Eeyore's in the Alps, Chamonix, France

Image taken on 2006-06-06 07:03:15 by nikoretro.

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Video: ASICS "Outrun the Sun" Trail Running Challenge

Last summer, ASICS hosted an incredible tail running event that challenged two teams of endurance athletes to "outrun the sun" around Mont Blanc in Europe. The relay race started and ended in Chamonix, France but crossed through Italy and Switzerland along the way as well. Covering a total distance of 152 km (94.4 miles), the route took runners through some of the most mountainous terrain in the region, forcing them to climb a combined 8450 meters (27,723 ft) in the process. The event was held on June 21, the longest day of the year. With sunrise taking place at 5:44 AM and sunset occurring at 8:48 PM, they had roughly 14.5 hours to run the route while the sun was still overhead.

The video below, which comes our way courtesy of EpicTV, gives us a glimpse at this challenge. I won't spoil the final results, but lets just say it was a tough run with some impressive results.

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Sign-Up for the Inaugural TransArabia Ultramarathon, Get a Discounted Entry into the TransPyrenea 895 Too!

Ultrarunners who had been hoping to take part in the 2015 TransPyrenea 895 race, but found themselves missing the cutoff for registration may just have a second chance to get in on the adventure. The race reached its 300 person cap weeks ago, leaving some of the top endurance athletes in the world on the outside looking in. But now, organizers of the TransPyrenea have announced that they will accept the next ten people who enter TransArabia ultramarathon as well, allowing them join the ranks of competitors at their event. And to sweeten the incentive even further, they're willing to provide a €500 (roughly $620) discount off the entry fee as well.

Organizers for these two great events have teamed up to give ultrarunners the ultimate challenge for 2015 – run a stunning course through the deserts of Jordan, and another through the breathtaking Pyrenees of France. The first of those races will take place starting on February 22, when runners will set off from the shores of the Dead Sea on a 300 km (186 mile) race that will take them through ancient villages, past the lost city of Petra, and into the very heart of Wadi Rum. Then, later in the year, they'll also take on the demanding 895 km (556 mile) TransPyrenea route that will test their legs with more than 52,000 meters (170,600 ft) of vertical gain in the Pyrenees. Both races promise to be incredibly demanding, pushing the competitors to their absolute physical limits.

 For someone who had been hoping to run the TransPyrenea but found themselves missing the entry cut-off, this is a bit of a reprieve. These ten entrants will get to race two of the most exciting ultra events on the calendar for 2015, with more to follow. The two race management teams also promise a big announcement that will be coming soon, with a sister race for the TransPyenea being announced for 2016. Those who race in both events in 2015 will be on the fast track for entrance to those races the following year as well.

If you were hoping to run a major ultra race next year, but just haven't gotten around to registering for one yet, this must might be the opportunity you've been looking for. But act fast, as these ten entries are likely to go quickly, particularly since they now involve not one, but two races, and a discount as well.

Good luck to all the runners in both of these amazing events.

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Video: Swoopy Summer - Speedflying in Chamonix

Here's a fun video from filmmaker Arnaud Longobardi. It features some great scenes from this past summer in Chamonix, France, where the speedflying, wingsuit jumping, and paragliding appear to be amazing. The scenery in, and around, Chamonix is second to none, and it is well known for being one of the great outdoor playgrounds in all of Europe. Here, you get some great shots of it from the air, and on the ground.

swoopy summer from Arnaud Longobardi on Vimeo.

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Video: Mountain Biking Les Arcs, France

Earlier today, we had a video of mountain bikers riding the wet trails of central England. Now, we jump across the Channel to France, where the conditions are decidedly more tolerable, and the scenery incredibly breathtaking. In this video, a couple of riders head to the French Alps, near the ski resort of Les Arcs, to make on some of the backcountry trails found there. The landscapes are nothing short of spectacular, and the riding looks sublime. This looks like a fantastic place to go for a ride.

MADproductions: Backcountry Spirit from Trans-Savoie on Vimeo.

