135 km with 3 timed climbs and an amazing route from Albertville to Val Thorens. 16,000 entrants started - only 10,000 stayed ahead of the "Broom-Wagon" to finish.

Classic hidden back-country route. Many Flaine regulars never realise it exists. You need 2 x 60m ropes and to get out of the valley, or its a 10km ski tour/hike back up. Guide and a head for heights advisable.

At 4,061m/13,331ft, Gran Paradiso is the highest mountain located entirely in Italy. It stands in the Grand Paradiso National Park, situated between the Aosta Valley and Piedmont regions of north-west Italy.

Under protection since 1821, the national park is one of the oldest nature reserves in Europe. Today it remains unspoilt by cable-cars and chair-lifts and it's often the pre-Mont Blanc acclimatisation summit.

An amazing sunset in a winterised hut (dig your snow to melt for water and -5 in the dorm at night), an amazing night sky and then a 5.30am start for the summit. Roped up, everyone fell through the surface at some point the next day, getting the adrenaline going for the Via-Ferrata style traverse to the summit.
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