Trail
running is seeing a huge growth of people
getting into this amazing sport. We
have been offering Alpine trail running
camps for several years in the summer
months, and are now delighted to offer
them in the winter too, for those addicted
to the sport.
Our
winter trail running weekends are based
in Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc,
as there are hundreds of kilometers
of trails to choose from. We offer a
great balance of running, coaching,
and trail running advice, preparation
and top tips.
These
training weekends are open to anyone,
but we suggest that you will get the
most out of them if you are happy running
up to 10km, or even a half marathon.
If you are in any doubt as to if they
will suit, then get in touch to get
advice from one of the coaches.
As
well as enjoying a great weekend of
winter trail running, we aim to teach
you the key safety skills for route
planning and Alpine running, with a
focus on the selection of appropriate
equipment and how to develop your training
plans for trail running.
Don't
worry if you have never run on winter
trails before, as you will pick up the
skills quickly with expert coaching
and guidance. All you need is to be
fit for regular running, to have a sense
of humour, and to love the outdoors.
We will teach you all the skills you
need.
During
this weekend you will have the opportunity
to try snowshoe running, as this is
a great crossover sport that enables
you to get further into the backcountry. Snowshoe loan is included
in the price. You
are guaranteed a great holiday that
you will never forget.
On
these courses you are coached by a leader
who is qualified both as a Personal
Trainer and International Mountain Leader
(snowshoe guide). During the weekend
you will run on prepared trails, and
also on untracked terrain, to experience
the best of winter Alpine trail running.
Dates: these
are listed in the column on the right,
and they show the live availability
from our secure online booking system.
When you book online, you receive immediate
confirmation, your Alpine Information
Booklet, course specific kit list and
invoice.
Key
learning points & features of this trip
Two
full days of winter trail running coaching,
led by top qualified mountain running professionals
Town
centre accommodation in Chamonix for the weekend,
on a B&B basis
Learn
how to plan a trail run in terms of navigation,
timings, and safety
Advanced
gait analysis to improve mountain running
efficiency, and performance
Experience
winter snowshoe running, to access deeper
snow and backcountry areas
Advice
from industry experts on clothing, equipment,
and mountain running safety
FREE
course video, for you to share with friends
and family of your trail running week
Not
only will you enjoy a weekend of winter running
on some of the best snow trails in the Chamonix
region, but you will have gain a huge amount of
tips and advice for performance guidance, efficiency
of gait, mountain and safety skills, so you leave
feeling more inspired and better informed about
trail running than ever before.
Bespoke
winter running guiding
If
you aren't sure about doing a full weekend, or are
on holiday in the region and would like a taster
day, then get in touch to arrange a day of winter
trail running. This is a great option if you are
out in the Alps on a week long trip or multi-activity
holiday, and want to try something really different.
A day of bespoke guiding for between 1 to 4 people
costs from £180 for the day, depending on
the objectives and experience.
One of the things that we like the most about winter
trail running, is that it can be done every single
day of the winter, and in all conditions from deep
fresh powder (see photo above), through to hard
packed snow trails. Just let us know what type of
running you are looking for, and we'll make it happen
for you! Our local knowledge and experience are
second to none for winter trail running.
Brief
Course Itinerary Chamonix
is blessed with hundreds of kilometers of trails
over all types of terrain, from forest tracks to
high alpages and mountain passes, and so the itinerary
can be flexed on any day to take account of weather
conditions, to ensure that you sample the best on
offer. The itinerary below is to provide you with
a taster of what you could achieve, and isn't fixed
in stone. We get many clients who come back year
after year to repeat our Alpine trail running trips,
as they need never repeat a trail they have run
before.
Saturday
Meet
your guide for kit checks and a briefing at
09:00am, to allow enough time for you to digest
your breakfast. They will brief you on the
latest weather and conditions, and provide
any extra equipment that may be required,
such as snowshoes. A
typical run is to take the picturesque Mont
Blanc express train from Chamonix to Vallorcine,
and run on winter forest trails in the lower
Berard valley and around Les Granges. Another
option is the trail run up to the Loriaz Refuge. As well as running, you will
learn a lot of key skills such as pacing,
using poles, and (possibly) the use of snowshoes.
For winter trail running, there are a whole
host of changes to make in terms of techniques,
clothing, nutrition, and the safe selection
of a route. Night in Chamonix on a B&B
basis.
Sunday
A
longer winter trail run, often up to 10-15km
in length, to really put all the elements
together that you have learnt over the week.
