What
is skyrunning? It's trail running in
higher altitudes, on rougher ground
(and snow), and in more remote mountain
areas. Following the boom of trail running
in the Alps, skyrunning is the next
step, for those who want to escape the
crowds that bit more.
Our
week long Alpine skyrunning weeks are
based in Chamonix, at the foot of Mont
Blanc, as there are hundreds of kilometers
of trails and skyruns to choose from.
We offer a great balance of running,
coaching, and trail running advice,
preparation and top tips.
For
these courses we suggest that you will
enjoy them most if you are happy running
up to a half marathon (road), and you
are used to mountain walking. 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 week of skyrunning
of c. 15 - 20km a day, we aim to teach
you the key safety skills for route
planning and Alpine running, with a
focus put on the selection of equipment
and how to develop your training plans
for trail running.
Don't
worry if you have never run in the Alps
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 can teach
the rest, and you are guaranteed a great
holiday that you won't forget for a
long time.
You
are led & coached by a Personal
Trainer, who is also an International
Mountain Leader. Most importantly they
will be a passionate trail runner who
has competed in plenty of Alpine ultra
running races, including the legendary
Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc. You are led
by a genuine expert in ultra-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.
Brief
Course Itinerary There
are hundreds of kilometers of trails and skyruns
over all types of terrain, 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. After each day in the itinerary is an
outline of the key teaching focus points for every
day, so you get a real idea of what you can learn
about. As far as the distances run each day, we
advertise c. 15 - 20km each day, though try and
select routes to cater for people to opt out of
sections if they would like an easier day. We aren't
expecting you to be mountain running machines, just
a great spirit of loving the mountains, and wanting
to give it a go. Speed is nothing. Enjoyment is
everything! Many clients come back year after year,
as they need never repeat a trail they have run
before.
Sunday
Travel to Chamonix to arrive for the 17:00
check-in followed by and course safety and
itinerary briefings. There is time for kit
checks or rental of equipment (see inclusions
below for what you are provided as part of
the course price). Briefings are over by 18:00
and the Chamonix hosts accompany the group
to pre-dinner drinks. Some clients opt to
travel out a day or two early to get their
hill legs back and to explore the town. Night
in Chamonix.
Monday
A
classic warm up skyrun in Chamonix, such as
running the first part of the 80km du Mont
Blanc, that is part of the Skyrunning World
Championships, up to Brevent, then via Col
du Brevent, and back down via Planpraz and
the single tracks to the valley. Night in Chamonix. Equipment and clothing choice and its selection
- footwear, poles, bags, compression kit. Highlight
- running over snow whilst overlooking the
whole Chamonix valley.
Tuesday
Today
a popular choice of skyrunning might be to
run up to the Mer de Glace, and on the ridge
above the glacier, before following the balcony
perched far above the valley, before taking
the single track via the Bossons glacier down
to the valley floor again. Night in Chamonix. Techniques for the use of poles for walking
and running - traversing, ascent, descent. Highlight
- gaining autonomy skills skyrunning in unspoiled
stunning scenery.
Wednesday
We
take the picturesque Mont Blanc express train
from Chamonix to Vallorcine, and run into
Switzerland via the Emosson dam, and on the
skyrunning track across to Loriaz. This trail
is famed for having several sections of chains
and rocky steps to negotiate. Night in Chamonix. Decent techniques for different trail types
and conditions - grass, rock, scree, forest. Highlight
- skyrunning in two counties in the day, with
Mont Blanc ahead of you.
Thursday
A
day skyrunning in Italy or Switzerland. Popular
choices are running the Mont de la Saxe skyline
trail over Testa Bernada 2534m far above Courmayeur,
or over the Col Chavanne near La Thuile. Over
in Switzerland running Mont Fourchon is a
big objective.
Night in Chamonix. Session on how to plan mountain trail running
routes - tactics, equipment, food, training. Highlight
- experience running on a section of the legendary
UTMB trail race route!
Friday
A
longer trail run, up to a half marathon in
length, to really put all the elements together
that you have learnt over the week. A tough
objective might be to run Mont Buet 3099m,
and to cross the Col du Salenton. Stunning
views reward you from the summit. Night in
Chamonix! Nutritional and hydration advice, whilst in
the mountains - quantity, effects, sources. Highlight
- completing a half marathon across the mountains
on rough Alpine trails.
Saturday
Breakfast
then the accommodation check out is by 10:00.
Most arrange their airport transfers to leave
around this time, to catch a flight from Geneva
about midday. Depart for home.
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
5
full days UIMLA guiding, 1:6 max ratio
7 days holiday in total, Sunday-Saturday
£699
Live
availability
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Inclusions:
1) UIMLA guide for five days, 2) Chamonix
course hosts for logistics & briefings,
3) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment
discount voucher for UK shops, 5) Six nights
self-catered accommodation in Chamonix (inc. bedding
& towels), 6) Free 36 page technical Course
Instruction Booklet, 7) Road / train transport
in Chamonix valley, 8) Logistics support and
several optional evening instruction sessions.
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, 4) Road transport outside
the Chamonix valley (not usually required),
5) Activities insurance, & excess baggage
charges.
Group
sizes: 3 - 6 people per UIMLA guide.
If there are more than 6 people on a week,
separate groups operate, so you are guaranteed
good access to the guide for tips and coaching.
Current
course availability
Course Dates Alpine Skyrunning
No Dates Available
NOTE:
This trip has scheduled
dates, but if there are four who
are booking together, it can be
operated on any date you wish
Thank
you so much for organising this as a
bespoke course for our group. We had
a brilliant week Ali
C , Skyrunning
I
heard about your guys from a friend
who had run with you. They sang your
praises, and I am joining your fan club.
It was a perfect week Helen
McG , Skyrunning
Your
i ntimate knowledge of the trails was
superb, and really made the week of
skyrunning even better William
T , Skyrunning
Testimonials
Press
& media
Films
& videos
Photo
gallery
'Running
the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc'
a personal experience of one of our trail
running guides, a two time UTMB finisher
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 trail running venues in all these regions.
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
Highlight
- running over snow whilst overlooking the
whole Chamonix valley.
Each book has 40 trail running
