Cordillera Huayhuash UltraTrail Adventure prep: tips learnt from Cordillera Blanca

On Saturday, we are leaving for 20 days back to Peru for another awesome stage race!

Last year we did the Cordillera Blanca stage race, 200km for 10500m of elevation gain, it was so beautiful, tough and rewarding that when Christophe told us about this year running "expedition", we thought, we have to do it! This time we are going through the Cordillera Huayhuash, a gruelling 220km for 15000m for 8 days ( click on the link for the full program)! It's going to be tough I think...and this time there is no rest day or night at the hotel for showers!

No no! 8 straight days of running and camp nights! But look at that:

Location of our first camp night!

Luckily we are again with Adventures Andines ( http://www.andean-adventures.com/) and its brilliant organisation. It's still scary thou! hopefully the tips from last year will help us enjoying more and suffer less?

Tip 1: invest in the right sleeping bag! 

Last year, we wanted to recycle the Lifeventure down sleeping bag we got for Kenya but it has a +7 comfort...not really appropriate for the cold Peruvian nights so we added the Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme mummy sleeping bag liner ( apparently it's supposed to "add" 15C degrees to a sleeping bag...I think that was a bit exaggerated...) So this time, we have invested in the NorthFace Gold Gazoo sleeping bag. Apparently it's a very warm bag, warmer than the specs ( 2C comfort)...but I'm still bringing my sleeping liner! 

THE sleeping bag!

Frendo Foldable Solar Charger

Tip 2: the solar charger

Last year we had a small solar charger which wasn't charging anything but I found out it was because it only had 1.5KW...! load of the other dudes had the decathlon usb solar charger one, it's pretty cool, you can clip it to your bag while running/walking. So this time we'll do the same! 

Tip 3: Down pants! 

Packing the running bag: after each run, we wait for the mules to come with the camp which is fine if there is sun as you stay warm. However as soon as the sun is down, you start to get really cold! Last year, we had a down jacket only. This year, I would like to bring a down trouser! but man there are expensive!  I did find the Jack Wolfskin one! but no budget for that one either! :( so it will be long johns and my rain pants! 

Jack Wolfskin Atmosphere Pants

PHD design Down Pants

Tip 4: The Bag for the porters

Our gear is taken by mules from camps to camps. Last year, we had a basics addidas bag. Superlight and sturdy but not waterproof...So this year we've invested in a duffel or duffle bag. I first picked the 65L Transporter Osprey Bag, but when it arrived it was too small and the shoulder straps were not retractable ( tricky when travelling by plane), same with the Arcteryx Carrier 75L one. So, we've decided on the Lowe Alpine 90L one! I do like the blue colour....but we took the black one. Why not the NorthFace popular duffle one? Too rigid and heavy! 

Tip 5: Clothing & Food/Water

Well, we didn't sweat that much during last year race, so 5 running tshirts are good enough, while 3 shorts will do the tricks. What concerns me the most in being cold, so cold gear is on the list! I've got 2 down jackets to use as layer as last year the Northface thermoball hoodie did NOT do the trick! Lightweight it is but can't beat the down! Mick has the Arcteryx Cerium LT hoodie which is also lightweight but is packed with 850g of down and man did I envy him when I needed to have 3 layers under that Thermoball! So this time, well I'm bringing the thermoball and a down jacket!

Cerium LT Jacket

Northface Thermoball Hoodie

We had brought the water pills, used it once as it gave me tummy cramps! Normal water was fine, so hopefully we can do the same on this Cordillera! For food, I trust the cooks, they were brilliant last year, we ate like KINGS! I can't wait to drink the Sierra Andina local beer as it is awesome for acclimation ;) as well as their Causa Limena ( potato and avocado dish!) 

Oh yeah! We are ready and cannot wait to go back to Perou!!! it is going to be epic!

What about you? what's your next adventure? contact http://www.andean-adventures.com/ if you want to do something similar, Marco speaks English, German, French and Spanish! I'm sure he will accommodate your need of adventure

Peneda-Gerês Trail Adventure, Portugal: the Best European stage race you can sign up to!

Peneda-Gerês Trail Adventure, a 5-8 days race organised by Carlos Sa, a famous Portugal ultra runner who've completed several Marathon des Sables and UTMB and LOVES his national park!
The paths taken are wonderful going from eucalyptus fields to wester canyon, jungle, river crossing, ancient bridge! you will see EVERYTHING during this stage! You can do as an individual or a team, the long or shorter (starter) version. We did the long version as a training for Perou so signed up as a team and how much fun we had!!!

This adventure starts with the organisation picking you up at the airport and helping you settle in Arcos de Valdevez where the first stage will be held the next morning. It is a small village with great food and nice views! Mick and I joined our friend Helene from Reunion Island to eat in our first portuguese Barbeque (Braseiro) Chicken and man it's good! It's with a fully content tummy that we fall asleep!

Day 1- 42 Km with 1800D+/1800D

This stage constitutes of doing a loop going up through eucalyptus fields, small villages full of greenery and the most welcoming people ever and going down some western movies looking fields full of suspended rocks, paved tracks very beautiful and an awesome river crossing!
When you finally reach Arcos again, you can relax on their " lake beach" near the hotel, eat great local foods or enjoy the spa at the hotel! A nice first stage!

