Training Log Archive: Anvil

Event: WOC 2011 + O'Festival Savoie Grand Revard
 

Quick wander round one of the training maps after the Long Qualis
It was... interesting. Not quite as terrifying as expected, but a few sections of horror and despair. Constant concentration required at all times - even on the tracks.

On some massive mountain on the other side of Aix-Les-Baines to where WOC will be, with B1 and B2.
We drove most of the way up, cause we're either lazy or unable to understand the French signage. Short scramble with ladders and scary drop offs to a mini Rock of Gibraltar spike, then a longer out and back along the ridgeline.
Fun, but I was pretty tired towards the end.
GPS track stolen from B1s log, just cause I know Bash wants to see it :)

After 5 mins of running, B1 and B2 needed a rest


Ladder scrambling


A terrifying drop off is right behind me. This is my face of fear


Over to Aix-L-B and the WOC terrain, the high plateau


The 'spike' we first went to


From the spike looking further along the ridge - we went the other way


Coming off the big rock spike. Limestone=scary


Some friends we made, with Mt. Blanc in the background


B1 tries to make friends


But gets chased away

Couldn't leave Chamonix without one saunter on the trails.
Picked a nice little loop with not too much climb, just to stretch the legs and loosen them up after a few days off.
Wasn't too interesting in the beginning, just switchbacking through thick forest on vehicle trail. Occasionally the forest would open up and give me a chance to pause for the view.
At my proposed turn off point back down hill, I had a feeling in my waters I was about to reach something special if I kept going. Another 15 minutes of climbing lead me to Les something Des something - an out of commission alpine cabin with ripper views to the next range complete with ranging waterfalls bucketing into the glacial valley below. It was at this point I started kicking myself for not taking the camera along.
I thought about heading back, but decided to keep heading up - I figure, when am I gonna be here again. 15 more minutes of ladder climbing and boulder bounding and I make it up to a train station and hordes of tourists (most with nordic walking poles, very important to keep yourself steady whilst sitting in a cafe). The point of the station is the view point for Le Mer De Glace, a glacier that looks like it's seen better days.
Toy with the idea of going further up, but I'm starting to flag at this point and getting a little hungry, so I decided to pull the pin and head back down.
Great run, one to remember.

C • Ridiculously Jealous 7

Canyoning on the Swiss/French border.
Not the most super exciting canyon trip I've done, but a few nice slides and a good rappel. Needed bigger jumps (highest was only 6m)
Beaut day to begin with, but clouded over again - looks like I won't get the chance to take any of the gondolas.

Hiked to the glacier visible from Chamonix. Not the most exciting trail, could hear traffic noise for most of it as the trail was quite close to the road that comes from the tunnel through Mount Blanc.
Got rained on a bit. Ate lots of chocolate and pastries.

Swiss O Week was incredible. After the weather debacles of 09 it was great to get away with almost no rain during every race.
The company is what made a good thing great. You would think spending a week in an apartment almost full of Americans would be a bad thing, but it was awesome - even if some of them don't acknowledge the legitimacy of the word Doner (as in Doner kebab).
Now in Chamonix for a couple of days. I was kind of hoping the weather would be crap so I wouldn't feel obliged to do stuff, but it looks like I'm gonna see some sun. I think some canyoning may be in order.

C • Vocabulary 7