Traversée des Alpes en Trail - Chamonix - Pralognan

The Trip

Chamonix most beautiful Trails

Situated between the Aosta Valley and Piemonte, the Gran Paradiso is the highest alpine peak completely inside the Italian border, within the first Italian National Park. Along with Monte Bianco, Monte Rosa and Cervino/Matterhorn, the Gran Paradiso is one of the four Giants in Aosta Valley: surrounded by the three beautiful peaks of Tresenta, Ciarforon and Becca of Montciair is one of the most sought after destinations in Valsavarenche. The National Park, famous in Europe due to its high number of resident Stambecchi (Ibex) and immense area allowing the study of wildlife, Flora and Fauna alike. The Gran Paradiso National Park, officially established in 1922 and famous in Europe due to its high number of resident Stambecchi (Ibex), extends over 70,000 hectares of high mountain territory. Its history is closely linked to the protection of the ibex, an animal symbol of the Park. In fact, in 1856 King Vittorio Emanuele II declared these mountains a real hunting reserve, saving the ibex from extinction. There are many special inhabitants in the Park and it is quite easy to meet some along the trail: the ibex is very confident and it is not difficult to see it pasturing; there are also chamois, marmots, royal eagles, and lastly the gipeto and lynx, recent acquisitions of the Park thanks to an international project of reintegration into the Alps. Among the many species of flora in the Park is the Linnea Borealis, which took its origin in the Antartic region, and the Aethionema Thomasianum. There is no need to be experienced botanist or wildlife specialists to discover the beauty of these places and its inhabitants: the approaching hike along the mule tracks, ancient hunting routes and communication channels between the side valleys, will lead you to the Chabod hut, at the foot of Gran Paradiso glacier, where your adventure to reach the summit will begin!

The Program

DAY 1 - MONDAY
LES PRAZ - CABANE des MOTTETS - MER de GLACE - SIGNAL FORBES - AIGUILLE du MIDI

Meeting at 8:00 am at La Chaumière hotel (Chamonix) to drop off your belongings.

Departure at 9:00 am.

Running time and breaks: about 4 hours with break and technical feedback + 2 to 3 hours at the Aiguille
Vertical drop and kilometer: + 1200 and - 150 m About 10 km
Night: Hotel de La Chaumière

Gret itinerary at  the heart of the Chamonix Glaciers and the Aiguille du Midi, very varied and quiet spots before arriving in the crowded areas. L’Aiguille du Midi is a magical site, we will arrive at the middle station to catch the cablecarand avoiding the queues in Chamonix.

DAY 2 - TUESDAY:
FLEGERE CABLEWAY - LAC BLANC - COL du LAC CORNU - LE BREVENT

Running time and breaks: 6 to 7 hours of trail running and technical feedback, we will do a little rock climbing in initiation before the cable way to Lac Blanc.
Vertical drop and kilometer: +1500 m and -700 m About 17 km
Night: Hotel de La Chaumière

We run in front of the Mer de Glace, the Aiguille Verte, Les Drus, Les Aiguilles de Chamonix and Mont Blanc, it is a wonderful itinerary however the path is “Made in Chamonix” so at the end of the day you will be rock experts: listen carefully to your guide and keep your energies to avoid any problem. Some passages are a bit exposed so in this kind of place we walk quietly and we will go back to running afterwards, we will be training, it's not a race and we take the time to enjoy the landscape and the environment. On ridges you have to be well concentrated .
This is perhaps the most beautiful day of the week and the Lakes breaks should please you with some swims: but not everywhere, the temperatures are quite uneven in mountain lakes!

DAY 3 - WEDNESDAY
FLEGERE CABLEWAY - CHESERYS LAKES - COL des MONTETS - COL des POSETTES - LE TOUR

Running time and breaks: 6 to 8 hours of race and technique
Vertical drop and kilometer: +1450 m and - 1850 m Approx: 19 km
Night: Hotel de La Chaumière

Today we will be runnig along the Mont Blanc Marathon route, we have chosen the most beautiful portions and on the opposite direction to change if you have already done it.

We prefer to take it this way in order to run in the shade of the rise of Posettes! The view is as good as ever and we will be starting to extend the distance, now that you will be used to Chamonix trails.

