Hiking in Le Tour

On Sunday the weather finally cleared enough to get back into the hills. Simon was over visiting for the weekend from Luzern and although the intention was to do some climbing, with some fresh snow above 2500m we decided to head up to Le Tour for a hike.

From the village we headed straight up to the Albert 1er hut alongside the Le Tour Glacier. By the time we reached the hut (2700m) there was a thin covering of fresh snow but this in turn meant great views over to Mont Buet and the Aiguilles Rouges. We managed to escape the guard of the hut dog (although it did try to take a chunk out my leg) and stopped for a hot chocolate before heading back down the path for a couple of hundred metres and the taking the narrow path around to Col De Balme.

We were quickly back into the warmth of the sun and great walking conditions. From the Col we headed up Tete de Balme and then over to Aiguilliettes des Posettes before dropping back down to Le Tour for a couple of shandies in the sun.

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The UTMB and a few days of bad weather!

This week the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc arrived in Chamonix and with it a few days of wintery weather. Congratulations and a lot of respect goes to all the folk completing each of the races which range from 100km to 290km each with a huge amount of climbing and descending. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get many good photos of the event but more information on the event can be found here . It's difficult to qualify for / get an entry but maybe one year....

In the meantime having signed up for the Snowdonia Marathon (a mere sprint compared to the ultra) at the end of October, it was time to have a break from the mountain biking and get out running with a couple of great runs around the valley.

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Flaine & Les Grandes Platieres(MTB)

 

The day started with a big big climb from Morillion (670m) up to Les Grandes Platieres (2480m). No lifts or trains used today to gain those vertical metres! Most of the climb was rideable with the odd bit of pushing, particularly on the steep gravelly track above Flaine.

The initial plan was to use GR96 to descend to Lac de Gers but this turned out to be a wide loose rocky track so chose to descend via the Chalets des Foges. This turned out to be a wise move, with the path taking a stunning little valley with a mixed descent on rock slabs, flowing singletrack,grass fields,  rocky tracks...it had it all! It is mainly fireroad from Lac de Gers, although I did pick up a nice VTT track at Roux. If i did it again I would possibly try the track from Lac de Gers to Sixt, which is again marked on the VTT map.

Click here for GPS Data


 

LeBuet-Servoz(Run)

Have had my eye on Mont Buet for a while but decided to try a point to point run which would hopefully involve a bit more running than walking up a big hill!!

Getting the bus from Chamonix to Col Des Montets, the route started with a short descent to Le Buet and then the climb to Refuge de la Pierre Berard. Great run along the valley on a gradually ascending trail. After the Refuge the track deteriorated and I was glad I wouldn't be reversing this!

The map shows the path going to the Col de Salenton so I followed the cairns in the mist. Reaching the ridge line I realised I was to far right and the track infact cut the corner to Mont Buet!!Doooh! Retracing tracks and having to pass the walkers I had gone past earlier I finally found the Col. The track started with a steep descent but then levelled out and was able to run most of the way to the Refuge d Anterne before heading to Lac Promenaz. The descent from here was particularly steep (ladders/chains and all!) but finally reached the road at Chalets de Souay. From here I took the path to le Mont which has awesome potential for the mountain bike...I will return!


Click here for GPS data of the route.

Contamines Valley Circuit(MTB)

 Taking the Prarion Telecabine from Les Houches, the ride started with a descent down Hughes Way (see the Chamonix Bike Book) before climbing to Sainte Nicolas de Veroce and onto la Croix du Christ (1942m).

I then descended to Megeve Airport before climbing again to Col du Very. The main aim of this ride was to investigate the path from Col du Very to Col du Joly and the descent to Contamines. Although knackered by the time I reached the path it turned out to be a bit of nice singletrack descending at first before a hike a bike section up to Chalets du Joly. From here the track traverses for a bit before descending to Contamines. The initial plann was to ride back up to Col du Voza and descend to Les Houches but with tired legs opted for the train back to Chamonix from Le Fayet. Rather than ride along the road I used the bits of track and odd bit of singletrack running along the road finishing on the "pipeline" from St Gervais to Le Fayet (again from the Chamonix Bike book).

Click here for GPS route info

Brevent-Samoens(MTB)

I had spotted the trail to the Col d' Anterne during a run and was mad keen to give it a go on the bike. After asking at the local shops I was told it was not possible as it went through a Nature Reserve but checking the signage and the websites I could see no rules about no bikes... I still dont know whether it is entirely legal but decided to put my Phrase book away and play ignorant! During the ride no-one said anything about me being on a bike apart from "Bon Courage!!".

I was expecting a long day and to avoid the crowds took the first lift to Brevent (2525m). I had run the first bit of the trail before so knew it was going to be tricky with a bike...i didnt quite expect the first 2km of descending to take 1/2hour though!! As the trail descended more and more was rideable but never really turned into the great descent i was hoping for, however the scenery made up for the lack of riding.  Unfortunately the climb up the other side of the valley was also a bit of a hike but again in a nice setting. Finally reaching the Col, I was rewarded with stunning views of a great looking singletrack descent!

If I was to do the ride again I would probably miss out the Brevent-Refuge d' Anterne section and start the ride by riding from Plaine-Joux.

The descent to Sixt was awesome and made up for carrying my bike for the last 2hrs!! Some great flowing sections, some techy rocky sections (I didnt clean it all!) and again with awesome views. The odd little climb gave the arms a much needed rest!

Arriving in Samoens (700m), there was the option of waiting for the lift to open after lunch but having made good time I thought I would put some vertical metres in the legs so started the climb up to Station de Samoens and then onto the Gite d' Iglo at 1590m. Fortunately I was rewarded for the hard work and found a nice, woodland descent all the way down to Balme.

A short ride along the valley bottom to Magland and only a 20 minute wait for the train to Chamonix....time to stock up with cakes and coke for the journey!!

Click here for GPS data of the route.

Aguilliette Des Houches (Run)

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