MONT BLANC CHALLENGE 22-25 June 2017 CHALLENGE MANUAL 1
Introduction We would like to first congratulate all of you for signing up to the Mont Blanc Challenge! This guide should give you an overview of what you should expect on the Challenge, and combined with the Participant s Area of the website, you should have access to all of the information you need to fully prepare yourself. Our 2 day Mont Blanc Ultra Adventure tackles the classic trails of Mont Blanc with some stunning walking, through picturesque Alpine villages, over 2 big 2500m alpine passes, through lush green valleys and clear, ice cold streams. We skirt the flanks of the mighty Mont Blanc itself, starting in France and ending after two tough days in Italy. This is no walk in the park the tough ascents of the trail will be awe-inspiring but you will need grit, determination and stamina to complete it. This may well be one of the biggest challenges you ve ever taken on - but with good preparation, some focused training and the right clothing and equipment you can do it! Event Overview The Mont Blanc Challenge crosses from France to Italy in the Alps along part of the famous Mont Blanc Trail. It is considered one of the classic trails of Europe. The full trail loop normally takes 11 days trekking however we have condensed this into 2 tough days with some steep ascents, rewarding you with fantastic views across the Alps. The Mont Blanc Challenge has been created as a trekking event, our logistics and timings can t accommodate for anyone looking to try to jog or run the challenge. On the event you will be supported by a team of UK and Alp staff which includes event management, a doctor, mountain leaders and logistics staff. This is a tough challenge and you should expect very long days with early morning starts and late finishes. To complete the Challenge you will have to maintain a minimum trekking speed of 4km per hour through hilly terrain for 30 km a day - over the 2 days. This will ensure that you will be able to get sufficient time for rest in the evening at the camp before continuing your next day s trekking. 2
Itinerary Day 1 Thursday - Arrival If you have booked your flights through us then you will meet the group and Action Challenge staff at the airport 3 hours before departure (06.25am) at London Heathrow Terminal 5, exact location to be confirmed in the Final Event Guide. You will then get your flight as a group to Geneva Airport in Switzerland where you will have a 2 hour transfer to our first hotel close to the start of the trail. If you have not booked your flights with us then you will need to meet at 13:00 at Geneva Airport. Alternatively you will be able to meet us at 15:00 in Col De Voza where we will stay the night in a hotel. We will reiterate the exact location in the Final Event Guide, 4 weeks before the challenge. Please ensure that when booking your own flights you provide us with your flight details by logging back into your Registration Form or email us whether you plan to meet us at the airport or in Col de Voza so that we can make our logistical plans. We will then check-in to the hotel and have some time to relax before our welcome meal and briefing to explain our challenge ahead. Day 2 - Friday - Trekking Day 1 Distance 31KM / Height gain 2151m You will be woken up at approximately 5:00am for breakfast. Our leaders will deliver a short briefing and warm up before your Mont Blanc Challenge starts! You should expect to start the challenge between 6:30am - 7:00am depending on the weather conditions. From the hotel, we warm up for 3 km to the base of the Bionnassay Glacier. We then climb to our first spectacular 360 degrees panorama before descending to our rest stop at the Miage Refuge, then continue down to the Contamines Valley. Our big climb starts here, after stopping again for some hot food and drinks at La Balm, we continue to our highest point for the day at the Col du Bonhomme. At our afternoon stop at a refuge, we have a well-deserved rest overlooking the beautiful foothills and valleys of the western Alps. From here the last descent of the day ends at the hamlet of Les Chapieux where we stay for the night. Tonight we have a good hot meal to help us recover from our tough first day and sleep early in preparation for the next day s trekking. Start AM Rest Stop Lunch Stop PM Rest Stop Finish 3
