Trail Mont Blanc
Chamonix trail running 4 days course

The Trip

Chamonix most beautiful Trails

Chamonix and Mont Blanc: one of the most beautiful places to practice Mountain Trail Running in the Alps, we will set off on the demanding paths around Chamonix and its superb mountains and glaciers.

We will run admiring this exceptional environment: the Mer de Glace, the Aiguilles de Chamonix, the magnificent Lac Blanc, the Aiguillette des Houches and the Emosson valley.

We will run day after day, to make you improve: the Paths made in Chamonix are quite demanding, an experience of the mountain trail is necessary and it is better not to be dizzy and to be well concentrated ...

We will be staying in a hut in the Chamonix valley, at the feet of Mont Blanc: a beautiful base camp to enjoy the atmosphere of this mountaineering capital.
The Mont-Blanc Massif will leave you with some beautiful landscapes drawn in your memories, with a little spice too ...
 

Program

PROGRAMME OF YOUR TRAIL RUNNING COURSE IN CHAMONIX :

DAY 1
AIGUILLETTE DES HOUCHES - COL DE BELLACHAT

Running time and breaks: 7 to 8 hours of running and technical work
Elevation gain and kilometres: +1350 mt and -1350 mt; about 17 km

We'll start our ascent from Chamonix, seeking to reach new heights both in terms of altitude and intensity. The Bossons and Taconnaz glaciers will open up to us, just below the north face of Mont Blanc. We'll be moving from forest to mineral terrain; we'll be adapting our stride to the different types of terrain! Whatever the case, the landscapes around us will retain their splendour throughout this exceptional day.

DAY 2
LES PRAZ - CABANE des MOTTETS - MER de GLACE - SIGNAL FORBES - AIGUILLE du MIDI

Running time and breaks: about 5 to 7 hours trail running with breaks and technical feedback 
Vertical drop and kilometer: + 1200 and - 1200 mt; about 15 km

We'll start at the feet of the valley and climb up to the Mer de Glace, then run under the Aiguilles de Chamonix.

A great route near the Mer de Glace famous glacier, with lots of variety and quiet spots. We'll overlook the Mer de Glace at Signal Forbes below the Aiguilles de Chamonix: the view is magnificent between the Drus, the Grandes Jorasses and Mont Blanc. We'll be taking breaks to make the most of it and keep our concentration. The trails made in Chamonix will help you progress throughout the week, but we'll start gradually on the first day.

DAY 3 
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: +1200 mt and -1550 mt; about 17 km

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 4 
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 trail running and technique
Vertical drop and kilometer: +1700 m and -1700 m; about 22 km

We're running between France and Switzerland between mountain giants and dinosaur tracks! It's a day full of surprises and beauty, and we're not going to say any more! It's a surprise ;)

At the end of the day, everyone is back on their way... we'll see you soon for new adventures!

Itineraries may be modified in the event of bad weather or to suit the level of the group.

Materiel

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

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
   

Level

Technical Level 3/5

DIFFICULT MOUNTAIN WALKING
The hike has dizzying, physical and technical passages, the path is sometimes equipped with cables and ladders to allow progress.
You must master the activity, you are autonomous in the mountain in the easy passages, the guide will help you in the difficult passages.
You will learn about the weather and how to use a mountain rope to help you progress.

Physical Level 4/5

SPORTY & TRAINED PEOPLE
Effort corresponding to approximately 1200 - 1700m of ascent per day.
You like and practice endurance sports at a good level.

Useful infos

USEFUL INFO for your Trip

Insurance

Cancellation and repatriation insurance is mandatory, as is mountain search and rescue insurance (minimum cover of 10,000 Euros).

Esprit Montagne offers the following insurance: https://www.assurance-multi-sports.com.

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.

Arrival

Meet your trail guide at 8am on the first day, in front of Chamonix Mont Blanc train station.

Guidance

Our trail course is supervised by a qualified mountain leader from our team: he will provide you with the technical elements necessary to progress in mountain trails. The Guide may have to modify the programme to ensure the safety of the group according to the weather conditions, the mountain or the physical condition of the participants.

Food 

• Picnic lunch provided from D2 to D4.
• Dinner and breakfast are provided in the refuge.
• Don't forget to bring your picnic lunch for D1 and small snacks and food supplies to suit your tastes before setting off (cereal bars, dried fruit, chocolate, etc.).

Accommodation throughout the stay:

 Nights in the Chamonix valley: beds in dormitories in mountain hut with shared bathroom facilities.

End of the course

Dismissal of the group at the end of the day in Chamonix Mont-Blanc.

Parking

You can park your car for free in Chamonix at the Parking des Planards.

Accommodation is recommended for the night before or after the course:

We recommend La Pointe Isabelle which is a historic hotel located in the heart of Chamonix town centre, the one in which you will be staying for the duration of the trip.

You can also stay at Plan B, a good Chamonix hotel just a stone's throw from the Chamonix bus station if you're arriving by bus.

Budget

We advise you to bring cash for personal expenses and drinks.

Car sharing

When you register online, you can choose whether or not you wish to take part in the car-sharing scheme to get to the starting point of your course. Once you have made your booking, you can log back into your Esprit Montagne account to access a section dedicated to carpooling. Here you will find the contacts of the other participants who are interested in car-sharing, so that you can contact them directly.