7 Days Hiking the UTMB 170 Km Race Route - Day 3

January 10, 2024

We woke up refreshed and ready to tackle the third day of our amazing UTMB 170Km adventure. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast at our cozy hotel in Bourg Saint Maurice, and then we hit the trail with excitement and anticipation. It was a challenging but rewarding journey that took us through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Alps.

Our goal for the day was to hike from Les Chapeaux to Courmayeur, crossing the border between France and Italy along the way. We had some stunning views and challenges ahead of us, such as the Col de la Seigne, the Col des Pyramides Calcaires, the Lac Combal, the Arete du Mont-Favre, and the Col Cheroot - Maison Vieille. That's a total of 29.4km with 1697m of ascent and 2056m of descent. Not bad for a day's work, right?

We began our journey on a steep road made of pavement that stretched from Les Chapeaux. We walked for about 4 km on this road, enjoying the views and the fresh air. Then we reached a point where we had to switch to a grassy path that curved in a zigzag pattern. Some people chose to take a shuttle bus to skip this part, but not us! We were determined to conquer this challenge with our own feet and feel the thrill of the adventure.

Along the way, we encountered some cute marmots that were playing hide and seek among the rocks. They were so adorable and curious, we couldn't resist taking some photos of them.

From there, we began to ascend more steeply towards the Col de la Seigne, the first summit of the day at 2502m above sea level. It was a steep climb but the views were stunning as we could see the snow-capped peaks of Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses in the distance. Col de la Seigne also marks the border between France and Italy, where there was a pile of stones marking the spot.

On our way up, we came across a large herd of sheep, thousands of them, grazing on the green hills. They were chased by some dogs that kept them in line. We also spotted some donkeys carrying heavy loads for hikers who wanted to lighten their backpacks. It was fascinating to see how these animals help people in the mountains.

Following a path descending from Col de la Seigne that led us to the Col des Pyramides Calcaires, we faced the hardest climb of the day: Col des Pyramides Calcaires, a steep and rocky ascent to 2563m. It was tough, but the reward was worth it: a stunning view of the Miage Glacier, a huge ice sheet that covers the south side of Mont Blanc. This is a unique geological formation that consists of limestone pyramids that have been eroded by wind and water over time. They look like giant teeth sticking out of the ground, and they create a striking contrast with the green meadows and blue sky. The contrast between the blue sky, the white snow and the dark rocks was breathtaking. We were amazed by this natural wonder, and we took some time to admire it and take some photos.

I had a tough time descending from Col des Pyramides Calcaires to Lac Combal. It was 4km of pure agony for my legs. The rocks were so uneven and bumpy that they made my knees scream with every step.

We needed a break during this tough downhill journey, so we stopped at Refuge Elisabetta for some refreshments. It was a cozy and welcoming mountain hut that serves delicious meals and drinks. We had a hearty pasta and some meat, and chatted with some friendly staff and fellow hikers. It was a nice break that recharged our energy.

We resumed our hike down to Lac Combal, a large lake at 1970m. This section was a flat and easy stretch for about 1.5km, which gave us some time to relax and admire the scenery.

The final climb of the day was Aréte du Mont-Favre, a ridge at 2435m that offers a panoramic view of the Italian side of Mont Blanc. Following a trail that zigzagged up the slope, the route was steep and exposed, but the views were breathtaking. We could see the Alps, the valleys, and the sky. The air was crisp and fresh, and I felt alive and energized. It was a great moment. We felt a sense of accomplishment as we reached the top and Mont Blanc was right in front of us!

From there, we could see Courmayeur, our final destination of the day, in the distance. It looked so inviting and charming, we couldn't wait to get there.

The last part of the hike was a long descent of 1235m in 9km to Courmayeur, a charming town at the foot of Mont Blanc. The final few kilometer was a winding and sandy path through the forest, under the cable car line. It was not very interesting or scenic, but it was nice to be in the shade after a sunny day. It was very dusty when there were other hikers running nearby.

We arrived in Courmayeur feeling tired but happy. It was a beautiful town with old buildings and narrow streets.

Courmayeur is a place that has challenged me twice in the UTMB race, where I missed the cut off by a narrow margin both times. The first time I was 4 minutes late, the second time only 1 minute. This town holds a lot of tough memories for me, but also a lot of motivation to try again.

Our car service brought us back to our Chamonix basecamp. The big group was waiting for our return. We toasted to our successful day of hiking, and we shared our stories and impressions with each other. We had an incredible day today, full of adventure, beauty, and fun. We are so proud of ourselves for completing this challenging stage of our UTMB 170Km route. We’ve accomplished half of the route. We can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring us!

Take a look into the stunning pictures >>> UTMB Hike : Day 3