A guidebook describing 40 trail running routes in the Chamonix Valley and around the Mont Blanc massif, visiting France, Switzerland and Italy. The routes, which range from 3.8km (2½ miles) to 168km (104 miles), are graded from 1 to 5 and categorised as trail running, fell running or skyrunning. Starting from Chamonix, Les Houches, Servoz, Champex, Courmayeur, Orsières and Vallorcine among others, and covering classic ultra trail routes as well as shorter day runs, there is something for every runner.
Step-by-step route descriptions are accompanied by 1:100,000 mapping and route profiles, with notes on safety and useful tips for runners. Also included is a comprehensive equipment checklist plus information on running at altitude, adapting to the Alps, navigation, maps and mountain safety. GPX files for all routes are available for download after you have purchased the book by logging in to your Cicerone account.
Renowned as a mecca for trail runners, the Chamonix Valley and Mont Blanc region is home to some of the greatest trail running races in the world, including the Tour des Géants and Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. The landscape, with its dramatic mountain scenery and ethereal vistas, offers diverse trail options and true adventure - the perfect playground for this exhilarating sport.
CONTENTS
Map key
Location of routes
Introduction
The Chamonix Mont Blanc region
Bases for a trail running holiday
Travelling to the Alps
Travelling around the Chamonix valley and region
Weather and forecasts
Maps
Safety and mountain rescue
Insurance
Mountain running in the Alps
What’s different about running in the Alps?
Trail kit
Adapting to the Alps
Mountain skills
Navigation
Using this guide
France
Chamonix start
Route 1 Mer de Glace
Route 2 River track to Argentière
Route 3 Merlet
Route 4 La Flégère
Route 5 Refuge Moëde Anterne
Route 6 La Jonction
Route 7 Chamonix Vertical KM
Route 8 Marathon du Mont Blanc
Route 9 80km du Mont Blanc
Vallorcine valley start
Route 10 Lac d’Emosson
Route 11 Col de la Terrasse
Route 12 Albert Premier
Route 13 Aiguilles Rouges
Route 14 Mont Buet
Les Houches/Servoz start
Route 15 Le Brévent
Route 16 Le Prarion
Route 17 Col de Tricot
Route 18 Lac Vert
Route 19 Charousse
Outside Chamonix valley
Route 20 Nid d’Aigle
Route 21 Refuge de Doran
Route 22 Mont Truc
Route 23 Mont Joly
Route 24 Refuge de Tré-le-Tête
Route 25 Tête Nord des Fours
Switzerland
Route 26 Mont de l’Arpille
Route 27 Croix de Fer
Route 28 Fenêtre d’Arpette
Route 29 Cabane d’Orny
Route 30 Mont Fourchon
Route 31 Cols Fenêtre and Chevaux
Italy
Route 32 Mont de la Saxe
Route 33 Tête Entre Deux Sauts
Route 34 Italian Val Ferret
Route 35 Col d’Arp
Route 36 Punta della Croce
International race recces
Route 37 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB)
Route 38 Orsières, Champex, Chamonix (OCC)
Route 39 Courmayeur, Champex, Chamonix (CCC)
Route 40 Traces des Ducs de Savoie (TDS)
Appendix A Useful contacts
A brilliant guide to the many different routes on offer in this fantastic outdoors playground
The Cicerone book, Trail running: Chamonix & Mont Blanc Region, is a brilliant guide to the many different routes on offer in this fantastic outdoors playground. The author Kingsley Jones has detailed 40 routes in the Chamonix Valley, Italy and Switzerland.
The routes range from 3.8km to 168km (if you have some spare days!) and are graded from 1 to 5 and categorised as trail running, fell running or skyrunning.
You can start the routes from Chamonix, Les Houches, Servoz, Champex, Courmayeur, Orsieres and Vallorcine, among others.
Step-by-step route descriptions are accompanied by 1:100,000 mapping and route profiles, with notes on safety and useful tips for runners. Also included is an equipment checklist, plus information on running at altitude, adapting to the Alps, navigation, maps and mountain safety.
The guide was a great bonus when trying to decide where to go – and for how long – during my recent stay in Chamonix. I either
started from valley level and made my way (slowly) uphill or I made use of the lift system to start at higher altitude. See Chamonix.net for lift information and ticket prices. (I used the lift pass for accessing running and walking routes and also to take the Montenvers train to visit the Mer du Glace.)
Once I had chosen a route I took a photo of the details so I didn’t need to take the book with me.