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Video: Proximity Wingsuit Flying in the Alps

If you need further proof that wingsuit pilots have nerves of steel, check out the video below. It features Jokke Sommer and Halvor Angvik as they make an incredible flight down the Le Catogne in the Alps of France. At some points, the two men are so low to the ground that they're actually skimming the tree tops on what they both described as one of the longest flights of their careers. Amazing stuff for sure, but it only reminds me of why I'd like to keep my feet firmly on the ground.

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Video: Mountain Biking Mont Blanc Backcountry Singletrack

There is no question that the trails on, and around, Mont Blanc offer up some great opportunities for outdoor athletes. In this video, courtesy of our friends at EpicTV, two mountain bikers explore the fantastic singletrack that can be found there, and as you can probably imagine, the landscapes are beautiful. This is an entirely different kind of riding than the Red Bull Rampage video I shared earlier, and much more suited to they way I like to hit the trail.

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Video: A Climbing and Paragliding Adventure in Chamonix

A few weeks back, climber Julien Irilli had himself quite an adventure in the Alps near Chamonix, France. Irilli began the day by first taking a cable car to the top of the Aiguille Du Midi. From there, he then paraglider off the mountain, and soared to the foot of the Grandes Jorasses. Once back on the ground, he then climbed the North Face via the Colton/Macintyre route in just 3.5 hours. Once he reached the summit, then paraglided from the top once again, and was back in Chamonix before 4 PM. The video below gives us a glimpse of that adventure, with our friends at EpicTV catching up with Julien to get more insight on his climb and glide.

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Video: An Alps Travelogue to Mont Blanc

Shot in the Alps near Chamonix, France this past July, this video follows a trio of climbers as they head to Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in Western Europe. It is a wonderful three-and-a-half minute film of the journey to the summit, complete with mountain lodges, glacial traverses, and spectacular views.

Alps Travelogue - Mont Blanc from Bruno Aretio on Vimeo.

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Peak to Peak 2014 Expedition a Success!

Back in August, I posted a story about the Peak to Peak 2014 Expedition, an attempt by adventurers Grant "Axe" Rawlinson and Alan Silva to climb the highest mountains in the U.K. and France, while traveling between those two peaks completely under human power. I'm happy to report that they were successful in their endeavor, and had a heck of an adventure along the way.

The two men began the expedition by first climbing Ben Nevis, a 1344 meter (4409 ft) mountain located in Lochaber region of the Scottish Highlands. If you know anything about Ben Nevis, you probably know that there is a popular tourist trail that leads to the top. But Grant and Alan weren't planning on taking that route. Instead, they wanted to go off the beaten path, and scale the North Face of the mountain, which actually requires some technical rock climbing to complete. Unfortunately, a late start didn't allow them the time to go that intended climb however, so they elected on an alternate route known as the CMD arete. This wasn't as technical, but did involve quite a bit of rock scrambling instead.

After successfully reaching the highest point in the U.K., the two men climbed aboard their bikes the following day, and started to ride south. They peddled their way through the Scottish Highlands, past Glencoe Valley, into Glasgow, and eventually across the border into England itself. Their cycling journey continued through the Yorkshire Dales, in and out of quaint little English villages, and includes a fair share of stops at popular pubs along the way.

Eventually, the duo arrived in London, where the next phase of the journey would begin. They had to face the daunting task of crossing the English Channel, which they did by kayak, although there was a hitch. French regulations prohibit paddling across the channel, to Grant and Alan completed most of the journey under their own power, then boarded a support ship to take them across a French shipping channel so that they would be compliant with the rules and regulations. This was a 5-6 mile stretch of water, which prohibited them from making the entire journey under their own power. While it is okay to swim across the English Channel, the French don't want any unseemly paddlers coming to their shores.


Once safely in France, they returned to their bikes and started their ride towards the Alps, and Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe. It took them 8 days to do so, following back country roads, as they were not allowed to cycle on the main highways. They once again enjoyed scenic, pastoral, countryside, along with inviting French villages, good food, and lovely places to stay.

