The cruxGrand Col Ferret (2,537 m) and Col du Montets
Course DNA
The Course
Chamonix out flat to Les Houches. Climbing starts after Saint-Gervais. Les Contamines, La Balme, Refuge Croix du Bonhomme, Les Chapieux. Grand Col Ferret at 2,537 meters on the Italy-Switzerland border in the second night. Long drop into La Fouly. Champex-Lac. Col du Montets still waits. Low near 2,641 feet. High near 8,435. Trail 70 percent, jeep 20, paved 10. Twenty-four aids. 46:30 on the clock.
The Work
Climbs run 3,000 to 4,000 feet without a break. Train continuous downhill. The quads fail on the cols if you skip it. Rehearse night transitions at alpine grade with poles and a packed wind layer. Long back-to-back weekends that mix August heat and alpine cold.
Kit
UTMB mandatory kit, no shortcuts. Modular headlamp and spare batteries. Packable windproof jacket. Survival blanket. Soft flask calories for crowded Courmayeur and Champex-Lac stops. August can swing from 28°F to 85°F on the same loop.
Race Day
Do not race Chamonix to Les Houches. Grand Col Ferret hits on the second night when the legs are already loud. Courmayeur and Champex-Lac are packed: bottles, food, leave. Col du Montets decides who still has a finish. Hold calories. Keep aid stops short with 46:30 on the clock.