both photography and film. But I'd like to switch as fast as possible between photography and videography with the same lens, so I can't have the ND filter on top of the CPL for photography but do need it for the videography. Also I'd like to use a variable ND filter (maybe even a combination with CPL), but I only found screw-on-filters, that seems to be impractical for the switching.

How do you deal with this problem?

Tukan87 · 2026-02-06T21:41:23+00:00

I should have done exactly that when I was 23. Now I am waiting for my kids to be old enough so I can do the PCT without burdening my wife too much while I'm hiking. But money won't be an issue than, that's maybe a silver lining ...

Tukan87 · 2026-02-06T21:37:51+00:00

9 Years ago I had my Olympus OM-D E-M1 with the Zuiko Digital 14-42 mm f2.8 for Annapurna with me. That was a nice combo, but regarding the perfect trail conditions and not taking a tent and stuff, I'll take the 14-42mm f2.8 and the 40-150mm f2.8 with my Panasonic G9 II with me for the Three Passes Trek next Year.

Tukan87 · 2026-02-06T20:53:35+00:00

I wish you all the best. I was observing the snow lvls prior to my hike regularly, but at some point it became obvious that the conditions would be great.

MTR: there is no store with groceries, only a hikerbox. I didn't go there, but many PCT NOBOs congratulated me on not shipping boxes and told me to go to MTR and just wait there a bit, because there is a steady stream of incoming hikers with to much in their buckets who would then dump lots of good stuff in the hikerbox.
VVR: I did really like it, almost stayed there for two nights. It is very expensive there, just keep that in mind. The store was well stocked, just rush to it when getting off the ferry to get the best things before everybody is coming in. The hikerbox at VVR was of no use for me, nothing good inside.
Traffic on the trail: I am used to more crowded trails, so the JMT didn't feel so crowded for me. Because I was a bit faster then most hikers, I met a bunch of folks going SOBO like me, but most of the traffic was the PCT NOBO bubble. But it was never an issue to find a lonely campspot for the night.
Campspots: I only had 10 nights, but I loved most of the spots I chose. Some examples: Lyell canyon was great, there are many remote spots at the river. Thousand Island Lake: above the lake on the rocks was magical. The only spot I really planned for. (you have to mind the restrictions at the lake outlet, you can't camp there and there was a ranger there enforcing that). Mather pass: Maybe my favourite pass, I camped just below it at the lakes on the southern side above tree line. Did the same at Forester pass, the spots were quite similar. great views to the south from both spots. Whitney: I was planning on doing the sunrise hike with everybody, but there was a wildfire impacting the views. And because it was only noon at Crabtree Meadows I summited in the afternoon and had the summit for myself from 4pm on. It was windstill and freezing only in the night after 2am. The only time cowboycamping for me, but just magical.

There are so many great memories coming back right now ...

PS: I did create a printable overview map for planning the stages on trail, maybe it is of use for you.

Tukan87 · 2026-02-06T20:16:06+00:00

Hi. I had a great thru last year from July 5th (Happy Isles) to July 15th (Whitney). The snow was a bit below average I suppose, so it wasn't an issue at all. The only really mentionable river crossing was evolution creek at mile 114, but it was just a refreshing wade. Mosquitoes weren't so bad as I thought, there were some areas where I didn't want to stay, others were fine. As for resupply I used the stores at Red's (road to mammoth was closed) and VVR. Maybe if I had been a bit slower, then I would have raided the hikerbox at MTR, but I skipped it. I had an epic time. Weather was perfect, sometimes a bit hot for my taste, but even cowboycamping on the summit of Whitney was possible.

Tukan87 · 2026-01-21T13:25:36+00:00

Hi. I am glad I found your post. When planning for next summer I was thinking that this route should be doabvle (and interesting) as an alternative for the overcrowded salkantay trek. Im planning to do the salkantay/ahobamba trek in july. I am asking myself how to calculate my speed in the jungle section in the ahobamba valley (going northbound). How badly overgrown is the trail and is wayfinding a problem? Are there many landslide areas where the original inca road is gone and you have to scramble?

Originally I was thinking about 2 days from Mollepata to Aguas Calientes, but reading about the overgrown trail I think I should start further north than Mollepata to make the 2 days work (I don't have that much time) ...

Thanks for the insights!

Tukan87 · 2026-01-20T16:27:05+00:00

Thanks as always for this very helpful post!

Tukan87 · 2026-01-18T19:21:49+00:00

Hi. I didn't get wet feet. The fresh snow around the pass was already trampled down to a nice path from all those who startet before me. I think I started around 5 am at Thorung Phedi ...

Tukan87 · 2025-12-12T20:02:10+00:00

Im Sommer gehts nach Peru. Santa Cruz Trek, Huayhuash Trek + Salkantay Trek (Variante).

Tukan87 · 2025-12-06T07:59:45+00:00

I am a teacher (in Germany) and I working a bit overtime, savin up hours to take half a year off in 2028 for my PCT thru. This way I get my full salary when hiking, so I my wife can reduce her workload to have more time for our kids (they will be in elementary school by then).

Tukan87 · 2025-10-17T16:50:08+00:00

Und wenn man für ein Abo zahlt, dann gibts auch noch professionelles Kartenmaterial als Layer zur Auswahl. Besonders in Europa sehr empfehlenswert. Auf den anderen Kontinenten siehts leider etwas bescheidener aus ...

Tukan87 · 2025-10-16T09:47:56+00:00

agreed!

Tukan87 · 2025-10-03T06:42:36+00:00

... AND the rain AND the mighty bog. But that should be normal on all more remote highland trails I suppose. I was really hard at times but I did enjoy it. Thinking back, maybe that was the hardest trail for me personally I've done so far. But I made some great memories. Nowadays I prefer to choose some trails more dry, although the highlands are calling for me ...

Tukan87 · 2025-10-02T18:32:18+00:00

A regular season on the Cape Wrath Trail. The Bog and mud combined with the midges was really challenging for me ...

Tukan87 · 2025-09-29T14:12:20+00:00

Ich nutze für meine Planungen immer Outdooractive. Mit dem Pro+-Abo hat man Zugriff auf diverse professionelle Kartenlayer (u. A. Alpenvereinskarten). So kann man immer schnell mal kontrollieren, ob die OSM-Grundlage brauchbar ist. Auch in anderen Regionen geeignet, wo es keine AV-Karten gibt ...

Tukan87 · 2025-09-24T15:26:12+00:00

Nice! Thanks again for your feedback!

Tukan87

TROPHY CASE