L'ultra trail l'echappée belle ...

Chamonix valley + Switzerland:)

how nice to see you again Mont-Blanc :)

Friday night in Annecy...and so happy to see Cristina, after....3 years now!how time flies!

23.08 Saturday

Lesson no. 3 = Baby sleep!

Argentière - Refuge Albert 1er (2702m)

D1= 1400m D+

One other very big important thing...rest! get some rest, woman! 

Today I've felt all the sleeples nights, stress (from having to search and move to another appartement twice in 1 month only, preparing trips, getting used to the new job and things to do, getting over the breaking up making up never ending story). 

Even if I do not get the chance to go running during the week beacause of many other things I have to do...now, this morning I feel all the fatigue in my bones and heart accumulated from the last month. 

I was so worn out! children on the path doubled me up the way with such an ease...

so the secret is sleep. Like no other day before...at 7p.m. i go to sleep...and magique happens...a long 12h sleep without waking up and not even turning...and in the morning I'm fresh as a daisy!

No wonder children run up and down all day...they sleep well!

24.08 Sunday

Happy birthday bro' :)! 

Part 1

Vallorcine - Switzerland :) - Lac Emosson - Col de la Terrasse (2648m) - Vallorcine

D2 = 12k, 1500 D+

and there we are...my first time in Switzerland (I don't count being in the Geneva airport:p)...what a pleasure to pass the frontiere while hiking...aaa that's more like it! First glimpses of Swiss:) Alps!

Because my train leaves only at 22 p.m., I'll get the chance to sleep later on...

I have some time to go in the Aiguilles Rouges for an even better panorama of the glaciers and Mont Blanc.

Part 2 

Col des Montets - Lac des Cheserys - Argentière

D2 = 6km, 700m D+

I always like to discover new places and not go twice in the same spot, that is why I have chosen to go in Switzerland in the morning. 

Now that I had some spare time I've returned to les Aiguilles Rouges, which I've seen 3 years ago, but always so beautiful and with really really good balcony like views towards the glaciers. I heartly recommand les Aiguilles Rouges!

in the mean time I see all the way people running up and down the slopes...I later found out which big events are comming up...the following weekend: UTMB, CCC, TDS, OCC, PTL. So strong chance some stars of the ultra running gang have passed me :)

Parc National de la Vanoise + Vallée de la Maurienne + Italie :)

yet another patch of Earth to discover!

The best thing about returning in the Alps is that I feel (really) more at home than in Paris:) and than in my ex boyfriend's nest.

some kind hearted, jolly people, no two alike on the face of the Earth. Special thanks to Petrana, Sophanna, Lenny :), Damien, Cristina, Gael, Victorita and Ion that I later encountered. I wouldn't have been able to finish my 80k without your help and support (I never feel alone when entering the Rhone-Alpes:).
* and the people that picked me up while hitchhiking, many many I've met during my August weekend trips, many smiles, jokes and encouragements...and they also made it possible.

15.08 Friday
Pralognan-la-Vanoise - Col de la Vanoise (2517m) - Refuge de l'Arpont (2309m) - Termignon
D1 = 22k, 1500 D+

First snow flakes of the season:) a very nice surprise, I've adored it!
being with the backpack, tent and all...the path was ok, but I've decided that I need steeper terrain and bigger elevation difference in order to help me train for the trail at the end of the month... and besides that I would be better off leaving the backpack so that I can move freely...beacause even if I'm strong :p and tough :) walking with a backpack will so much slow you down...i've felt it...once I take it down...I lift 1 inch of the ground and feel like having wings stretching after a deep sleep.
and walking light...will be more like the way I'll do it in the trail.

so...base camp ...camping de Bramans.

16.08 Saturday 
Bramans - Refuge de Bramanette - Col de Bramanette (2855m) - Col d'Etache (2855m) - ITALIA - Refuge Scarfiotti (2160m) - Col de Pelouse (2793m) - Forts d'Esseillon
D2 = app. 34k, 2800 D+
(using the gps garmin data, the information calculated on the site is false, don't ask me why:)

later at my arrival at the camping I meet Victorita and Ion...that cheered me up and lightened up my soul (because I have to say ...I was broken hearted for a looong while now...beacause I am of "petit nature" and things like that just throw me down to earth, make me small and void my energy)

and it was so good...and funny to see them laugh at me...while asking me....but..." you run just like that on the hills?...hmm... all day? ..and they were so amused by what I do..they thought I might have a problem up there:))" . So good to meet people from home...with their sweet old words and warm voice.

