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    Tour Du Mont Blanc – Mountain Running

    Tour Du Mont Blanc – Mountain Running

    per person

    This 6-day mountain run circumnavigates the highest peak in the European Alps over 100 miles and 30,000 feet of elevation gain.


    This 6-day mountain run circumnavigates the highest peak in the European Alps over 100 miles and 30,000 feet of elevation gain.  Move on single track while taking in the breathtaking views of Mont Blanc and traveling on foot through three countries: France, Italy, and Switzerland.

    This trip is reservable as a custom itinerary at customized pricing.  Please contact the SMG office to inquire.

    For avid trail runners interested in active mountain vacations.

    Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps and is the most historic mountaineering venue on Earth. The massif that incorporates Mont Blanc is like a compact mountain range in itself featuring over 400 distinct summits and 40 glaciers. The mountain is shared by three countries: France, Italy, and Switzerland. In 1767, Horace Bénédict de Saussure and his entourage explored the range with guides, mules, and porters, on an expeditionary circumnavigation of the massif. Ever since, the adventure has captured the imaginations of countless alpine wanderers. The Tour du Mont Blanc has been a classic walking trip for over a century and now takes most hikers around 10-12 days to complete the loop. Mountain trails and refuges have been developed along the route to allow for carrying very little pack weight considering the terrain involved and the length of the trip.

    Thanks to the relatively recent advent and popularity of ultra-endurance sports, a 100 mile ultra-trail running race was developed, known as the Ultra-Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB), that has gained tremendous popularity and follows close to the classic hiking route. This is the approximate route we follow, in the same counter-clockwise direction, so it is a great way to familiarize yourself with the terrain if you aspire to race someday. While the winners complete the race in an unbelievably fast sub-24 hour “suffer-fest,” we plan to enjoy the pleasures of trail running in a much more civilized 6-day style.

    The beauty of this trip is that it is fully supported. This means that not only are you accompanied by expert running guides who are elite mountain athletes, but all of the complicated international logistics are lined out for you. It also means we have a support shuttle that can carry some of your personal items along the way. This allows you to minimize the amount you need to carry, which reduces pack size and increases comfort and efficiency of movement. Along the trail, you have a guide that wil not only show you the way, but will also be there to support you as a coach, a logistical liaison, and a risk manager. Each day there are easier and more difficult options to choose from and most days you will have the flexibility to shorten the journey by hopping on a shuttle, bus, or train, catching up with the rest of the group later.

    For avid trail runners interested in active mountain vacations: This is the best run you will ever do!

