High Trail Vanoise

The Petite Vanoise Caritative, sponsored by Clément Noël, is taking over from the Odyssea race and will donate the entry fees and donations to the Handisport Val d’Isère association. Led by a local instructor, the association has been working since 1983 to develop winter sports for people with disabilities, notably by lending out equipment for snow sports and collaborating closely with all the village’s ski schools.
As part of this ongoing commitment, Val d’Isère will host its first MDS Crazy Loop on 23 August, an inclusive 24-hour race for able-bodied and disabled participants. The Val d’Isère MDS Crazy Loop all-terrain wheelchair will be unveiled at the High Trail Vanoise in early July.

With a base camp at an altitude of 1,850 metres, Val d’Isère offers a variety of routes ranging from the forests to the peaks (up to an altitude of 2,940 metres). Over 80 per cent of the High Trail Vanoise route lies above 2,000 metres. Fresh air is guaranteed in July.

The format of the long-distance trail runs has been revised to reduce the distances. The Balcons de Val d’Isère trail run, meanwhile, has had its time limits adjusted. This is a new source of motivation for the organisers, who are encouraging runners to give their very best in Val d’Isère!

Keep an eye on the following runners in the High Trail Vanoise: the Italian Nicolas Lemoine, the French runners Flora Jacopin, Laure Rebuffet, Nicolas Zalejski, Xavier Courtois, Guillaume Cellard and Hugo Bruyère, as well as the Dutch runner Matthijs Karels.
Keep an eye on the Trail des 5 Cols: the two French runners Mikael Juricic and Esteban Luchez.
Keep an eye on the Trail des Balcons de Val d’Isère: the French runners Alexandra Yatzimirsky, Nicolas Jenin and Maxime Kern, as well as the Spaniard Oscar Jorba.

1,254 entrants, including 355 for the High Trail Vanoise, 386 for the Trail des 5 Cols, 373 for the Trail des Balcons de Val d’Isère, 104 for the Petite Vanoise Charity Run and 36 children.

• The High Trail Vanoise, in its new format, offers a 68 km route with 4,185 m of elevation gain (instead of 72 km and 4,850 m of elevation gain). Passing through the heart of the Vanoise National Park, it offers a mountain trail running experience that is unique in France.
• The Trail des 5 Cols has also been shortened and offers a route that perfectly balances challenging terrain with accessibility, covering 35 km with 2,550 m of elevation gain (instead of 41 km and 3,350 m of elevation gain), passing through legendary spots in Val d’Isère such as the Picheru pass and the legendary Col de l’Iseran.

The High Trail Vanoise, the Trail des 5 Cols and the Balcons de Val d’Isère award ITRA points required to enter the legendary races

Routes, registration and rules on high-trail-vanoise.com

• Les Balcons de Val d’Isère: a 20 km route with 1,150 m of elevation gain, offering a bird’s-eye view of the village.
• La Petite Vanoise Caritative: an 8 km route with 280 m of elevation gain, sponsored by Clément Noël. An accessible loop, suitable for trail running or walking, in the heart of Val d’Isère, combining fun, camaraderie and solidarity: all proceeds will be donated to the Handisport de Val d’Isère charity.
• The children’s trail run Children aged 6 to 8 and teenagers aged 9 to 14 are also in for a treat with their own mountain race – in fancy dress! Two routes are on offer: 0.8 km for 6–8-year-olds and 1.25 km for 9–14-year-olds. A competition to choose the three best fancy dress outfits will take place after the races.