I was feeling like a more challenging outing so I ran Pic de l’Aigle this morning and got a few nice pictures since the weather was fine. Down in the valley at the start of the climb, crossing the river Büech Eric, the border collie, waiting for me as the gradient gets steeper The view back down into the La…
London Run
I’m in London for the week and went out this morning for a run around Hampstead Heath and then down into our Soho office. The weather has been terrible lately with no discernible summer in the UK. However I was treated to a great view of the city from the top of Parliament Hill, before heading back down into town.…
Etape 2012 – Albertville to La Toussuire
I signed up for L’Etape du Tour last year before we moved to the French Alps, full of enthusiasm that having the mountains on my doorstep would mean that I would get out on my bike often and be properly fit and aclimatised by the time 8th July 2012 rolled around. Well, it didn’t quite pan out that way. With…
Eagle’s Peak Loop
My house is in a valley, and directly opposite, above the Via Ferrata route and rock climbing crag, is a steep mountain face, topped out by a little nubbin known as Pic de l’Aigle, or Peak of the Eagle. I can understand why it got this name, we regularly see golden eagles circling in the area, swooping down for hares…
Mad Dogs and Englishman
Well, it wasn’t quite the midday sun but it was definitely hot enough at 11am to make me think twice. Summer is definitely well underway in French Alps, the flies are out and the farmers are making hay while the sun shines. I was out with our Border Collie, which are a notoriously heat intolerant breed so he struggled a…
Combe Obscure Loop
I was spared dog-walking duties on Saturday morning so took the opportunity to go for a longer and more adventurous run than usual. Starting off down the valley through the forests as far as the Mougious waterfall (below). Rather than turning around though, I took the steep ascent (300m in about 15 minutes) up the left hand side. Cascade de…
Grand Ferrand Traverse
Location: France, Rhone-Alpes, La Jarjatte Summary: Mountain trail, moderate effort At the end of our valley is the largest mountain in the area – the Grand Ferrand. At 2,758m its not the biggest in the Alps, but at over a vertical mile above our valley floor, it presents quite a challenge to the aspring trail runner, and has quite an…
Still Too Much Snow
I’ve only been running in the French Alps for a couple of months, and so far I’ve not ventured up high as the weather has been poor and there’s too much snow. However we’ve had a few weeks of fine, warm and sunny weather, and all of the snow has gone from valley level. Looking out of my office window,…
First Ride of the Year
Since moving to France, both my road bike and mountain bike have been sat still in packing boxes in our barn. This week was beautiful sunshine, warm days and dry roads, but work commitments made it impossible to get out. Bad weather was on its way (heavy snow) Sunday, so I took my chance and headed out to the local…
Spring Run
Since moving to France, and despite now living in a trail running Mecca, I’ve completely neglected to get out recently. So after working three 18 hour days in a row, and the weather being beautiful, warm and sunny all week I forced myself to get out for a lunchtime run. It had been a few weeks since I last ran…