If you like running and you are in this region, the book is invaluable.
Fiona Outdoors blog
An excellent guide with the kind of detailed knowledge that only comes from someone who is very familiar with their subject.
I received a review copy of this book at the beginning of January and it struck me as an excellent guide with the kind of detailed knowledge that only comes from someone who is very familiar with their subject. A week later I was given a place in the OCC race as part of this year's UTMB (routes 38 and 37 in the guide respectively).
It has now become an invaluable resource to plan much of the training, transport and accommodation required for the big event. Once you use Kingsley Jones' book for its true purpose, what was a knowledgeable guide becomes more like the friend who really understands the area you intend to visit. It's a field guide rather than a comprehensive how-to of running around Mont Blanc and for taking with you rather than reading by the pool. So there isn't much by way of travelogue: that's what blogs and magazines are for.
This book should find a place in the packing of anyone running in the area, it's a shame there aren't more guides like this for other parts of Europe and the UK but with the huge growth in trail running it can only be a matter of lime before more follow, I just hope they are written by people with the same familiarity of, and passion for, their regions as this.
Oliver Blaydon, the Austrian Alpine Club
"Everything you need to know about the running routes of Chamonix Valley is inside Kingsley Jones
Book! From Step-by-step route descriptions accompanied by 1:100,000 mapping and route
profiles, with notes on safety and useful tips for runners to comprehensive equipment checklist
plus information on running at altitude, adapting to the Alps, navigation, maps and mountain
safety."
Chamonix.net
"This book is great for any British trail runner who is looking to try somewhere different, whether for
shorter jaunts of a couple of hours or multi-day epics. With its wealth of detailed background information,
this guide would be very helpful for beginner trail runners or those who are less confident with
navigation.
However, the guide book would also be particularly useful for those training for or recce-ing one of the big
Chamonix trail races. The book breaks down the Chamonix Marathon and UTMB events into manageable
day-stages with useful logistical and safety information along the way.
Any trail runner is likely to find something interesting and useful in this guidebook. The extensive
logistical information will give many the extra confidence they need to book their first Alpine trail running
trip. But even runners already familiar with the region will find new ideas for excellent days out on less
obvious trails."
UK Climbing
it's written by a highly experienced mountaineer and ultra-runner with a serious CV. The book, as you'd expect from Cicerone, is cleanly designed and organised with an extensive introduction followed by individual route chapters. Each of these gets a detailed map and overview followed by step-by-step instructions and images. There's also a grading system plus specific safety advice where relevant and an elevation chart so you can see just what you're taking on. First impressions are that it's a book you could use at all sorts of levels: as a casual visitor looking for a short evening run, as a hardcore trail runner looking to short-cut the planning process with some inspirational routes or even, if you're that way inclined, as part of your recce and preparation for something like the UTMB.
Inspirational stuff.
Outdoors Magic, May 2016
We're very lucky to have some great running guidebooks out there already, but we think you'll agree this is pretty exciting.
Chamonix is fast becoming the capital of the trail running world... Reassuringly, runners of all abilities are catered for; the route distances range from 3.8k to 168k, are graded according to difficulty and are categorised as trail, fell or sky running - a nice touch that will impress trail aficionados."
Trail Running magazine, May 2016
While known for its climbing. Chamonix's vast network of mountain trails suitable for running remained relatively undiscovered until recently. Events such as the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) and the Skyrunning World Championships have brought trail running around the Mont Blanc Massif into the limelight and exposed Chamanix as a trail running Mecca. And this guidebook is definitely a good place to start.
Kingsley Jones has done well to keep the book small enough to fit into a pocket. It will have been tough to choose just 40 routes. He has chosen a good variety of runs, varying from 3.8km to 168km (you don't have to run it all at once) which all have a grading system from 1-5 for difficulty, either for trail running or the more technical 'skyrunning'. It also has a handy route summary table at the beginning, making route choice easier at a glance. The route descriptions are comprehensive, giving top tips, and the maps are good quality and easy to follow. There is also good information regarding public transport in order to get to the start and finish of all the routes. Each route also comes with its own specific safety notes: for example, whether it is suitable to run early or late season and whether there are snow traps, above (the snow to worry about isn't always under your feet), rockfall, river crossings, flood areas etc - all good local knowledge and things to be aware of.
This guidebook is a perfect companion for a seasoned Chamoniard or a first time visitor, whatever their running level. It mixes the bestknown routes with some lesser known gems
and provides a good level of detail for each choice.
Scottish Mountaineer magazine
