In 1991 I pitched my tent in the same spot as far more famous climber from South Africa had done 8 years before. Chamonix is the birth place of alpinism and modern mountain travel. The view from Snell’s Field camp site at sunset up the Mer du Glas to the Dru was and still is inspiring. IContinue reading “Two Trails, Three Runs – SPARC Trail Running Talk 12/12/17. My UTMB and TTR experience”
Tag Archives: utmb
“When is enough, enough?” Ian asked
I close my eyes in the crowd, in that town square, in that time. Vangelis is playing – Chamonix town square at the start of UTMB I can still feel the tears now, many years later. The point of life is to grow and to have fun. If you can have fun while growing thenContinue reading ““When is enough, enough?” Ian asked”
Run Like a Girl
The first time I met Krissy she talked about running 100 mile trail races all around the world. She was in SA to run the first edition of the Addo 100 mile trail race. (Sadly the Addo 100 does no longer exist) Later that year she became the youngest person to complete the Grand SlamContinue reading “Run Like a Girl”
Running the TMB – Guide to a circumnavigation around Mont Blanc and a traverse through three countries!
Chamonix is the staging ground for many mountain adventures. Mont Blanc (Western Europe’s highest peak at 4810m) towers above town. Mont Blanc also defines the border between Italy and France. The adventure I describe here is the Trail du Mont Blanc. This is a multi-day hiking trail which starts in the Chamonix valley andContinue reading “Running the TMB – Guide to a circumnavigation around Mont Blanc and a traverse through three countries!”
utmb 2010 in pictures
Chamonix Valley: peaks on the left are: Les Drus, Aiguile du Midi (furthest right of the spikes) and Mont Blanc (highest peak in Western Europe) UTMB runs down the valley and finishes high on the slopes on the right. UTMB Leg 1: View down the valley from Chamonix showing Les Houches and theContinue reading “utmb 2010 in pictures”
aiguile du midi
The sun has finally appeared! There is an amazing vibe in town with slick looking dudes in bright coloured shoes, packs and jackets everywhere. And I am not talking about climbers either. Trails runners from all over the world have descended onto Chamonix over the last few days. It is the size of the ArgusContinue reading “aiguile du midi”
Western States 100 2010
This last weekend was the 39th running of the oldest 100 miler in the US. The Western States started as a horse race after Wendell T. Robie rode the distance from Squaw Valley to Auburn in California in 1955. In 1974 Gordy Ainsleigh ran the course after his horse fell sick just before the race.Continue reading “Western States 100 2010”