Stage 3: To Haut Asco
- Ascent: 800 meter
- Descent: 650 meter
- Time: 5hr 30min
Even though there is plenty of up and down involved and the descent to Haut Asco is the worst of the hike you’ll finish with hours to spare compared to previous days. This is good, because it allows for more time to eat and do some campchores at Haut Asco.
You start the day with crossing a hang bridge across the spectacular Ruisseau de Spasimata. Next you enter a section that is called ‘the Spasimata Slabs’, a series of slabby plateaus above the deep gorge carved out by the Ruisseau de Spasimata. In good weather, expect no problems. Your shoes will have plenty of traction on the rock and any heady passages are protected with fixed chains. In bad weather (rain or ice) however, this is a very dangerous place to be. A fall down the slabs will most likely be fatal.
After the slabs there is still plenty of ascent before you reach Lac de la Muvrella. If you have time to spare you might want to swim here. After Lac de la Muvrella a 20min push sees you up an unnamed coll underneath a Muvrella. You now traverse across the other side, minimal scrambling is involved. Upon reaching Bocca i Stagni you have an epic view down to Haut Asco and forward to Monte Cinto. This is were you’ll hike the next stage! After taking all of this in, there still is some 1hr 30min to 2hr of gruelling downhill hiking to do untill you reach Haut Asco.
Haut Asco is a ski resort beautifully located in the highest mountain ranges of the Corsica. For those willing to pay, there is a hotel with restaurant. There is also a large concrete hut with warmish showers, proper toilets and a shop for resupplies. As it is usually sunny in Haut Asco, this is a perfect place to do the laundry.