Wilderness First Aid and Trail Running
Guided By
Tour dates July 30 - August 5, 2023
Summary
Ever wonder what you would do if some got hurt or had a medical emergency in the backcountry? We've partnered with our friends at Tahoe Wilderness Medicine for this unique trip that offers certifications, too!
Date
July 30 - August 5, 2023
Length
7 days, 6 nights
Tour Category
Village based with one night in a mountain hut
Fees
Trip cost: $3,500/person
$550 Single Supplement
Whats included
Four nights at a four-star hotel in Chamonix, France; One night at three star hotel in Courmayeur; One night at the Bonatti mountain hut. Geneva-Chamonix and Chamonix-Geneva shared shuttles; Transfers between Chamonix and Courmayeur. All breakfasts; Trail snacks during daily runs and refreshments during presentations; Group dinner on three nights. Run the Alps' internationally certified guide. Daily optional yoga with certified yoga instructor. Chamonix and Courmayeur village materials, Run the Alps' Guide to Trail Running in the Alps and other supporting materials. Optional presentations on running related topics. A chance to learn from a Chamonix's helicopter mountain rescue service; 10 hours of Category 1 continuing medical education credit issued by the Wilderness Medical Society. Wilderness First Aid Certification.
Description
Learn useful wilderness medical skills as we trail run with our friends from Tahoe Wilderness Medicine. We’ll mix trail running as we learn and pick up useful skills in the world’s hub of trail running, Chamonix, France. This trip is for anyone who wants to learn more about taking care of yourself and others in the backcountry. Medical professionals can receive Continuing Education credit, and everyone will receive a Wilderness First Aid certification.
Trail running high above Chamonix, France, en route to Col Balme. (Photo: Mark Brightwell.)
Starting in Chamonix, France, at the foot of Mont Blanc, mornings on this trip will be spent hearing the latest in wilderness medical knowledge and skills. Come afternoon, we’ll sample some of the best of the famous trails in the region on our guided tours each day. You don’t need to be an expert trail runner for this trip, either – we’ll take our time, and pick up trail running skills as we go from a wonderful teacher, our guide Bruno Yates. Each day will have shorter as well as more strenuous options available.
Practicing wilderness medicine skills near Bonatti Refuge, Val Ferret, Italy. (Photo: John Anderson.)
Next, we’ll travel through the famed Mont Blanc tunnel to the quaint town of Courmayeur, Italy to run on the other side of Mont Blanc. We’ll spend a night at Rifugio Bonatti, an iconic high mountain hut with a stunning view of the Mont Blanc massif and then return to the town of Courmayeur for our next night, where we can enjoy more of the friendly Italian atmosphere and delicious cuisine. Your guide will provide instruction on trail running techniques such as descending confidently and efficiently, and pacing yourself during uphill climbs. Optional daily yoga classes will be provided throughout the trip.
Refugio Bonatti, above the Val Ferret outside Courmayeur, Italy, where we’ll spend a night in the mountains (Photo: Run the Alps).
In addition to our regular continuing education package, we will also have time with PGHM – the renowned helicopter rescue service based in Chamonix, as well as optional presentations on foot care, nutrition, and other running related topics. You’ll gain valuable advice from experienced ultra, trail and mountain runners, plus you’ll have plenty of free time to explore both Chamonix and Courmayeur.
We’ll visit with Chamonix’s mountain rescue service, the PGHM (Courtesy photo: PGHM).
We’re excited to partner with Tahoe Wilderness Medicine on this trip. They’re some of the best in the business, with years of experience teaching wilderness medical skills. Leading the trip will be Dr. John Anderson, a widely experienced wilderness medical professional, Emergency Room doctor, professor and all around great guy. John is also a noted ultra runner, with multiple finishes of tough races around the world, including the rugged Tor Des Géants and Tor Des Glaciers in the northern Italian Alps.
You can read more about John here, and more about Tahoe here.
Participants in this course will receive a Wilderness First Aid Certification.
Guiding this trip will be Bruno Yates. Read more about his guiding experience and skills here.
Day-by-day
You’ll arrive at the Geneva, Switzerland airport and take a 1.5 hour shared shuttle to Chamonix, France.
Before dinner, we’ll meet for an overview of the week’s itinerary and receive an introductory continuing education session.
- Aiglons
- Dinner
After a hearty buffet breakfast, we’ll spend the morning learning from the Tahoe Wilderness Medicine. After lunch we’ll explore the trails of Chamonix, known as ‘La Vallée du Trail’. Your guide will give you tips to help with your trail running technique along the way. There should be time to stop and admire the views over a coffee in a mountain café, too!
- Aiglons
- Breakfast, Trail snacks.
- 11-16km (7-10mi), 610-915m (2000-3000ft) ascent and descent; Shorter option available.
Running above Refugio Bonatti (Photo: Ray Sena)
Today we transfer to Courmayeur, Italy on the quieter “wild” side of Mont Blanc. We’ll climb up opposite Mont Blanc and run a traverse across meadows to the famous Walter Bonatti Rifugio, where we’ll enjoy an Italian lunch and snacks, as we practice practical wilderness medical skills. After a delicious Italian dinner, we’ll stay overnight at this dramatic high hut.
- Bonatti Refugio
- Breakfast, Trail snacks, Dinner
- 12.8-16km (8-10mi), 915m (3000ft) ascent and descent
We’ll wake up to see the early light on the Mont Blanc massive as we enjoy breakfast at the Bonatti hut. Afterwards, we’ll explore some of the wilder trails on our run to Courmayeur. Once we arrive in this beautiful alpine town nestled in northern Italy, we’ll have time to stroll cobbled streets and enjoy a cappuccino or gelato. We’ll make the most of our time in Italy with a delicious group dinner in the old village of Courmayeur.
- Bouton d'Or
- Breakfast, Trail Snacks, Dinner
- 12.8-16km (8-10mi), 610-915m (2000-3000ft) ascent and descent
After breakfast, we’ll travel back to Chamonix. We’ll spend the first half of the day learning skills and getting the latest findings on wilderness medicine, and the second half running out of Chamonix, perhaps up to the Grand Balcon Sud to gain wonderful views of the Mont Blanc Massif.
- Aiglons
- Breakfast, Trail Snacks
- 11-16km (7-10mi), 760-915m (2500-3000ft) ascent and descent
Today we’ll enjoy a last trail run in the world’s capital of trail running. We could head up the famous Vertical Kilometer, or explore high trails along the alpine slopes of the Chamonix valley.
- Aiglons
- Breakfast, Trail snacks
- 11-16km (7-10mi), 760-915m (2500-3000ft) ascent and descent; Shorter option available.
Today, we’ll say our goodbyes, as we take leave of Chamonix. For those who wish to stay longer, Run the Alps is available to support additional planning and trail-running suggestions.
- Breakfast
Trip stories
Arrival
Plan to arrive the day your tour starts, by 3pm at the latest. Note that flights from the US usually arrive on the following day, so schedule accordingly. The closest airport is Geneva, Switzerland. This tour includes airport pickup in Geneva.
Departure
Plan your departure for the day the tour ends at the earliest. Since the Geneva airport is only ninety minutes away by shuttle, it is possible to leave the day the tour ends. If you’d like to extend your visit with additional trail running, we can help with our self-guided run descriptions for various regions of the Alps, or other trail race options.
Questions
Additional Information
A minimum of 4 guests are required for this tour to run.
Want a helping hand to get ready? Run the Alps offers pre-trip coaching at our cost as a benefit to our guests. To read about our Personalized Prep Program, start here. Spaces are limited and this program routinely sells out. Contact us if you’re interested!