Typically in the Italian Val Ferret, where
you run up to the Bonatti mountain hut, situated
at over 2000m. Other options are in the Rochers
des Fiz and around Lac Vert and Ayeres. You
will learn more about avalanche awareness,
and the safe choice of routes in winter condition,
as well as how to move quickly and run on
snowshoes, and the techniques involved. Depending
on temperatures and conditions, you might
run to 2000m in altitude. We aim to finish
the second day by around 15:00, to allow those
on transfers and flights to be able to return
home on the same day (allow 3 hours between
transfer time and flight), for those needing
to get back to work on Monday.
ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries.
Mountain adventures are weather and conditions
dependant, so occasionaly we are forced to
alter the plans. If this is the case, suitable
alternatives are offered. Please use this
outline itinerary as a guide to the types
of route / activity that you will attempt.
Course
Prices
Standard
course
2 full days UIMLA guiding, 1:6 max ratio
3 days holiday in total, Friday-Sunday
£299
Live
availability
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Inclusions:
1) UIMLA guide for two days, 2) Chamonix course
hosts for logistics & briefings, 3) Pre
course information booklet, 4) Equipment discount
voucher for UK shops, 5) One night self-catered
accommodation in the Chamonix valley (inc.
bedding & towels), 6) Free 36 page technical
Course Instruction Booklet, 7) Road / train
transport in Chamonix valley, 8) Logistics
suppor, 9) Equipment hire of poles, and snowshoes
if required.
Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Personal
laundry, telephone calls, lunches, evening
meals, & any purchases in mountain huts
/ hotels / restaurants, 3) Cable cars and
mountain uplift (not normally required), 4)
Activities insurance, & excess baggage
charges.
Group
sizes: 2 - 6 people
per UIMLA mountain guide. For group sizes
of over 6 people, there are multiple guides,
and the teams travel independently of each
other.
Notes:
The loan of all technical equipment for each
client is included* in the course price as
required: snowshoes, avalanche transceiver,
avalanche probe and shovel.
Discounts:
If you prefer to organise your own accommodation,
whether for an upgrade or extension, we discount
the course price by £50 for you. Please
let us know if you intend to do this before
you book.
Current
course availability
Course Dates Winter Trail Running
No Dates Available
NOTE:
This trip has scheduled
dates, but if there are 2 people
all booking together, it can be
operated on any date you wish
A
fantastic trip. Thank you so much for
looking after me so well, whilst challenging
me so much. Brilliant Tina
C , Winter Trail Running
We
had really enjoyed your Summer trail
running camp, and couldn't wait until
the next year for more. This weekend
was even better and inspirational A
& D , Winter
Trail Running
Testimonials
Press
& media
Films
& videos
Photo
gallery
Location
data for this trip
The
majority of our trail runs are based in the Chamonix valley
in the French Alps. It is also easy to access the Valais
region of Switzerland or the Aosta Valley region of Italy,
as these involve less than an hours drive. There is a
great choice of winter trail running venues...
Time
Difference
GMT +1hr
Local
Currency
€ Euros
Travel
from UK
1hr flight
Free
resources
FREE
Podcast
Getting into trail running...
Trail
running is a fastgrowing sport, and
this podcast explains what it involves,
how to get into it, and also goes through
all of the equipment that is required.
FREE
Resource Alps
trail running kit list...
If you are planning on attending one
of our trail running courses, you can
see a kit check list of the clothing
and equipment that we recommend you
take.
The
photo above sums it up. All of these finisher jackets
of the UTMB race series belong to our head running
leader. We genuinely think that there is no other
operator out there who is more credible!
There
are several other operators who also offer trail
running camps, and we aren't afraid to advertise
that fact. Please look at their itineraries to see
how they differ from ours.
We
don't offer talks from 'celebrity' runners, or go
in for the chardonnay in a hot tub 'lifestyle',
or quasi-scientific courses. Ours are run by people
who do it, not talk the talk.
The
effect on our prices is that we can offer you great
value. We genuinely believe that you'll spend more
time actually running and in the mountains on our
courses, than with anyone else.
Anyone
who is leading you will be a finisher of one of
the iconic trail races, such as the Ultra Trail
du Mont Blanc, Tor du Geants or Leadville or WS100.
Author
signed! 'Trail Running Chamonix &
the Mont Blanc region' link
...or the NEW book...
'Trail
and Fell Running in
the Lake District' buy
a copy
by Kingsley Jones. Cicerone
Press
£14.95 each
Each book has 40 trail running
routes, each with height profiles,
and full colour mapping
Features
how to adapt your
running in the mountains, and
an index of where to stay
Includes
famous races in each
region, e.g. UTMB, Langdale
Horseshoe and Chamonix VKM
Each book has 40 trail running