17.08 Sunday
Lesson number 2 - The fogg
Saint Pierre d'Extravache - Etache Saint Barthelemy - Sentier des Glaces - Pas de la Coche (2968m) - (2347m) - Col d'Agnel ( 3091m) - ITALIA - Refuge Vaccarone (2741m) - Col Clapier (2477m) - Val Clarea - San Giuseppe
D3 = 30k, 2000 D+

Happy to get back to Italy...aaa Italia bella!
It's so cool to trek from one country to another...no frontieres...you can go as far as you like and discover and satisfy your curiosity, like a real geographer:p

while at the Col Clapier, I was in the fog and rather tired, the night would fall in no time I had to be quick and even start running to get back faster while the daylight. So, I did not even take out and have a look at my map...I was running out of time...I was sure France was on the other side of the pass(and at the same time I was busy calculating how much time do I need to get to the tent). So...in the fog...I got confused and continued to follow the trace...I found it bizzare it does not start going down straight away ..but it stays up and continues on the pass. So I've followed it...I've seen signs different from the french ones and pannels writen in italian...and I thought strange, this must be a frontiere region of france where italian is more spoken...later on after a long long long descent I realize I'm still in Italy...the first time in the situation!!!!!!uaaaaaa I'm still in Italy!!!!! no way in hell!

I could either ask to sleep in a house in the village or...run run run to get as fast as possible to the road that leads to Lac du Mont Cenis and then in France. So I gave it a go and ran ran ran....even if I was quite tired...I've tempered myself, thinking that either way...in the trail in Belledonne I will run at night time so this will help me...at the same time I was forced to do more km than usual...so I said...I prefer to suffer now more and less later...
Once arrived at the S25...I stop the first car in the village...which way is France????
I place myself on the side of the road...and with more guts than ever I make a sign to hitchhike...first car...lucky. They just saved my arse:). a nice young couple from Grenoble :) with which I'll later keep in touch...so so happy they've stopped...what a relief ...so much the more they were so nice.
Moreover the camping was on their route...and they dropped me off in front of it:)....my feet were saved.

Victorita and Ion were waiting to drink with me a cup of wine as we decided yesterday. I've tried with no luck to call them from Italy and tell them I'll be late...but not to worry.
And another thing...I thought that maybe they will call the mountain rescue or of the kind...so while in Italy in the village I've tried to call them (just in case) and tell them I'm safe and sound...but no luck... no network and did not know which number to call...i've tried all...nothing!
so this is a thing to think of...be sure the tel works and you have the good numbers...and even know a bit of the language of the country you're in.

18.08 Monday
Bramans - Aussois (by sentier botanique) - Refuge de la Dent Parrachée (2511m) - Aussois
D4 = 20k, 1300 D+

Once again...no time to lose. In the afternoon I have a car in (carpooling) that will take me back to Paris) so I make the most out of Monday (that my bosses, so kindly gave to me. People so understanding just changed my life style, ! (I've quit my job in May and now I'm working elsewhere).

And I've also bumped into Elodie, that I've not seen for a while now...I'll surely remember to come next year and climb La Dent Parrachée...for me it's enough to say once...i'll be there :) Elodie

Ecrins + Belledonne

9.08 Saturday
Villar d'Arene - Refuge Adèle Planchard (3169m) - Villar d'Arene
Parcours 22k, 1900 D+

(choose IGN background, with pretty little maps)
start + finish Grenoble


The best thing about Grenoble...it's that he's at a stone's throw away from the mountains I adore and worship:).

In the back of my mind, evry so often ...the dream of settling down closer to them...arrrr...you know what I mean...it's the moment you ask yourself "What the fuck am I doing here (Paris, Ile de France life ... nonsense...no bloody sense... it's not me, not a part of me and never will be...living in this town)...but I keep still, rummaging, not making the step...

sometimes  I feel like I need...to push the barriers, break the walls, I am surrounded and squeezed by the noise, lots of noise, fast movements, people speeding, noise...and when I get loose and get there...all becomes still and silent when I open my eyes .... it's like holy land I walk on... and I become myself...oh, dear <deep sigh>

10.08 Sunday
Chamrousse - Refuge de la Pra - Chamrousse
Parcours 14k, 400m D+

well...half a day left before the train leaves...no time to loose:)
Today I return to the essence...Belledonne and where it all started.

17h...I let my feet lead me to the train station, feeling refreshed and good after charging the batteries... I know that in 5 days I'll be up there again:)... so you can bring them on, ready to battle :) ...computers, offices, people running about, noise, rain, metros and trains...

Les Chateaux de la Loire - Tours - continued

a velo
+ Stephane, Raphael.

1.08 vineri - Tours
2.08 sambata - Tours - Azay le Rideau - Rigny-Ussé (visite de château) - Langeais - Villandry - Tours (100km?)
3.08 duminica - Tours - Amboise (visite château) - Chenonceaux - Chaumont sur Loire - Blois (80km?)