During the day, at each stop you will be able to replenish your water, have some snacks and food before continuing the route. Dinner will be served in the refuge before having some well earned rest after a long day. You should expect to finish the day s trekking between 16:00 and 20:30. If you are unable to complete the day within 14 hours then you will be unable to take on the full course on Day 2 (due to critical timings). Please note that these distances can vary from different GPS devices - and to maintain accuracy of GPS devices it is always best to turn them OFF at rest stops / when stationary. Meals included today are Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Day 3 Saturday - Trekking Day 2 Distance 30KM / Height gain 1630m Today, we wake at 5:00am and start walking along the Valley du Glacier through the Ville des Glaciers to our first rest stop at Les Mottets Refuge at the foot of the Col de Ia Seigne. Here the views are dominated by the magnificent rock pinnacles of the Aiguilles des Glaciers. We start climbing the steep path up to the pass at 2516m, beyond which lies Italy. The views from here are amazing as they sweep down the long straight Val Veni, then up the opposite Val Ferret to the Swiss frontier. We soon reach the splendid Elisabetta Hut, we have our lunch over-looking the Les Blanche glacier and then continue over one last climb to Lac Checrouit and the magnificent Maison Vielle Refuge before a continuous downhill, all the way to the finish line and our hotel in Courmayeur. We will celebrate at the Mont Blanc Challenge finish line with some photos, medals, cake and even a glass of fizz. From here you will have a short transfer to the hotel where you will be able to have a hot shower and relax before our celebration dinner. The celebration meal will be a 3 course meal of local dishes - and together we ll look back and reflect on your tremendous achievement of the last few days! Start AM Rest Stop Lunch Stop PM Rest Stop Finish 4
Day 4 Sunday After breakfast, we have some free time in Courmayeur so you can explore the local town or relax. Lunch is organised independently before we say goodbye to Italy and the Aosta Valley and transfer through the Mont Blanc tunnel back to Geneva Airport in time for our return flight to the UK. If you have not booked flights with us then please let us know your flight details so that we can ensure you are on one of our transfers at an appropriate time. What to Expect Flights If you have chosen the Flights Included package, please see your flight details below. We will update you of any schedule changes to the flights in the Final Event Information. BA728 22-Jun-17 London Heathrow Geneva 09:25/12:10 London BA735 25-Jun-17 Geneva Heathrow 18:45/19:30 On arrival at your departure UK airport you will meet the Action Challenge team and the rest of the group 3 hours before departure (06.25am) at London Heathrow Terminal 5 where you will be provided with your e-ticket. Your precise location within the terminal will be sent out to you in your Final Event Information. You will have a main baggage weight limit of 15kg - and this will also be the maximum weight limit of luggage that you will be allowed on the Challenge. Your main bag should be in a large soft shell duffle bag / rucksack (no wheels or small ones only) so that it can be easily transported on the Challenge. Please refer to the Kit List in the Participant s Area for further details. Facilities Hotels / Refuges For your night pre- and post-challenge, you will be staying in a local hotel with twin rooms available to share, unless you have paid for a single supplement. If you are travelling in a group and would like to share with someone in particular please let us know by logging back into your Registration Form. Breakfast and dinner will be served at the hotel or in a local restaurant. During the challenge, you will be staying in a refuge in rooms/dormitories, please still bring a headlamp and silk sheet/sleeping bag for this night. Shared toilet and shower facilities will be available. Breakfast and dinner will be served at the refuge. All UK and Alp staff will be at the refuge should you have any questions as well as our UK doctor who will be holding an open surgery should you have any problems or medical concerns. AM/PM Rest Stops There will be one morning and one afternoon stop on each day. There will be toilets at these stops and a selection of snacks will be provided as well as drinking water. Lunch Stops These stops will typically be longer than the morning and afternoon stops, and be located approximately half way through the route. A packed lunch will be provided in a refuge; drinking water and toilets will also be available. Safety and Support Route: The route is well trodden and where necessary marked by posts or flags. These will be a mixture of the national trail posts and Action Challenge flags and signs. You will be given a route card for each day as well as advised as to how you can download the route onto your smart phone. Medics: On all of our challenges participant safety and welfare is taken very seriously. On this challenge there will be 1 UK doctor, who is a practicing GP and has had experience on a number of our events. They will be on the route and at the Rest Stops as well as being available in the evening if needed. Mountain Guides: There will be a Mountain Guides on the route who will be there to help and support you. They will be local guides with experience of this particular route as well as UK qualified Mountain Leaders. There will be one front marker guide and one rear marker guide. The other Mountain Guide will be amongst the group. 5
