This blog has moved!

Please note: this blog has moved


I've recently moved this blog to a new Wordpress platform, and you can find this at running.larjarjatte.com.

This gives me greater control over the blog and I hope you see it as an improvement. Since I can't find away to seamlessly redirect everyone from the Google platform, please follow the link and update your bookmarks.

All the old blog posts are on the new site.

Tuesday 26 June 2012

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 or gaining height on the thermals, and the rock itself looks like a perfect place for an eyrie.

A photo of Pic de l'Aigle (top left) taken from behind the chapel in La Jarjatte


I've hiked it a couple of times before and it takes a good half day, but I decided to run it with Eric this morning.
 
The route starts off with a gentle 2.5km downhill run out of the village and along farmers fields to the neck of the La Jarjatte valley, where you join a logging track. After a couple of hundred metres though you branch off into the forest and get to run up some pretty decent single track.


Even though it doesn't look hot from the photos, it was quite warm and Eric started to flag. After 45 minutes of finding no water sources I did consider turning back. Its been so dry for so long, and we were running up south-facing slopes there was nowhere to drink from.


Pretty soon though, I could see the top of the tree line, and the bulge of Pic de l'Aigle through the trees.

Almost at the top
The trees opened up with great views to the valley below, and the village of La Jarjatte. After just an hour of running I was at the Col de la pic de l'Aigle.

Pic de l'Aigle, with some pretty scummy weather blowing in from the valley to the north.
By this point I'd managed to get Eric to drink from his portable water bowl, and used up the last of my water with him.


The trail moves up behind Pic de l'Aigle, and carries on along the mountain ridge to Montagne de Clairet.



From here it was all downhill, but when you're tied to a freshly-watered, re-energised Border Collie, this is easier said than done, and I spent the whole 700m descent pulling back on him and trying to not to fly flat on my face.


Monday 25 June 2012

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 bit despite me stopping at few cold streams along the way.

I need to get training for the heat in preparation for my upcoming ultras, but it might be a good idea to leave the poor old dog at home.


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 Mougious
It was a lung-busting climb to the top, as the path is pretty steep (a good 45ยบ) but getting to the top is worth it. There is a sheep pasture up there, although being north facing there is still too little grass for it to be used. The shepherd's old caravan and patio set was still up there though, but looks like it had had a tough winter.
The pasture at the top of the Mougious
Looking back down into the valley from the top of the waterfall.
From here, the trail followed one of the logging tracks into the trees, and traverses the forest-covered mountainside. The terrain is quite tough, boggy and rocky.
The logging road heading into the trees





After a few hundred metres, the trail turns off the road and gets onto proper forest single track. When I'd done this route in the past, I'd missed this turning and ended up descending into a gully and picking my way through rocks all the way down to the river.




The trail soon starts to get better


Perfect trail running conditions

This was where the running started to get really good - basically several KMs of forest single track traversing the mountainside, with occasional views into the valley. After I while I neared the top of the of the local ski pistes - and managed to get spooked by some pretty weird animal noises - I'm thinking it may have been the local wild boar.


Exiting the forest at the top of the ski piste - pretty much downhill from here.
Here's the GPS data from Garmin.