    • Included
      Alps running
      fastpacking
      Mont Blanc run
      mountain running
      Ultra Trail Mont Blanc
    • Not Included
      14ers
      3D chute
      3rd pillar
      3rd Pillar Dana
      AIARE
      AIARE 1
      AIARE 2
      Alaska
      Alaska skiing
      alpine
      alpine climbing
      alpine rock climbing
      Alps
      Alps climbing
      Alps skiing
      Alps trilogy
      American Mountain Guides Association
      AMGA
      avalanche awareness
      avalanche course
      backcountry
      backcountry 101
      backcountry ski
      Backcountry Skiing
      backcountry snowboard
      backpacking
      Bear Creek Spire
      Berner Oberland
      Bernese Oberland
      Bishop
      Bishop Skyline
      Blacksmith Peak
      Bloody Mountain
      Breakthrough
      Bridgeport
      California
      California fourteeners
      camping
      Cardinal Pinnacle
      Carson Peak
      Celestial Aretes
      Chamonix
      Chamonix climbing
      Charlotte Dome
      chef
      classic rock climb
      classic Sierra rock
      climb
      climbing
      climbing camp
      climbing skills
      climbing Swiss Alps
      Clyde Minaret
      Convict Creek
      cook
      courses
      courses instruction
      crampon
      Crest tour
      Crystal Crag
      custom
      custom private ski
      Dana Plateau
      destinations
      Devil's Slide
      Dolomites
      Dolomites climbing
      Double Eagle Resort
      Dream Bowl
      East Buttress
      East Face
      Eastern Sierra climbing
      Eastern Sierra skiing
      Eastern Sierra Winter
      Eiger
      Evolution Loop
      exam
      Fishhook Arete
      Four Seasons
      France
      Glass Creek
      Grindelwald
      guide course
      Haute Route
      heli assisted
      heli skiing
      Hemlock Ridge
      High Sierra
      High Sierra skiing
      high tour
      hiking
      Horse Creek
      horses
      Horsetail Falls
      Hut to Hut
      ice 101
      ice axe
      ice climbing
      ice climbing course
      Incredible Hulk
      instruction
      intermediate level
      international
      introductory
      introductory ice climbing course
      Italy
      John Muir Trail
      John Muir Wilderness
      June Lake
      June Mountain
      Jungfrau
      Kautz Glacier
      kids
      kids climbing programs
      Las Vegas
      lee vining
      Lee Vining area
      lee vining canyon
      level 1
      level 1 refresher
      level 2
      light and fast
      lightweight
      Lone Pine
      Lone Pine Peak
      Lovers Leap
      Mammoth Lakes
      Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite
      Mammoth Mountain
      Mammoth to June
      Mammoth to Yosemite
      Matterhorn
      Matterhorn Peak
      McGee Creek
      Merriam Peak
      mixed climbing
      Monch
      Mont Blanc
      Mount Conness
      Mount Dana
      Mount Emerson
      Mount Gabb
      Mount Humphreys
      Mount Mills
      Mount Rainier
      mountaineering
      Mountaineers Route
      Mt Conness
      Mt. Dana
      Mt. Emerson
      Mt. Humphreys
      Mt. Russell
      Mt. Sill
      Mt. Tom
      Mt. Whitney
      Mt. Winchell
      mules
      multiday
      negatives
      Nevada
      North Palisade
      North Peak
      north ridge
      onion valley to mt. whitney
      Ortler
      Owens River Gorge
      pack outfit
      pack support
      packers
      palisades
      Palisades Glacier Camp
      peak descents
      Peter Croft
      Pine Creek
      Polemonium Peak
      porters
      Positive Vibrations
      private
      private custom
      professional development
      Red and White Mountain
      Red Dihedral
      red rock
      Red Slate Mountain
      rescue skills
      Ritter Range
      rock
      rock 201
      rock climbing
      Rock Creek
      Rock Creek to Mammoth
      Sabre Ridge
      San Joaquin Ridge
      Sawtooths
      self arrest
      self belay
      self rescue
      Sequoia National Park
      sherpas
      Sierra
      Sierra 5.10
      sierra alpine
      Sierra Mountain Guides
      Sierra Nevada
      Sierra skiing
      single pitch instructor
      ski
      ski guiding
      ski mountaineering
      ski tour
      ski touring
      skiing
      snow
      snow skills
      snowboard
      SPI
      splitboard
      sport
      sport climbing
      Starlight Peak
      supported
      Switzerland
      Tahoe
      Temple Crag
      third pillar
      Thompson Pass
      Thunderbolt Peak
      Tioga
      trad climbing
      trail running
      traverse
      Tuolumne
      Twin Lakes
      ultralight
      Valdez
      Via Ferrata
      white line
      wilderness trip
      winter
      Yosemite
      yosemite national park
      Yosemite ski
      Yost Meadow
      Zermatt
      Zermatt Valley
