Tour du Mont Blanc- July
Howie Schwartz, UIAGM mountain guide and SMG owner

As a high mountain guide, I am a trail runner for training and as part of my alpine climbing pursuits. I really do enjoy it. My wife operates a small specialty outdoor retail store in Bishop, CA called Sage to Summit. She loves running. She sent me out on a scouting mission to a trip we have been talking about for years- The Tour du Mont Blanc.

The TMB is a classic light backpacking trip that takes most people 10-12 days. We were thinking that fit mountain runners could do it quite a bit faster, enjoying the thrill of moving through 3 countries over 100 miles at an active, yet not overly devastating pace. Bear in mind that the TMB is now an annual ultra-trail race where the winners post sub-24hr times! I asked my friend Nina Silitch, wife of UIAGM mountain guide Michael Silitch and US team Ski Mountaineering Racer to join me on a 3-day scouting mission. Miraculously, she said yes!

We had a great time and I am convinced that this has to be the most spectacular and classic 100-mile trail run in the world! We have all of the complex logistics and support systems dialed for our trip next year and we are excited to be pioneering a new form of guided mountain experience that embraces all the best of mountain travel in a light, fast, and super-fun style. Check out more trip details on the website soon. And view the photo gallery from this years trip!

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