By the time they arrived in Chamonix, and were preparing for their final challenge – a summit of Mont Blanc – the boys were starting to run out of time. They had set aside just 24 days for the entire expedition, and they had been on the road for more than 18 already. They needed good weather, and some luck on their side, if they hoped to complete the Peak to Peak adventure on schedule.

Climbing the mountain would take a couple of days, as they made the ascent in traditional Alps fashion, going hut-to-hut, until they could launch a final push to the top early one morning. A successful summit came later in the day, and Grant and Alan would eventually descend back to Chamonix with their mission accomplished.

I have given you just a brief overview of the journey. If you really want to hear what it was all about, you should read the full account that Grant posted to his website. It contains far more details and good information for anyone who would like to make a similar expedition in the future.

Congratulations to Axe and Alan on competing this adventure. It is a good example of what is possible when you have just a few weeks vacation to play with, but want to do something adventurous, without requiring a lot of money. This is definitely an inspiration to adventurers everywhere.

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Video: BASE Jumper Completes 49 Jumps in 19 Days

BASE jumper and wingsuit pilot Ian McIntosh traveled to France and Switzerland recently, where he was able to complete an astounding 49 jumps in just 19 days. The video below captures some of the action, as well as some of the other hijinks that occurred along the way. The best shots from the jumps come near the end of the video, but it looks like the entire trip was amazing.

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Video: Wingsuit Flying in Brévent, France

Brévent is a mountain near Chamonix in in France that has become one of the top destinations for wingsuit pilots looking to test their skills. It is popular in part because it is easy to access, but also because it gives wingsuiters multiple routes to explore. The video below is a good introduction to the place, and features some great shots of the pilots doing their thing.

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Video: Running the UTMB with Anton Krupicka

A few weeks back, hundreds of runners lined up to take on the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, a grueling run around Mont Blanc that crosses through France, Italy, and Switzerland. It is widely considered to be amongst the toughest foot races in the world, and a true test for ultra-runners. The video below takes us through that amazing event with runner Anton (Tony) Krupicka, who is a member of the Buff Pro Team. The 5+ minute clip gives us some insights into the mind of these runners, while also sharing some fantastic images from the race itself.

Anton (Tony) Krupicka UTMB 2014 - BUFF® PRO TEAM from Víctor Rins on Vimeo.

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Video: Precision Wingsuit Flying on the Mont Blanc Massif

Ready for a little boost of adrenaline? Then check out the video below which comes our way courtesy of our friends over at EpicTV. It features wingsuit pilot Vincent Descols as he puts on an impressive display of precision flying over the Le Catogne, a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif in France. You'll marvel at how this daredevil zips down the slopes, dangerously close to the ground.

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French Adventurer Wakes From Coma, Recovering Well After Fall

Last week I posted the story of Sylvain Tesson, a popular French writer and adventurer who was injured after falling ten meters while climbing a chateau on Chamonix. Tesson, who routinely scales man-made structures such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, landed on his back, and struck his head on the ground, causing serious injuries and putting him in a coma. At the time of the original story, it was unclear if he would recover, but since then he has made significant progress, and doctors are cautiously optimistic that he will suffer no long term effects from his injuries. 

According to a recent update, Sylvain has awoken from the coma, and shows no signs of memory loss. Furthermore, he appears to have full use of his limbs, and while still going through the recovery process, it appears that he has escaped permanent physical damage. He is progressing so well in fact, that he was moved from the critical care hospital he had been in to a more general facility on Sunday. He will continue to recover for some time, and likely faces some physical therapy, but it appears that he will eventually regain his strength and be able to continue his life normally. 

A best-selling author in his home country, Tesson has had a number of interesting adventures throughout his life. For instance, he and a companion once spent two years cycling around the globe, and later trekked across the Himalaya from Bhutan to Tajikistan. He has ridden across the Asian Steppe from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan on horseback, and lived in a small cabin on the shores of Lake Baikal in Siberia for five months. That last adventure was the subject of his book The Consolidation of the Forest: Alone in a Cabin on the Siberian Taiga, for which he received numerous accolades. 