DAY 4 - THURSDAY
LE BUET - COL des CORBEAUX - POINTE de LA TERRASSE - EMOSSON LAKE in the Dinosaurs footsteps - CHALET de LORIAT

Running time and breaks: 7 to 8 hours of racing and technique
Vertical drop and kilometer: +1700 m and -1700 m About 22 km
Night: Hotel de La Chaumière

We run between France and Switzerland between Mountain Giants and Dinosaurs Traces, a day full of surprises and beauty, we will not tell more about it! It's a surprise ;)

DAY 5 - FRIDAY
LES GAILLANDS - BEL LACHAT REFUGE - AIGUILLETTES des HOUCHES - MERLET NATURAL PARK
Or TRAIL UNDER THE BIONASSAY NEEDLE, towards the EAGLE'S NEST you will choose with your Guide

Running time and breaks: 5 to 6 hours, it's the last day, it's cool!
Vertical drop and kilometer: + 1300 m and -1300 m About 10 km but it's steep!

For the last day we let you choose between approaching the normal route to Mont Blanc via the Nepalese bridge and the ladders path before the Eagle's Nest or the Aiguillette des Houches and its breathtaking view on Mont Blanc !
Return to Chamonix and end of the stay.

The itineraries could be modified in the event of bad weather or to adapt to the group level.

Budget

The price includes

• assistance of a certified mountain guide from our Team;
• Full board accommodation as described in the program (5 guided days and 4 nights - picnics at lunch);
• Mandatory transports along the program.

The price does not include

• Cancellation / interruption of stay / luggage loss and accident insurance;
• Cable car tickets (optional on free time);
• Drinks and personal expenses;
• Additional nights outside the program;
• All that is not indicated in the section "The price includes".

Your expenses on site

• Drinks;
• Out-of-program visits and transfers;
• Tips.

Equipment

The backpack for the day

Consider a backpack of 15/20 leters for the day and space enough to bring your packed lunch and energy bars.

• a warm fleece or thin down to withstand negative temperatures;
• a warm tight;
• light gloves and a buff/neckwarmer;
• a goretex jacket or similar, windproof and waterproof;
• a running belt for water bottle – 1,5 litres min. to refill during the day;

• a sun hat;
• suncream protection fact. min 30;
• sunglasses, protection factor 3;
• telescopic running poles, light (aluminium) and foldable, less expensive and more resistant;

• a small pharmacy with your personal medicines, in case you have a treatment to follow;
• a survival blanket

• your phone ans documents
• money for the bier at the end of the day or for little shopping.

Head-to-toe material for the week:

• 1 cap or hat for the sun
• 1 Hat for the cold
• 1 headband or neck-warmer, very pleasant in bad weather as well
• 1 Jacket Type Gore Tex or similar windproof and waterproof
• 1 pair of gloves, waterproof if possible
• 1 warm fleece or thin down to withstand negative temperatures
• 4 sweaters: a light one and a warmer one x 2
• Technical T-shirts
• underwears and running socks
• a warm running tight and a light one to adapt to weather conditions and to the daily altitude (at 3000 meters there can be 10 to 20 degree less that at 0 altitude, whithout considering wind...) 
• 2 or 3 running shorts
• a waterproof hood for your backpack
• trail running shoes with (if you have to buy new shoes or if you need to change them, we advise you the Altra shoes: you need shoes with good crampons, a good quality shock absorber sole but with a very light drop (max 5 to 0).

Indispensable  :

• Sunscreen factor 30 to 50
• a pair of sunglasses category 3
• one front lamp
• cash money for huts and your documents

All necessary for your own Toiletries.

Pharmacy & others:

• Your Usual or Personal Treatments
• A Light Survival Blanket
• A nail clipper
• What to make small dressings
• Some compresses and tape (Strappal)

Your guide will have a more complete pharmacy in the event of a bigger accident.

For relaxing time: A small book or Card game…

Necessary for meals, in order to avoid to make garbage – we try to go towards a “green stay”:

• 1 TuperWare large enough to contain a nice salad for lunch or other
• 1 light knife: Opinel type
• 1 Fork and 1 Spoon
• a nice specialty to share with the rest of the Team, liquid or solid
   

Useful Information

Insurance

Cancellation and repatriation insurance is advised as well as other insurance guaranteeing search and mountain rescue (10,000 Euros guarantee approximately).

Access

How to reach Chamonix Mont Blanc

• By train to Chamonix Station, TGV possible to Annecy; the hotel is accessible with free shuttles;
• By car, by highway to Chamonix, by Annecy or Geneva.

Meeting on the first day and your hotel

The meeting on the first day will be directly at the hotel in order to allow you to drop off your stuff and leave directly from there with the rest of the group. The detailed information on the hotel and the meeting will be given to you at the time of booking.