Category Archives: Uncategorized

In the Alps, we’re lucky to have a number of impressively experienced and efficient helicopter rescue services. Their skill is legendary – just this past winter, a film of a French rescue helicopter performing a ‘Skate Support’ maneuver to rescue an injured skier near Chamonix, France, went viral. A month later at the foot of   Continue Reading →

This past weekend, I took part in Europe’s first Running Up For Air event. It was held in my hometown of Chamonix, France. The goal of “RUFA” is to bring awareness to the issue of air quality. None of us can trail run without clean air, of course. And as the owner of a trail   Continue Reading →

The Eiger Ultra Trail is one of our favorite trail events, and certainly one of the most well-organized. Each year, Run the Alps hosts a week-long guided trip that includes the option to race. (Self-Guided trips, including race entries, are also available.) The races, ranging from 16km to the challenging 101km, all take place on   Continue Reading →

This short interview with US trail runner Rickey Gates is an opportunity for me to finally give some credit where it’s due. So, a brief digression. It may be that there is no one person who has been more formative to trail running in the United States in recent years than Rickey Gates. That’s ironic,   Continue Reading →

Editor’s note: Mark Brightwell is a guide for Run the Alps. He grew up in suburban Hampshire – England’s gently rolling South. He served from 2005 to 2011 with the Royal Gurkha Rifles and was injured during the Iraq war. Trail running has since become an important part of his life: a way of experiencing   Continue Reading →

This coming trail-running season, Run the Alps is excited to be offering the Via Valais, a new multi-day, trail-running route developed by the team over at ALPSinsight. A new twist on the classic hiker’s Haute Route, the Via Valais focuses on the very best mountain running available in the region. Run the Alps has just   Continue Reading →

Several of the world’s most famous trail-running events take place in Chamonix, France. At each race, an army of volunteers ensures everything runs smoothly, and hundreds if not thousands of supporters cheer on competitors. But one supporter stands out from the rest: Robert Etellin. Etellin has been involved in the Chamonix trail running scene for   Continue Reading →

Last summer Michelle Kho booked her first trail-running vacation, a self-guided Run the Alps trip from Courmayeur, Italy, through Champex, Switzerland, finishing in Chamonix, France – roughly following the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc CCC race route. Over five days, Michelle covered 94km and 4870m of vertical gain. She also learned a lot along the way! Here’s   Continue Reading →

“The beauty is unparalleled, the trails are dreamy, and the peaks are inspiring, but what never leaves you is the spirit of the people.” That’s US ultra runner David Laney, who finished third in the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in 2015, sharing his thoughts about what makes trail racing in the Alps so special. (You can   Continue Reading →

We’re pleased to share this story from Run the Alps Ambassador David Laney. David was Ultrarunner magazine’s 2015 Ultrarunner of the Year, and has finished third place (2015) and fourth place (2016) in the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc. This short piece is the foreword to a new Run the Alps publication, the Guide to Trail   Continue Reading →