It is good to hear the news that Sylvain is on the road to recovery. So often in the world of adventure and exploration these kinds of stories end in tragedy, so it is nice to have one that sounds like it will turn out okay. Hopefully his recovery will continue at a speedy pace, and Tesson's friends and family can rest a bit easier.

Thanks to Louis-Philippe Loncke for providing the update on this story. 

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The North Face Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc Sees Repeat Winners

This past weekend, one of the toughest and most demanding foot races in the world took place around Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in Western Europe. That's where the 2014 North Face Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc was run, with more than 2000 competitors from across the globe testing their strength, endurance and determination on a course that is known for its difficult mountain trails, high altitude passes, and completely unpredictable weather.

This year, the 168 km (104 mile) race was saw two familiar faces atop the podium as both the mens and womens champions are past winners. French runner Francois D'Haene, who won in 2012, set a new course record on his way to victory, finishing the race in 20 hours, 11 minutes, 40 seconds. American Rory Bosio was the fastest woman on the course, crossing the finish line in 23 hours, 23 minutes, and 20 seconds. Francois finished approximately 50 minutes ahead of the next closes competitor, while Bosio was about 90 minutes in front of the second place woman.

Competitors in this year's race had to deal with wet, muddy conditions, which made the already difficult course even more challenging. Runners on the UTMB must circumnavigate Mont Blanc, starting and ending in Chamonix, France, but passing through both Italy and Switzerland along the route. They are also required to be self-supported out on the course, as they carry food and water with them on the run, as well as emergency supplies should they run into trouble out on the trail. In year's past, bad weather has halted the race at times, or stranded some of the runners in the mountains.

For most of the racers, it is just about finishing the UTMB, which is an accomplishment in and of itself. The race has a 46-hour cut-off time, and many of the athletes don't make it back to Chamonix before that point, while others simply DNF out on the course. But for those who do finish, it is a badge of honor to have completed one of the most prestigious trail running events in the entire world. Congratulations to all of those finishers, and especially to D'Haene and Bosio.

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Popular French Adventurer in a Coma After Suffering a Fall

42-year old French adventurer Sylvain Tesson is in a coma after suffering a fall while attempting to climb a building last week. The popular writer was in Chamonix at the time of the accident, which occurred last Wednesday. He is said to have fallen about 10 meters, striking his head on the pavement, injuring his brain and several other internal organs in the process. He has been in a medically-induced coma ever since, and his condition is said to be very serious.

Tesson is known for his urban climbing, often scaling buildings without the use of any safety gear. In the past, he has climbed the likes of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. In this incident, he was testing his skills on the chateau that he was staying at in Chamonix when the fall occurred. It is unclear at this time how long he will remain in the coma, or what his chances of a full recovery will be.

A popular figure in his home country, Tesson has had a series of globe-spanning adventures throughout his life, often sharing those experiences with readers through his writings. For instance, he once spent the better part of two years riding around the world on a bicycle. He has also crossed the Himalaya on foot, traveling from Bhutan to Tajikistan. Later, he would cross the Asian steppe, from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan on horseback, and later would travel from Yakutsk, Siberia to Calcutta, India on foot, tracing the same route used by Sławomir Rawicz to escape a Russian gulag as described in the famous book The Long Walk. More recently, he lived in a cabin along Lake Baikal in Siberia for five months, recounting his adventure in the book The Consolidation of the Forest: Alone in a Cabin on the Siberian Taiga.

At the moment, doctor's say that their hopes for a recovery are guarded. Tesson suffered serious injuries in the fall, and it is too soon to know if he will recover fully, or at all. His family is said to be at his bedside, waiting for an indication of his condition. My thoughts are with them in this time of need, and I wish Sylvain a full recovery.

Thanks to Louis-Philippe Loncke for sharing this story with me.

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