 Poster: A snowHead
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Have been invited to complete the tour de Mont Blanc in the summer.....anyone done it? Approximately 170km with 10km ascent, all on foot (no skis required)
Should I, or should I just go and lie on a beach somewhere instead?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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One of my friends almost did it, as a fit and outdoor-minded 17 year old, with a group of other lads. In the end they had to give up because several of the group had very painful blistered feet.
I'd love to have done it in my younger days..... Nowadays, a 10 km walk with a 170m ascent is more my style. 
If you do it, don't do it in new boots!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I know someone who did in 28hours non-stop
For normal people, I think doing it followed up by a few days rehab on a beach would be a very nice mix
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Guvnor, You know sitting in the summer sun in Villaroger does make much more sense 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I did it about 25 years ago when I was in my mid-20s, and had a brilliant time. I don't think I've ever been fitter since! To an extent you can pace yourself according to your capabilities (i.e. in some places you have a choice of shorter distances, or of cheating by taking a bus).
As well as doing the standard circuit, you can also detour up to some of the high huts above the snow line (we went to the Cabane du Trient above Champex, which I can strongly recommend - spectacular views over glaciers on the Swiss/French border).
It's also quite a social thing to do - you'll meet the same people each night in the different stops. One watch out is what time of year you do it. I did it late June/early July which is before half of France go en vacances. I'm told that it can be a bit too popular in high season - given the finite bed capacity in the huts, that could be an issue! (I don't know what the situation is on booking these days...when we did it, we joined one of the Alpine Clubs since it gave us some priority for reservations).
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Guvnor, I did it about five years ago. If you are a regular hill walker in the UK it is no problem , any body who is fit could do it as long as they do not get blistered feet which can be a problem if you are not used to walking up hill and downhill every day. It is a very nice walk
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Sounds like compeed and second skin etc are a must
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I've walked it in 2004 - in about 10 days!
Before we started, I was in Chamonix on the evening that they set off and there again when the first dozen or so rolled in the next day - most looking surprisingly fit and strong. It's a long way - a very long way - with lots of up and down (at altitude too). And there is little support either. The finishers were scanned in and, apart from the podium places, they were just left to their own devices. No space blankets and no food or drink.
Another member of our mountaineering club (and by far the most fit and most driven person I know) came something like 44th last year. Mrs A knows another driven woman who managed 3/4 of it but gave up because she was too cold and tired. The weather wasn't good that year.
If you've never tried an Ultra before then I suggest you start with something a little easier. This must be one of the toughest. Just look at the attrition rate!
http://www.ultratrailmb.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_Trail_Tour_du_Mont_Blanc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultramarathon
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Do it, or even just do parts of it.
I've done (most of) it twice - anti-clockwise from Les Houches the first time and clockwise from Champex the second time, and with 9 years in between. Both times in September.
The first one I did solo, camping as I went and I feel that solo is quicker because you are less inclined to stop to pass the time (and I'm a faster walker than my wife). I called it a day at Champex because I had 2 days of snow in the village, and didn't fancy another 1000m of ascent, in summer trekking boots. Also I had an appointment in Chamonix so I couldn't just sit it out.
The second time I was nearer to 40, and went with my wife and two friends. We mixed up camping, huts and hotels, and took a couple of short cuts when the weather was grotty - eg down the Italian val Ferret by bus because the cloudbase was only about 10m above the road, so the climb onto the ridge in the rain seemed pointless, and the cable car down to Les Houches to avoid hours of descent.
Having done it twice in September, I would be wary of huts closing (I stayed the last night of the season in Rifugio Elena); lifts closing (in both Courmayeur and Montroc, we missed a cable car ascent by a day, or two) and the outside possibility of snow stopping play for a day or two. That said it is fairly quiet.
The clockwise route from Champex certainly has an easier first day than the Voie Normale, and you do not meet the same people every night because you are going the wrong way! On the second go, we met a French group in Les Contamines who were on a led trip (luggage carried for them from place to place) who were doing most of the tour, without the interesting side trips, in only 7 days, and they all looked close to retirement age.
Depending on fitness, the variants that take you over the highest passes are almost certainly worth it - but remember that you're never far from a mountain hut, and there's a village every other day, or more frequently, so there's plenty of scope to give up and find transport back to wherever you need.
The first time I sleeper-ed down, and the second we drove; the campsite in Champex allowed us leave the car there, for which I offered a nominal payment.
There is an English language guide published by Cicerone, but the FFRP one is pretty good, and seemed to give more history (eg the Bisses around Forclaz and Martgny), as well as flora and fauna stuff.
You can make the journey lighter by staying in hotels or refuges all the way, and thus avoid carrying tent, sleeping bag etc, stove and food beyond lunches, or you can go hardcore and backpack - either way 10 days is not pushing it. And there's plenty of places (even some beaches) in the area to relax afterwards.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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So that's a yes then?
better get off my fat backside and start clocking some K's then
Oh, and Boris, what happened to the food in Villaroger - can't say I've ever had a problem myself
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Guvnor,
You will find some useful information in the Exodus brochure or probably on the Exodus website www.exodus.co.uk
They run a couple of trips around the circuit listed under their trip codes TWB and TWP. Exodus grade their treks A (easiest) to E (hardest) and there should be a description on the website of what to expect from each category. The two trips I mentioned are graded B/C and C/D respectively, the difference being because one takes 15 days whilst the harder one takes only 8 days.
You should also find a detailed itinerary there as well which should tell you all you need to know.
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You know it makes sense.
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Also Kev Reynolds has written a good little guide book - In stock at Amazon I notice. I've never donee it contigiously but most of it over several holidays. I defy anyone not to enjoy it (unless the weather is constantly horrible)
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Guvnor, I am off to do it in late June, going clockwise from Champex. Planning on 10 days but might have a day off somewhere. I guess snow on the cols might be an issue for us after the snowy winter. My daughter who is coming with us is taking her dog so intends to camp.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Arno, The bloke who invited me has just set off on the Haute Route, followed by ascent and descent of Monta Rosa, so whilst not in 28 hour territory, is reasonable fit by comparison. Maybe I'll keep him in check by lacing his tea with something.....
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Guvnor, Haute route or not you should be keeping up with Jonny! Almost got talked into going with them mid-season, but I'm doing my IML course next week instead....
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