Trail Mont Blanc, Chamonix trail course

PROGRAMME OF YOUR TRAIL RUNNING COURSE IN CHAMONIX :

ARRIVAL - SUNDAY :

Check-in at La Pointe Isabelle possible from 2:00 pm.
Meeting with your trekking guide at 5:30 pm for the week briefing and backpack check.
You will still have time to go for last minute shopping before dinner, in case you forgot something.

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

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 *** in Chamonix La Pointe Isabelle

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 *** in Chamonix

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 *** in Chamonix La Pointe Isabelle

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 *** in Chamonix La Pointe Isabelle

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 ;)

End of your trail running course at the end of the day, we will see you next time for a new adventure!

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

BUDGET for 4 days & 4 nights

The price includes

• Guiding of a certified Trekking Guide of our Team;
• First night in B&B - you can have dinner wherever you prefer;
• Full board accommodation for the rest of the nights, as described in the program - picnics at lunch;
• Mandatory transports along the program.

The price does not include

• Dinner for the first night at your arrival;
• 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".

5TH NIGHT at the end of the course on option, do not hesitate to ask for infromations.

Your expenses on site

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

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
• 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

Special Covid 19:

• hydroalcollic gel and two washable masks

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 INFO for your Trip

Insurance

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

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.

Night before the trip 

We have chosen to include in the price the night before the beginning of the trip, in order to allow you to better organize your transports and to avoid to rush, as well as making your trip easier without having to worry about additional nights upon arrival.

5th night after the end of the course on option, do not hesitate to ask for further information.

Arrival

Check-in possible from 2:00 pm.

Meeting at the hotel La Pointe Isabelle with your Trekking Guide at 5:30 pm for the week briefing and backpack check.

Accommodation throughout the stay: