Running the Gimillan peaks of the Aosta Valley, Italia in 5 days

As part of Michael's preparation to l'Echappee Belle ( read his awesome race report, here) and with Christophe inviting us to discover la Aosta Valley, we were off for 6 days to Gimillan, a small itallian village in the Aosta Valley near Cogne. There we covered more than 120 km with 10000m of ascent and enjoyed the best hot chocolate !
So if you are thinking of spending a week in the Valley, this is what you could do.

Day 1
We arrived around 1 pm, and our friend told us we could start already visiting the area, so we went to Coll de Laures on the Path number 8. All trails are very well marked, so it's a real bonus to not have to carry a map!

Gimillan 1800m- Coll de Laures 3035m, 22 km- 4 hours, 1400m of elevation gain
Difficulty: None, a bit of snow on the top of the Coll but nothing scary.

Day 2- Part 1
Because we wanted to go to Bivouac Gratton located on the other side of Cogne, we decided to do a small outing by going to Mont Creya in the morning, before going to Bivouac Gratton late afternoon. Gimillan 1800m- Mont Creya 3015m, 1250m of elevation gain. 3 hours

Day 2- Part 2
Gimillan to Bivouac Gratton (3195m) via Cretaz ( 1483m)- 3h30 Total Ascent: 1700m

Day 3
Bivouac Gratton- Gimillan- After a cold night in the Bivouac ( we were by ourselves) we went down when it was a bit warmer to Gimillan to have a hearty breakfast! We then went to

Gimillan 1800m- Tsa- plana (3030m)- Trail 4b a kilometer vertical.
Video of the whole trail!

Day 4
Gimillan 1800- Mont Emilius (3557m)and back 6-8 hours
Difficulties: loads of rocks, slippery at the top, can feel too long but it's totally worth it!

Day 5
Gimillan 1800m- Col Tsa-Seche (2815m) via Arpisson Chalet, 2-3 hours with a picnic. ;)
Difficulty: none

Day 6- Another up to Mont Tsa-Pla to see the Virgin Maria ;) and then down for a last hot chocolate at Albergo Le Belvedere.

Auberge le Belvedere has the best homemade REAL hot chocolate, as well as breakfast and food! It is a nice place to stay and quite cheap and are a very nice family!

So there we are, one week to discover Aosta Valley peaks in 5 easy steps! Let me know if you want more information on maps and distances!
Thanks to #Christophelesaux for this adventure!
Thanks to Merrell for the Allout Rush!

Next stop: Preparing for Les Mascareignes!

Cordillera Blanca Trail Race 200km, 10500m of elevation gain, 8 days

After these 3 days of acclimation, it was time to start what we actually came for: "running the cordillera". If felt more like fast packing, hiking up, jogging flat and running down but at least we cover 200km in 8 days and so wonderful scenery and people!

Stage 1- 10 km, Hualcayan (3140m) to Calamina (4400m), 1300m elevation gain

To access the Cordillera Blanca Trail, we took a bus to Hualcayan (3140 m) to get to Calamina ( 4400). Calamina is a small lake with some grounds to put your tents and get fresh water. It is only 10 kilometeres but due to the attitude, it is a good first day. I had taken 1L of water, but that wasn't enough, I ate before the start and that wasn't a good idea. Fruits would have actually been better instead of a carby quinoa salad! But we all made it eventually and settle camp to enjoy our first night under the stars!

Time needed:  2:00 - 3:00 hours

Difficulties: the heat and attitude!

Stage 2- 20 km from Calamina to Ruinas (4000m), 900m of elevation gain

From Calamina, we followed the water pip tand came across this beautiful glacier lake as seen on the center of the collage. We then carry on to go throgh Toropishtanan pass (4800m). It starts flat to warm you up and then starts to climb up gradually. When you reach the pass, you then go down on a nice downhill to go back up to the next pass Vientunan ( 4750m). From there, the hard climbing stops for you to enjoy a nice downhill, reach a long and flat ( 7-8 km) river trail to get to Ruinas (4300m) , where we set camp again.

Time needed: it felt like we spend all day, the flatshish section felt longer than any of the climbs….but it actually took the fasted guy 4 hours and the slowest group 6 hours

Difficulties: to join the Vientunan pass, you really need to look for the trail as it is in between rocks that look the same! If you are going down, you are on the wrong path...

Stage 3- Ruinas  to Huilca (4000 m) - 13km, 750m of elevation gain, 900m descent

After a good night sleep and sharing the makeshif camp ground with a nice bunch of American, we started our day by going through some very wet grassy pass jumping from grass patch to grass patch before reaching a long and sharp mountain pass. The path is not easily identifiable. If you are lucky you find it, if you are not so lucky ( like Mick and I) you will end up making your own way which will take you much longer than the official one...so good luck finding the official one. Not impossible but very difficult. The good thing it is only for 150 m of ascent before reaching the official one no matter what so, I bite my tongue and carried one. When you reach Garagara mountain pass (4800m), you will go down keeping the river onto your right (otherwise it will be boggy and you will waste quite a bit of time and dry socks) before reaching the second pass of the day while looking up for condors ( national Peruvian bird, HUGE but harmless). Huilca is a one hut, where you will have a nice river with fresh water and set camps among the lama fields.

Time needed: 3 hours

Difficulties: the boogy pampas if you don't stay on track  

Stage 4- Huilca (4000m) to Pingospampa (3800m) – 13km 650 elevation gain, - 1400m descent

Another good night of sleep, with some coca tea and banana porridge for breakfast and we are set to do our last short stage ( by then we should be more accustomed to the attitude and push the distance without too much drawbacks)

The trail will be on the right side of the hut towards the Yanayacon pass (4330m), you will cross a wet pampa before reaching a small rocks mountain pass. From there, you go down to a very wet flat pampa, stay on the left of the mountain or you will again enjoy some wet smelly socks and shoes. :)

Enjoy the nice trail to reach the second mountain pass Ventanilla (4350m). It is a sort of a cliff with tunnel looking parts, not long and enjoyable so keep a eye on the trail or you'll find yourself in another cliff and not in Pingospampa. Which would be a shame because where the villagers will be waiting for you with fresh beers and ocras. We set camp on a dry part of flat pampa with again a nice small river ( you could catch a fish for supper, but don't really count on it, we didn't get any…)

Time: 3-5 hours

Difficulties : The wet pampa made if very difficult to get on the right trail. 

Stage 5 - Pingospampa (3800) to Yanama (3400m), 33km, 2000m elevation gain, 2100 of descent. 

From Pinfospampa, we are going to Yanama, a small village where we will be sleeping in a hotel and have our first shower since the start! It was worth the extra kilometres!
We first went up towards the mountain pass of Tupatupa. Quite long first climb to then go down towards a small village full of eucalyptus trees, to go back up another while…Then it's all down towards the river crossing before climbing up to Yanama. It was very hot, and water was very dear. Peruvian are awesome at sharing with you the little they have with a big smile! As you can notice the kilometres are longer, why? the attitude is lower and you should be more accustomed to the attitude. :)
Time: 6 to 9 hours
Difficulties: finding our way after that first downhill and bull chasing!
Alternative: If you are too tired to go to Yanama, when you cross the village just af

Stage 6- Yanama (3400m) to Chacas (3360m), 36 km, 1300m of elevation gain, 1350m of descent

Another long day to enable us to reach another village Chacas, where we will spend another night in a hotel.
The scenery makes up for the fact that for 20km you are on a jeep track, you go up to a Pusha mountain pass (4050m) go down while crossing tiny villages smelling eucalyptus, reach the main road where you can load of powerade or anything you fancy in Acochaca, cross the river to then finally go back up again on a school kids paths who will be walking along with you while chatting (a lot!) and with no effort before reaching the small village of Chacas. There we had time to visit the town centre made of wood and ate a very nice Causa Limena avocado peruvian mash!
Time: 4 to 7 hours
Difficulties: None, it was quite straight forward
Alternative: If you are too tired to go Chacas when you arrive at Acochaca you can take a bus.

Stage 7: Chacas- Huari (3150m), 36km, 1600m of elevation gain, 1400m of descent. 

Another long one to reach the Lake Huari where you'll have a nice little cafe and relax your legs in the lake. You first start nicely in the woods, crossing the river and getting into some wet pampa with waterfalls on your left. You then have to climb at 4650m ( very cold and windy) to be able to join the path for the lake, more went pampa after the rocky downhill to cross a river before arriving on another mountain grassy trails, there it's a rollcoster until you can finally see the lake. From there, it is a long downhill not too technical to arrive at the bottom of the Lake. Enjoy but be careful of the nasty flies when you get into the tent, or you will itch for days!
Difficulties: the long ascent before reaching the mountain pass at 4650m.
Time: 6-9 hours

Stage 8 : Chavin 3140m to Oleros, 42 km 1800m of elevation gain, 1500m of descent

To reach Chavin, we took a day off to get from Huari to Chavin by bus…it took from 6 hours in total but at least we got to visit Chavin and relax at the hotel a bit with a warm shower.
The following day, we started the climb to get on the higher plateaux of Chavin to reach Yanashllash mountain pass ( 4600m, you'll feel it!). When you get to the top, it's a long down hill to the pampa which will then lead you to more pampa until you don't want to see pampa again! climb a little more before reaching Oleros and take a bus to Huaraz.
Difficulty: the long way in the pampa is a mental killer
Time: 6-9 hours

There we go, 9 days, 8 stages. Awesome memories in such a short space of time…I miss it very much but we have so much more to see…and the summits to do! So stay tune on Michael's Blog!

Acclimating for la Cordillera Blanca Trail- Peru

Finally, I am able to put some words and pictures down for our Peruvian adventure.
If you want a blow by blow account you should read Mick's 3 parts blog posts.  It is awesome and give another insight. For me,  I wanted to share how it all came together trough pictures and show you that you can do it too even if you don't speak french, spanish or german ;)

La Cordillera Blanca trail is a 200 km (124 miles) , 10500m (35000feet) in 8 stages, designed by Christophe LeSeaux, a french elite distance runner who loves to show to other runners beautiful places while running and eating well, and Adventures Andines, a small trekking company with the BEST cooks  ( with the attitude and everything, this is the most important!!!) and guides.

Day 1- Lima, its markets and icons

The air there is quite sticky and polluted. The noise is unbelievable…but the food is so nice

Hiking the Cordillera Blanca for non-local people can be tricky…you do less with more effort! So before we started the trail, we had to travel to Hurraz located at 3100m to become acclimated to the attitude. To get there, the only way is via a Bus...

Not your typical British double decker looking bus thou, we were told we could actually sleep. It's a night bus, where you are served some food and watch cartoons on an old fashioned TV. Sounded quite cool! What they don't tell you if that it was designed for Peruvien people (small size) therefore if you are tall like Mick and you have someone in front of you putting their seat down fully, you will have a 8hours journey from hell…luckily we were with other members of the trek and the guys shared the pain! 

Day 2 - Huaraz (3100m) & La casa de Zarela

We arrived in Huaraz at 6 am, took our quarters at Zarela Bed and Breakfast,  we visited a bit while starting an acclimation hike in the surrounding area.

We went up and up to the top, then go back down, by then we were all tired so we recovered…with a local beer! 

Day 3-  Laguna Llaca- 4200m

We took another bus (tiny one) with an awesome driver. Hike to the Laguna, ate (but not too much) and then it was already time to go down…hiking till the bus caught us up :) 

Day 4- Pasturi Glacier 5200

We took another bus for another acclimation hike. This one was going to get us on top of a glacier of 5200m of attitude!!!

We arrived at the top and Christophe tells us we can go higher to have a view on another cordillera.

With that, it was decided that we were ready for the race.

South Downs Way 50: Not such a bad training run

South Downs Way 50: A 50 miler up and down the south downs of England. One I started and not finished last year. One where I learnt 10 lessons and hope I've learnt them well.

Looming in the distance are dark clouds onto the South Downs way  but in my head this time, there is no doubt,  this is “only” a training run to help me with the Barcelona Ultra Trail, so I just need to do as much as I can until I think my training is done.  There is no crazy sub hours pace to follow or a early bus to catch. This time we will run to make it for the 9 pm bus, and Mick says we can run it easy for a 9 hours finish. All seems to be quite manageable so why not?

So I do everything I've learnt from last year from breakfast: eggs, bacon, broccoli and avocado washed down with a cinnamon cocoa coffee to a clif shot 15 min before the start

With that in mind and Mick on my side, we start the SDW race at a slow pace and because it rained the day before, we are a bit like balls in bobsledder track trying to maintain balance while not running over each other. It is a bit exhausting so we give up passing other runners and wait to be in a bigger clearing to get into a comfortable pace.  But to do 9 hours finish Mick tells me we need to run an average of 6.30min/kilometres and I don’t know how a 6.30 min feels like in a long run, so I just nod and follow him

Reaching the clearing it is time for serious running with a clear strategy: run the flat, downs and shallow hills, walk the stepper ones. It works for the first 27 miles and after passing CP4 (last year drop out) I get tired and start to have some cramps... I haven't had cramps for the last 3 years... I forgot how it feels and that makes me moody! I need to slow down I know it but it's so hard I really want to run with Mick. He makes it look so easy and is looking at his watch ...aiaia getting paranoid I ask him how bad it is. It's quite bad the average is off...so I try to accelerate but the cramps are quite violent...I'm pressuring myself in running with Mick...not such a great idea we decide and just before CP5 after much debating that he is going to drop me. Mick goes off to complete it in 8hours33 while I plot along managing the cramps and decide I need to finish this as I'm not doing it again!
Arriving at Alfriston I gorge myself of tea and fruits as I found it eases the cramps. Knowing there is a lemon drizzle to die for at the last CP I find some motivation to go a bit faster but aware I'm no longer following the initial pace and finally finish in 9hours18 min! Which surprises me quite a bit and gets me hyper because we can catch the 6:30 pm bus and go home earlier then predicted! 

I'm so glad I did it thou as I got to see so many familiar faces and new ones! What a great community is the ultra running one :) but what a training day! I never ran that much in my life and I'm glad I've completed it! I'm no keen on this running strategy and rather want the run the downs walk the rest haha so I really hope Barcelona Ultra Trail will have less running involve! For sure I'm a mountain runner...

Back in the running game: The joy of ski mountainering and a lesson learnt from not signing up for Trans Gran Canaria

Chasing snow

After the shameful DNF of 3x3000 back in early November where I picked up a nasty ankle sprain, I didn't want to be running anymore...at all or do any sort of exercises. Silly I know but after all of the training and good times we had during our 3 months break, I couldn't bear the thought that all of it was now down the drain thanks to a sprain. What was the point? The season was over, we were back in gloomy England with its little hills and rain sucking the daylight out of you. Nothing to get me out of this dark clouds, not even sorting out our 3 weeks break in the Alps in Mick's hometown.

Mid December, we landed in Geneva for the 3 weeks break barely prepared and drove to St Jean de Maurienne by looking out the car windows and staring at the snowy mountains tops. So ever slowly staring out and picturing our little self in these massive mountains was dissipating some of these dark clouds in my head. Feet getting itchy, I eagerly fell asleep hoping that these mountains could heal me. We were lucky, Smartwool had sent us some winter gear to test during our ski mountaineering break, so the following day, like a kid at Christmas here I was putting on the PHD support bra, baselayer, tights and socks from #Smartwool and pestering Mick to go out in the mountains. But there was not much snow, so we ended up walking up to a snowy top and then painfully going down again.

Dark clouds looming on my horizon, Mick said to not get too flustered yet, my ankle was going to get better with the ski mountaineering, we just need to find some snow. 

So on the second day we do just that, snow hunting. Apparently there is some in Val Frejus. With the same #Smartwool clothing of the day before, we set off to the bottom of the slop. There is barely any snow...We have to walk quite a bit with our ski on our back to get to something decent in order to justify putting the skis on but wow it's worth the wait and the 1h hike.The shoes were as light as running shoes, I was not too warm nor too cold and when we put the skis on, I felt at peace. To get the hand of moving up with the skins on is not too hard but to get the “technique” is another story.

Mick who had been skiing since 3 years old had also read ski mountaineering books, watched videos and researched on how to do things before our arrival so now he was going up like a pro while teaching me the basics :)With every upward steps and trickling sweat, my old happy self dared making an appearance. Mick looked at me and smiled no words were needed. He did tell me how this break was going to be good for our bodies and I wasn't believing it before. But with the ankle nicely tucked in the ski boots not moving sideways or doing funny things and amazing views, there was no sign of my usual dark clouds and I was felling good. For the next 3 days ( until Christmas) all we done was ski mountaineering.Still with the same Smartwhool apparel ( keeping us warm while keeping the moist away) we went up and discovered some trails we had gone during the summer but without the waou white effect and went deeper into the Maurienne valley to reach some peaks and lakes which were magnificent. 

Just writing these lines puts me back into the elation of the moment when we reach the view of Lac du Mont Cenis.

White Velvet

And so we couldn't wait for Christmas Day and its feast to pass to go back deeper in the mountains where I felt whole. For another 6 days we went up and down, climbed Mont Emy more than a few times as the snow was getting rarer everywhere else (apparently Italy got most of it) and slowly got back into some kind of shape. My anger against my powerless body was diminishing with each outing, I was starting to think that maybe I could go back running.

After these 3 weeks ski mountaineering, it was time to return to England, the lack of mountains with enough stress at work and continuous rainy days did the trick for the dark clouds to come back. I did try to run and shake it off but not only had the Brat come back but a shin splint was installed comfortably up my left leg! so no way I was going to sign up to run 125km with this mind and body state! It's so weird how our mind can play vicious games...I should have just sign up and hell with the body/mind state!

But Mick (who has none of my silly issues) signed up for the TGC 125km race and planned to stay 1 week prior to the race to train in the Gran Canaria's mountains.

Trans Gran Canaria 125 Km

Of course, being his beloved wife, I organised our stay (even thou I did wonder how good would it be for him if I cannot run around but can pester him with my dark clouds) and set up camp in Tejeda, Gran Canaria.

 

View from our rental in Tejeda

  It's such a beautiful village tucked in the mountains, quiet and sunny. We ate oranges and lemons on a daily basis and there was this almond cake to die for! 

Roque Nublo and La Palma in the horizon

To get me to come out and run longer, Mick lured me into doing long outing for a piece of cake. 

View from Cruz de Tejeda

Haha it worked fine :) No brat, no shin splint, not once I've twisted the ankle and no dark clouds. 
 After one week in Tejeda, I felt so much better that I was now regretting not signing up. So much so that watching Mick getting ready for the race was heart breaking. So I started making plans on driving Mick to the start, taking my running #smartwool apparel (same gear as the mountainering one, it actually keeps you cool in the warmer weather) and run the first 20 km with everyone else. But Mick tells the organisation won't be too impress...so when he went to register , I asked the organisation if I could run it anyway, surely some people won't start on the day, I could start for them no? But no, for some insurance reason, I can't run the race.

Fine! Lesson learnt! Next time, just sign up for the race and take the cancellation fee. Who knows what might come along and undo all of the dark matter in you?

As for now, I've signed up for SDW 50, Ultratrail Barcelona, Lakes District Extreme 100, Ultra Trail des Belledones and Grand Raid de la Reunion with no cancellation fee ;) Life's too short right?

Don't miss out on Mick's TGC 125 km 2015 race report, I'm sure it will make you want to come along next year ;)