Day 2 is another 42 km but with 2000D+/2100D-

Legs are feeling the elevation gain and lost of the first day, we take a bus to Sistelo a cute little village not far from Arcos. We start slow going up to cross another small village before carrying on until Branda Da Avelera. It's very warm but not complaining, we like it better than rain ;) We go up a bit more before going down and cross some soggy fields with these scary looking but relaxed cows. We reach the half way point for the starter via wine fields, go down some river looking paths before crossing another river to reach Melgaco village. The huge lunch full of fresh local food and beer is welcomed as well as the massage! It's an opportunity to really share our experience with the other runners we've been running with on that leg.
Such a nice bunch from all over the world ( Brazil, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Singapore, Costa Rica and America!!!), it's ecstatic! We carry on our conversation in the bus to our next hotel destination, tomorrow is promising to be yet another beautiful part of the park.

Day 3, 30 km with 1000D+/1000D-

I'm so glad we don't have to run another marathon but can't wait to see what Carlos have chosen to show us. We take the bus to Peneda, a BEAUTIFUL place with just a hotel and a church at the centre and the villagers are scattered around. We go up the road we came from before going down to the first aid station, we don't stop it's only been 8 km, we go up again in a savannah playground, I can pictures elephants and lion living there, it changes dramatically as soon as we start our small descent to the next check point! It's a dramatic change of scenery is less than a kilometer! We eat watermelon and dry ham before starting our last up hill and soon reach Castro Laboreiro. I'm tired but so glad to be with Mick! We spend more time taking pictures and embracing the views than actually racing and it's nice! The after race is brilliant with a visit to the  Castro Laboreiro Kennel and a nice "apero" with the Luxembourg group!
PS: Castro Laboreiro is also a rare dog breed unique to Portugal! http://www.castrolaboreiro.co.uk/ ! it is such a nice breed looking good for ultra running!!!

Day 4- 29 km with 1300D+/1500D

We are back in Peneda, but this time we are going to the opposite direction. First going down to go up a loonnnng road tp the first check point. My! This piece of road was something! walking was too slow and running was too fast! But at last, we reach the aid station which means we are not going down towards the reservoir! Another paved path so pretty I wanted to do it again! We soon reach the half way point of the starter race and see the top 5 of that race! They look so fresh it's incredible! I'm not looking that great haha but I'm enjoying so much of the scenery and the energy of the runners is so contagious we carry on down to a nice little river with a bridge, up some crazy jungle looking path to reach the reservoir, which means that straight up ahead there will be the castle!!! Reaching the top, we happily eat with the other runners talking about how the day went! We rush as we need to take the bus to Montalegre ( a 2 hour drive), the bus driver doesn't use GPS there, so we got a bit lost adding some more fun :), reaching the hotel, I'm baffled! it's such a nice hotel my gosh, with a sauna and everything!



Day 5- 25km 940D+/830D-

I can't believe it is the last day! Legs are not sore but heavy! We start by going around the Montaglegre Castle before going down to reach the beaten path. My mind is not in a great place! there is too much continuous running involved and my tummy ache I've been dragging for 2 days is playing up! Lucky I have Mick with me, pushing me to keep going, as well as  runners trying to cheer me up and the photographers ( Thanks to Luc Van Oost and the others)!
This was not my favourite stage thou, beside the end when we reach the church by the river and the village! what a sight! And the welcoming villagers with their awesome soup and beer just made the day looking better! Thank you Pitões das júnias! After everyone has arrived and eaten, we take the bus back to Montalegre for the prize ceremony. Again more amazing food ( especially the dessert!) We finished first mixed team so we got some cool trophies, heavy! but cool!

Our cool trophy! 

What an adventure! After the race, we stayed with the race organisation and help out on stage 6 in Geres, 38 km of pure joy! Enjoyed the views of stage 7 cheer up our friends! and actually resting with a canooning session and prize ceremony on Day 8!
A wonderful time we had and a race we highly recommend!!! We made friends from all over the world and discover Portugal in an unique way! Thanks Carlos!

Ski Touring in St Jean de Maurienne, French Alps: 18 days of blissful outings!

I know, it's been a very long while since I have posted anything on the blog. Not even my recipes made it there even thou I still had a few to post and pictures to add. What can I say, with the ankle accident while in Reunion Island in November, quitting my job on our way back and London's weather, it was hard to write anything "inspiring"!!!
And so with 5 additional kilos from not being bothered to do anything but eating crap and sulking, Michael and I made our way to St Jean de Maurienne, France for 3 weeks of Skimo, in the hope to get this sulking disappear with the sweat of hardworking outings.
And let me tell you after 18 of them, good food, excellent weather and company, it worked! Back to my old self! Just take a look at the pictures below and I dare you to  tell me you won't want to join us next year ;)

Michael's dad loves to skimo and was our guide for most of our outings. So that's him at the front in most of the pics ;)

St Jean de Maurienne is 2 hours away from Geneva Airport, and is the perfect location to be based as you have the Belledone Range, Vanoise Range and  Maurienne Valley all for yourself! But with ski touring, no need to buy an expensive ski pass when you can just go up there for free (albeit your sweat!) and if you do want to downhill ski, our favourite familial station Les Karelis has plenty of nice ski slopes without the crowd!

So enjoy the pictures and let me know if you need a hand to plan your next trip to the French Alps!

Check Mick's Blog for more reasons to skimo with us!