One of the main objectives of getting out to Chamonix early has been to preview sections of the UTMB course that not only I haven’t seen before, but that I will hardly see when I race because it will be during the night time. With a recovering ankle sprain it has been a huge concern. But also wanted to know the magnitude of this climb. Mike had gone out to go up and over Col du Bonhomme a couple weeks before starting from Les Contamines and said it was a beast. He had then gone all the way to Courmayeur. With just 3 weeks out it was a little late in the game for me to go this long. While I really wanted to see both this major climb and the backside descent, I would have to settle on just the climb. From the Notre Dame de la gorge its a stiff 1425m in about 11km to Refuge du Bonhomme. So an out and back was going to be plenty for me. With the weather suspect on Sunday I also didn’t want to be caught out to far. Alas, I get to test out my rain gear. It had been sunny and warm up until then.
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Mike drove me up to the church to spare me the run up and through the towns to pick me up later after they had a look around the markets and towns St Gervais and Les Contamines with Usha and Krissi.
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The cooler air was definitely refreshing. As I ascended it got a bit colder and more drizzly but never the downpour that was expected. I was feeling quite good but not pressing it – I kept it pretty mellow and easy but tried to run when I could. The poles were out early but a bit useless on the rocky semi paved first section up to Le Balme. I was a bit wet before I decided to put my rain jacket. The climb wasn’t as constantly steep as I expected with a few breaks that are very runnable. With that, I know I will do just fine up this climb.
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The Col du Bonhomme came before I knew it but as Mike mentioned and I found it to be quite a false summit. There’s a bit more meat going up to La Croix du Bonhomme and was longer than expected. Colder and a bit more wet, the Refuge was absolutely packed with backpackers without any space to sit down let alone put your pack down and sort things out. I wasn’t particularly impressed with the refuge and what they were serving (soups) despite it being cold up there, I only stayed long enough to rearrange a few things in my pack, put on a dry long sleeve shirt and a beanie, and warm up/dry off a bit inside before deciding to head down.
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The descent felt great but took it very easy. The trails were a bit more slick by now and I actually washed out and jammed my thumb on a corner. Not the shoes (Dynafit Alpine) but me being stupid and planting my foot on an off camber mud spot on a switchback! No problems with the ankle though which was good.
I was able to send out a message to Mike that I was on my way down, along with using the new Google Location Sharing feature they met me with perfect timing back down at the Notre Dame de la gorge. I had a a croque monsieur and an Orangina waiting for me which was awesome. Overall felt really good today. A huge confidence booster.
And I made it back to Cham in time for my massage!
I’ll have to be mindful on how soon to put on the rain jacket. I don’t want to overheat but I don’t want to be wet. Getting to the top of the Col was cold, but I know it can get much colder as we move in the night. But I know I won’t be stopping at the top. Back down the mountain is significantly warmer. I made it to the top from the church under and hour and half which seemed short for some reason for a big climb. I was pleasantly surprise to find that was a pretty good time – and I wasn’t even pushing it. I know I will likely be going slower on race day but mentally its good to know I can clear than mountain in under 2 hrs.
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