Back With a Capital Vengence!

I lost my wallet last night. Everything but my passport, all my cards and money gone, gone, gone. I didn't realize it until I was packing my bag in the morning to head out on the hike. Long story short, 20 hours later it was found. Crazy, crazy day.

Celebrated by a lil run around Chamonix. I am definately staying in tonight! As for good news, I think I've beat the PF out of my feets and the hips are holding up. Tomorrow will be the true test though.

Hiked up, down, then up, down, and then up again because I screwed up (this is why people hire giudes) for a crazy total of close to 7000 feet of elevation gain carrying a good 25 pounds on my back. For some reason 2200 meter of elevation gain didn't sound as bad. Passed out as soon as I got to my refuge and then woke and ate a lot of cheese.

Rest day after yesterday's slog fest (picking up more Brit talk than French). Only about 3800 feet of climbing and 9 miles... Europeans don't believe in switchbacks. It is either straight up or down.

Holy most beautifully amazing scenic day of my entire life!!! Chilling in Courmayeur, Italy to thunderstorms and rain and doing a little sink laundry. It did not rain a drop during my 3 days out on the trail. I have been more than lucky on this trip and I still have a week left!

Woke this morning at 6 am to get an early start and caught the most ridiculous sunrise ever. The Alps are beyond amazing. Hiked from the Refuge de la Croix up through the Col des Fours down into the Ville des Glaciers and then up the Col de le Seigne into Italy and then down into Courmayeur. Perfect bluebird day all the way, a good 18 miles or so and about 4500 feet of elevation making my 3 day total over 14,000 feet. I think I'm back!!!

Posting pix to my facebook so hit me up there if you want to see :)

http://www.facebook.com/amiee.maxwell

Rest day in Courmayeur. Caught up on the sleeps. Feeling awesome so I have decided to head back out on the TMB and finish what I came here to do :)

Snow!!! Set out from Courmayeur in the rain and encountered snow after just an hour. Was not prepared for this at all and I was starting to freeze. Since I still had several hundred meters to climb and a good few hours before I got to the nearest shelter, I decided to turn around :( 

Sopping wet and chilled to the bone I took a bus back to Chamonix though the creepy 12 km tunnel. The weather was even worse in Chamonix at a little over 30 degrees. All hotels are booked solid with the UTMB so I had to settle for some super lavish 4 star resort a few miles from town costing me a whole 4 nights hostel worth which means only baguettes and boxed wine from here on out (yes, I was happy to find that the french also have boxed wine).

Anyway... Weather is so terrible that they had to completely change the UTMB course from 168km to less than 100km because the passes are impassable. I CANNOT imagine what it was like to set out this evening in freezing temps and pouring rain and know that it is only going to get worse. All participants were required to carry 4 layers of clothing and were instructed to at no time stop moving out there tonight right before the gun went off. 

Have to say the start of the UTMB was unbelievable. People were hanging out of every terrace, on top of telephone booths, swinging from light poles and screaming their lungs out for the 1500+ runners braving the elements. Every cook was out of their kitchen banging on pots and pans and I heard cheers in more languages than I can count. 

Abso-feaking awesome!!!

Another fabulous day of holiday! Spent the morning sipping cafe au laits on a terrace adjacent the finishing chute for the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. I am so impressed how excited people get for trail running over here, it is nearly out of control! Got inspired so I tried to run up to Le Boisson Glacier, but had to result to hiking most of the way. Get blown away by tons of old dudes - man do they breed mountain runners around here. Kind of excited to get back to SLC and get my bum running again!