Safety Vehicle: There will be a safety vehicle throughout the event that can be called upon if necessary. The vehicle will likely be at all lunch and rest stops should there be any issues. If there is a medical emergency and we are unable to get a vehicle to you then the emergency services will be called upon and a helicopter deployed (so for real emergencies only). Cut off times: All participants must adhere to stated cut-off times. On the first day you will be expected to complete the route in no longer than 14 hours. If you are unable to do so the Event Manager will make a decision as to whether you will be able to start the trek on Day 2 or be moved forwards. The Event Manager s decision will be final as we have to consider the overall timings of the whole group getting to the hotel. On the first day, you will also be required to arrive at the lunch stop by a certain time, otherwise you will be transferred to the final point for the day at the refuge. Communication: All participants must carry a mobile phone. There are a number of apps that we recommend that you download before the Challenge, along with our emergency procedures and what to do if you are lost. Check with your mobile provider that your phone will work in France and Italy and if they have any deals. We also recommend a battery pack to ensure that you are able to charge your phone over the Challenge. Walking Groups: If the weather is good you will be expected to walk in groups of at least three at all times; we may also end up grouping together depending on the pace and difficulty. For your safety - if the weather is bad you will be walking in larger groups led by our Mountain Leaders. If the weather were to seriously deteriorate, there may be alterations to the route to ensure the safety of the event. Catering We will cater for most dietary requirements but to do so you must tell us what your requirements are in advance. You can do this by logging back into your Registration Form. During the Challenge all of meals will be included unless otherwise specified. On a typical day of trekking you can expect the following types of foods: Breakfast Continental breakfast - yoghurt, muesli, fruit and hot drinks Lunch Stop Sandwiches, soup, fruit, snacks and water Dinner Soup, pasta/rice with meat/fish and dessert Snacks Cereal bars, chocolate, sweets and fruit Environment The weather in the Alps can be variable and change quickly. If the weather is good then you should expect beautiful views, pleasant temperatures and clear skies. If the weather is bad then there can be rain, no views, and cold temperatures. The average temperature during the day at this time of year is 16-22 C with night temperatures dropping to around 6 C. Please ensure that you have looked at the kit list in the Participant s Area of the website and come well prepared. Terrain The terrain on the Challenge varies, you will be walking along alpine paths, through meadows, and trails with rocky with sections. Preparation Personal Details All participants must complete and update their Registration Form with their flight details (land only), medical, insurance and passport details no later than by the 26 th April 2017. You can find out how to complete these details in the Participant Area on the Updating your details page. 6
Kit Correct clothing and equipment for this challenge is essential. As the weather can be very changeable it is important that you are prepared for every eventuality. If you do not have the kit that you need we recommend borrowing or hiring it if keeping the cost down is important. We have a number of discount codes as well as recommended hire companies - all of these details can be found in the Participant s Area of the website. On the plane we recommend that you wear your walking boots and carry your day bag with your essential clothing and equipment such as waterproofs and warm clothing. This means that in the unlikely event your luggage were to go missing, you would still be able to take part in the Challenge. Comfortable and well worn-in walking boots with good ankle support will ensure that your challenge is more enjoyable. Your day bag should be a 30-35 litre rucksack - please check the kit list for further details. If you have any particular favourite snacks / energy bar then we recommend that you bring some with you. Please don t overdo it as the weight piles up quickly. Electrolyte type tablets are good - so that you can add it to the water to improve the taste - as well as giving you that extra energy boost. Before the event we will carry out a kit check to ensure that everyone has the correct clothing and equipment. Anyone without an acceptable minimum will not be allowed to start the Challenge. Please make sure that you have read the kit list and ensure that you have all of the essential items. Baggage For your larger bag (that will go in the aeroplane hold) you will all have a weight limit of 15kg. This bag will be transported from the start to the finish location of each day and will not be accessible to you