    TRIP ITINERARY: Tour du Mont Blanc - Mountain Running
    DAY 0 Arrive in Chamonix.  Stay in the scenic Hotel L’Arve in downtown Chamonix.  Meet in the hotel lobby at 5pm to go over the upcoming trip.  Included: Hotel.  Not Included: Dinner
    DAY 1 Les Contamines: Total Distance: 28km (17 miles).  Ascent: 300m (1000 ft.) - Descent: 1000m (3280 ft.). From Chamonix, run along the L’Arve river down the Chamonix Valley to the quaint hamlet of Les Houches.  The route climbs up to the Col de Voza. We take a lift from Les Houches to Bellevue and run to Col de Voza.  Purists can opt out of the lift for the 600m ascent. From the col, the trail descends to city of Saint Gervais. At this point, the route turns south up the valley to Les Contamines.  An optional train is available.  In Les Contamines we will stay at the La Chemenaz hotel.  Included: Hotel, Breakfast, Dinner.  Not Included: Lunch, Trail Snacks, Drinks, Train (Optional)
    DAY 2 Elizabetta Hut: Total Distance: 27km (16.5 miles).  Ascent: 2100m (6900 ft.) – Descent: 900m (2950 ft.). Run to the end of the road to Notre Dame de la Gorge or take the optional shuttle to shave of 4km of today’s run.  Pick up the trail in Notre Dame de la Gorge and ascend 8km with 1100m elevation gain to Col du Bonhomme, up another 150m towards Croix du Bonhomme, up another 200m to Col des Fours - - whew!  A 900m descent takes us to La Villes des Glaciers.  Pass the Refuge des Mottets and up a 650m climb to the Col de la Seigne where we cross into Italy.  We run down the spectacular Val Veni to the Elizabetta Hut a beautiful mountain refuge at the foot of stunning alpine glaciers. Included: Hut, Breakfast, Dinner, Shuttle.  Not Included: Lunch, Trail Snacks, Drinks.
    DAY 3 Courmayeur: Total Distance: 14.5km. (9 miles) Ascent: 470m (1540 ft.) – Descent: 1400m (4600 ft.). Run down the gentle glaciated valley before the steep climb up the Arête du Mont-Favre.  Here we embark on an incredibly scenic high traverse with views of Mont Blanc and the famous Peuterey Ridge.  We traverse to the Col Checrouit and down a long descent to Courmayeur.  Use this short day to relax in the alpine town of Courmayeur with a great spa nearby.  We meet up with the support vehicle carrying our fresh clothes and relax in the Hotel Bouton d’Or. Today is includes time to explore Courmayeur and dine in one of the many fine Italian restaurants.  Included: Hotel, Breakfast. Not Included: Lunch, Dinner, Trail Snacks, Drinks.
    DAY 4 Rifugio Elena: Total Distance: 20km (12.5 miles) Ascent: 1800m (5900 ft.) – Descent: 950m (3110 ft.). Run 4km from Courmayeur up a steep trail 770m to the Refuge Bertone, where we can enjoy a cappuccino.  Continue to the Tete de la Tronche, a 600m climb.  The is one of the most striking places on the entire route with views of Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses.   Descend 600m into the Italian Val Ferret.  Climb up a short distance 100 m to the Bonatti Hut, name after the famous Italian climber Water Bonatti. Traverse along a hillside and descend 300m into the town of  Arnuva.  Ascend 300m up to Rifugio Elena.  Included: Hut, Breakfast, Dinner.  Not Included: Lunch, Trail Snacks, Drinks.
    DAY 5 Champex:  Total Distance: 26.5km (16.5 miles) Ascent: 500m (1640 ft.) – Descent 1650m (5400 ft.) Run 2.5km to the Grand Col Ferret a steep 500m ascent.  A 1050m descent, the biggest of the trip takes us into Swizterland down the Swiss Val Ferret to La Fouly, a distance of 9km.  At this point, there is a knee saving optional shuttle.  Continue down the valley 600m to Praz de Fort,  for 10km.  Continue the final ascent to Champex 470m.  Champex is a charming mountain village and we will spend the night in the Hotel Du Glacier. Included: Hotel, Breakfast, Dinner.  Not Included: Lunch, Trail Snacks, Drinks
    DAY 6 Chamonix:  Total Distance 43km (26.5 miles).  Ascent: 2400m (7870 ft.) - Descent 2827 (9270 ft). This day is designed as a part run, part shuttle, however, the total ascent and descent are calculated for the ambitious runners who want travel the entire distance on foot.  From Champex, begin gentle descent to a steep technical 750m trail climb to the Bovine before making a 750m descent to the town of Trient via the Col de la Forclaz.  Climb back up a huge ascent 750m to Catogne before descending to Les Esserts the border of France and Switzerland.   Continue a 400m descent to Vallorcine.  Here you can shorten the day by taking  the train or go over the Col des Montet into the Chamonix Valley.  Climb steeply along the Aiguilles Rouges, with spectacular views of Mont Blanc.  At La Flegere, you have the option of skipping the final 800m descent to the valley bottom or run the steep trail to the finish in Chamonix. In Chamonix we will stay in the Hotel L’Arve. Included: Hotel, Breakfast, Shuttle.  Not Included: Lunch, Trail Snacks, Dinner, Drinks.