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An Alps guardian dog, or Patou, with its flock of sheep
Feb 11, 2021
Emily Geldard

In the High Alps, Where Tough Dogs Guard Sheep

One of the more unusual aspects of the Alps comes when one enters the high pastures. There, where shepherds have tended flocks for centuries, it’s not uncommon to see dogs guarding the animals. In particular, they are entrusted with protecting the young from predators such as wolves, lynx, foxes and bears. With their beautiful cream-colored coats, these “guardian” dogs often look

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Burke Kaiser and friend on a self-guided Tour du Mont Blanc at Col du Tricot
Feb 1, 2021
Emily Geldard

Is a Self-Guided Trail Running Trip for Me? 

Just what is a “self-guided” trail running tour? While it’s fairly intuitive how a guided trail running trip is structured, the idea of a self-guided one is often not so well understood. Self-guided trips are some of the most popular ones that Run the Alps offers, so let’s take a moment to explore them! A self-guided tour means you

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Dr John Anderson with surgery outfit including blue gloves in the hospital
Jan 26, 2021
Doug Mayer

Run the Alps Adds Covid Medical Advisor, Dr. John Anderson

From the moment I started Run the Alps, safety has always been top on my mind. This isn’t just because it’s good business. I spent over two decades on a four-season mountain rescue team in the US. We saw everything, and more than a few of those dramatic moments– successes and tragedies– will be with

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Jan 19, 2021
Sam Hill

Trail Racing in the Alps for 2021: Here’s What’s New

Sam Hill is a trail running guide for Run the Alps, and the manager of our Race Finder database. He’s also an avid trail racer, with a long list of strong finishes around the Alps to his credit– including the epic 330 km PTL edition of the UTMB series of trail races. (You can read about that

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Trail runner in yellow jacket running on ice, taken from below
Dec 27, 2020
Doug Mayer

Our Most-Read Stories from 2020

As we close out the year, we thought we’d share our five most-read and most-shared stories from 2020. With most plans upended, and nearly all of us spending much of our time at home, 2020 was a year to read, watch great films, and tackle other personal projects at home. So, we made time to share

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