at any time other than these. The duffel bag / rucksack should not have wheels (or very small ones) and should be waterproof in order to protect your clothing. We will be weighing everyone s bag to ensure that the weight limit is adhered to. Medical and Insurance There are no specific vaccinations required for travel to France/Italy - however if you are unsure whether you are up to date with your general travel jabs - please check with your doctor. It is essential that you disclose ANY previous or current medical issues. If requested by us then you will need your GP to complete a form, this form can be downloaded in the Participant s Area. We must have this form no later than 8 weeks before the Challenge. It is important that you have a European Health Insurance Card. This will give you access to state-provided healthcare and it will cover you if treatment is required. Apply for free online at www.ehic.org.uk All participants MUST have adequate travel insurance that should include all transport costs (incl. Helicopter) to the nearest medical facility. We recommend Campbell Irvine Direct Travel Insurance, you can find out the details of their cover online at www.campbellirvinedirect.com/cidirect_home.htm. If you are using a different insurer then you must ensure that they will cover this trek (remote area). We require all of your insurance details 8 weeks prior to the event. Please ensure that you have updated this information on your Registration Form. Training As you are aware this is a very tough challenge - where physical fitness, a strong mind, and good kit will be crucial. You should aim to start your training no later than 3 months before the Challenge. Your training should include varying terrain and hills while carrying your backpack. In order to complete this challenge you will need good aerobic fitness, strength and stamina to make sure that you are able to achieve a minimum of 4kmph through a hilly / mountainous environment for 30 km a day over 2 days. We have put together a training schedule to help you get organised which is now on the Participant Area. 7
Make sure that you sign up and claim your free 50km Ultra Challenge place! If you haven t already received your discount code for one of the UK Ultra Challenges, then send us an email: info@ultraadventure.com There are also several training walks available to sign up to, so take a look at our full list on our website and get training! Click here for more training walks >>> Payment and Fundraising As the challenge draws closer you will need to prepare for either paying off your final balance if you are a self funder, or if you are fundraising you need to make sure you have met 80% of your initial fundraising target in order to secure your place on the challenge. You can find more information about your payment options below: Self-Funding You will have paid a 200 deposit on registration, along with an additional 50 if you requested a single supplement. Your remaining balance will be invoiced to you 12 weeks before the start of the Challenge, with 2 weeks to make payment. The deadline to make this payment is the 19th April 2017. Please note that failure to pay by this deadline will result in the cancellation of your place on the Challenge so make sure it is a date in your diary! You will be sent an invoice by e-mail, and will be able to make payment by bank transfer, cheque, or by calling the office but please note there is a 3.4% charge for us to take payment over the phone. Minimum Sponsorship You will have paid a 200 deposit on registration, along with an additional 50 if you requested a single supplement. Your chosen charity will have a deadline of 10 weeks before the start of the challenge to pay the remaining balance for the cost of your place, so you need to make sure you have reached 80% of your fundraising target by then. The deadline to have 80% of your fundraising is the 19 th April 2017. Please note that failure to have reached the target by this deadline will result in the cancellation of your place on the Challenge so make sure it is a date in your diary, and get in contact with the charity well in advance if you are concerned about your fundraising! The remaining 20% of your target is due at 4 weeks after the trip returns. 8
Social Media Join our Facebook Page, which is for all the Ultra Adventure participants! Meet other people on the trip, get your questions answered, and keep up to date on all the latest news for the Mont Blanc Challenge. Click here to join our Ultra Adventure Page >>> What next... Timeline Remaining Balance Due 19 th April 2017 Passport and Insurance Details Completed 19 th April 2017 Registration Pack and Final Event Information Sent 12 th May 2017 Online Challenge Guide 22 nd May 2017 Good Luck Message and Final Updates 13 th June 2017 MONT BLANC CHALLENGE! 22nd 25th June 2017 Please don t forget to keep checking the Participant s Area for the latest updates! If you have any questions, please us on 0207 609 6695 or email info@utlraadventure.com 9