Mountain Running in Chamonix
Read on to learn more about our Mountain Running in Chamonix Trip in August 2024.
Newsletter sent out on August 9, 2024:
Trip Log: Trail Running in Chamonix, France & Courmayeur, Italy
We recently returned home from our first ever trail running trip to the iconic trails of Chamonix, France and Courmayeur, Italy. Read on for a look into why we chose this trip location, a few trip details (and photos, of course) and why we love building community through moving in the mountains.
It all started 5 years ago when we travelled to the Chamonix Valley with Moondance Adventures to guide two groups of their Chamonix trip for teenagers. Jonas had already led this trip once, four years earlier, but this was our first time in this place together. It was an incredible 6 weeks of looping the Tour du Mont Blanc and traversing through the Pyrenees Mountains. During this trip on the TMB, we hit the jackpot with an incredible local guide named Xavier. Many leaders with Moondance throughout the years have hiked with Xavier and share a tender affection for this French mountain m̶a̶n̶ goat. When we first launched Blue Sky in 2021, we hoped to host a TMB trip and had dreams of Xavier guiding us. We didn’t fill the trip, and thus had to cancel it. Then, in 2023, we hosted two incredibly fun trail running trips in the Picos de Europa with our favorite running coach, Jenni Nettik of Mercuria Running. These trips were full of excited energy and we knew we had to think up a new location for summer 2024 for our returning runners. And that’s how the Chamonix trip circled back into our orbit, shining brightly and full of promise! And the best part about it all? We were able to hire Xavier to be our local guide! Here’s a photo of the three of us in 2019 and again in 2024:
And our first trail running trips in 2023 with Mercuria:
What’s up with Chamonix?
Chamonix is well-known in the outdoor sport community for it’s year-round playground of iconic mountain terrain. In summer, it’s a paradise for hikers, trail runners, paragliders, climbers, bikers, and alpinists. And in the winter, it is just as famous for it’s opportunities for snow and ice sports. In the trail running community, it’s famous for it’s annual 100+ mile ultra marathon race, the UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc). And for having world-class trail running terrain in general. So, to have the opportunity spend a week trail running in a place as iconic as Chamonix is beyond exciting for us trail folks.
Instead of sticking to the Tour du Mont Blanc, the famous trail that circumnavigates the Mont Blanc massif, we crossed it’s path a few times while also sprinkling in some other trails that weren’t along the TMB. This allowed us to be on trails that weren’t quite as crowded with people and also allowed us to host a base-camp style trip so we weren’t packing our bags daily. It also allowed us to pick and choose some of the most epic views in the valley!
Trip Specs:
8 days (6 days running + 2 travel days)
50+ miles trail running
15k+ feet of elevation gain
19k+ feet of elevation loss
12 runners + coach Jenni, Mimi/Jonas, and Xavier
Airport: Geneva, Switzerland
5 nights at Hotel Heliopic in Chamonix, France
2 nights at Hotel Berthod in Courmayeur, Italy
Instead of a long day-by-day account of the trip, here are a few notable highlights:
→ Hotel Heliopic was a delight. After each day of trail running, we had access to the hotel spa which included a sauna, cold plunge, ice cave, hammam, hot tub, and swimming pool. It was an awesome way to find quick recovery each day! The hotel also surprised us with free ice cream in the lobby, which was always a treat at the end of a hot day on the trail.
→ We each had mountain passes that gave us access to all of the ski lifts and cable cars in the valley. This was awesome for giving us options when we wanted to plan our run to have more or less up or down hill.
→ Restaurant highlights:
→ Le Monchu - cheese fondue, cheese raclette, oh man!
→ Bizes- home to a Josper charcoal grill and an absolute must-try if you find yourself in Chamonix.
→ Le Cap Horn - french / Japanese fusion that was delicious.
→ Cadrain Solaire - a charming restaurant in Courmayeur with cozy charm and amazing homemade pasta.
→ Trail highlights:
→ Any and every balcony trail!
→ Hike to the Albert Premier Hut
→ Tram to the Aguille du Midi
→ Trail run to the Mer de Glace glacier
→ Trail run along the TMB to Courmayeur
→ Stop at Rifugio Walter Bonnatti for coffee and treats
→ Coffee at Refuge du Col de Balme
→ Coffee and pasta at Rifugio Elisibetta
Shoutouts:
Although the destination is a hugely important part of any trip, the people that you share it with are equally, if not more, important. We had such a great group of folks on this trip. We feel so lucky!
A huge shoutout is owed to Jenni Nettik, the owner and head coach at Mercuria Running. For months leading up to this adventure, she trained and personally coached each member of the group to prepare us for the trip. We couldn’t have done it without her!
We’re also so proud of everyone who said yes to this adventure. This group crushed it and truly amazes us! Thanks for training and for showing up as your best selves. We hope we can run together again someday!
And another well-deserved shoutout to Xavier, our local mountain guide. He brought so much joy and laughter to every day on the trail (and not to mention knowledge, safety, and wisdom).
We believe that community is a pillar of leading a healthy life. Adventurous group travel is a means of consistently building and strengthening this pillar in our lives and we always leave a trip feeling more connected, more inspired, and more ourselves. We’re so happy to keep finding aligned community through running, hiking, and travel. Thanks for being a part of this community!
What’s Next?
If you’re interested in joining us on a trail running trip next year, stay tuned for trip announcements! We hope to announce our trip locations and dates in September and open enrollment in November. This goes for trekking trips too! And remember, if you’re a returning traveler, you get a trip discount!
In October, we will be with a group in Tanzania to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and safari in the Serengeti! We are so excited to return to this special place. We still have space available on this trip! If you know someone who has always dreamt of climbing one of the seven summits of the world, please share this trip with them… it’s not too late to sign up!
We are so grateful to share outdoor spaces with such wonderful people. Thanks for helping us to keep this dream alive! We hope you’ve had a great summer thus far and that you’ve been able to get out for an adventure or two (or three or four)!
Chasing Blue Skies!
-Mimi & Jonas
