PART 1: Conquering the Chartreuse: Our roaming adventure as a duo

In the world of ultra running, roaming is an open door to the unknown and adventure. It is an experience that goes far beyond simple running. Freedom and lightness combine to allow us to push our limits and discover new horizons.

For this 3rd roaming adventure, Axelle and I decided to take on a completely new challenge: a 2-day XXL Tour of Chartreuse!

Thanks to the informed recommendations of our friend Joris Tripier Mondacin from Trail In France , we have planned a route of 80km and 6000 D+ to explore the hidden treasures of this magnificent region.

In this article, we will share with you the highlights, challenges and preparation of this incredible trail running adventure.

Roaming or trail running in its starter-main course-dessert version!

There is something magical about embarking on a multi-day adventure. Going to explore an unknown region, on a route that is both technical and ambitious, awakens in us the feeling of being explorers of a new kind!

By interspersing the route with a night or two in a hostel/refuge/hotel, roaming also allows you to considerably increase the distances covered while remaining in a certain comfort of running.

It immerses us in the adventure, makes the pleasure last and makes us see more!

And the strong contrasts between the effort of the day and the comfort of the hostel undeniably contribute to the magic of this practice.

The 2-day Tour of Chartreuse

The route we have chosen is an interesting alternative to the "classic" crossing of the Chartreuse from Chambéry.

He transported us to the heart of wild and unspoiled nature. From the departure from Grenoble train station to the majestic peaks and breathtaking landscapes, follow our route through the most emblematic points of interest in the region...

Day 1: Via the Dents de Crolles

The day before our trip, the excitement was palpable. Between the rush to prepare our bags, check the route and sort out the last logistical details, we had chosen to spend the night in Grenoble to start our adventure in a serene manner. After a hearty breakfast, we headed to the Grenoble train station, the starting point of our journey.

The initial ascent took us to the Fort de la Bastille, overlooking the city. Through the ruins and tourists, we had to climb 200 meters of altitude difference to finally pass the arrival of the funicular and "leave" Grenoble. The Fort de Saint Eynard, like a rearguard of the Bastille, also marked our path. Below, we pass by the Col de Vence, the last watering hole before the long ascent of 1800 D+ which leads to the summit of the Dents de Crolles.

At the Col du Coq, we missed the excellent Auberge Brevardière that Internet users recommended to us afterwards. It should be noted that this part located between the Col de Vence and the Col du Coq is clearly not the most interesting part of the route: In the undergrowth and composed of an interminable succession of small climbs (over nearly 13km), we welcomed the view of the Dents de Crolles at the Col du Coq with great enthusiasm!

A rocky and aerial climb, with chain passages, this was undeniably the most sumptuous part of this first day!

After passing the Dents de Crolles, we found ourselves in a wild and preserved environment, reminiscent of the Parmelan landscape with its topography and its immense stone slabs crisscrossed with crevasses.

After a good 6 hours out, the storm gradually joined the party, forcing us to deal with showers and the distant rumbling of thunder until our arrival at Saint Pierre de Chartreuse, marking the end of this first day.

We had planned to stay at the Ateliers du Cucheron, located 3km further along the route. Our hosts kindly agreed to pick us up directly in Saint Pierre de Chartreuse, thus saving us those last three kilometres, a rather uninteresting stretch of road.

This long day on the trails was punctuated by landscapes as diverse as they were varied as well as capricious weather. But far from discouraging us, and nice and dry under our BlackShell, this weather brought us its share of strange and magical atmospheres that give the adventure all its spice. We savored every crumb of it.

Night in a guest house: Les Ateliers du Cucheron

Located on the route, right at the start of the ascent of the Grand Som, the hosts kindly agreed to come and pick us up in Saint Pierre de Chartreuse (which saved us 3km of road, a section that is not necessarily very interesting especially after 40km in the legs!).

We shared an excellent meal with the other customers (a couple including a cabinetmaker Youtuber) and remade the world three times.

In these exchanges around a meal, we find the pleasures of travel and the openness to the world that it brings. It is a small golden reverse of these roaming adventures that makes us appreciate this format so much.

Day 2: The Grand Som, The Grande Chartreuse and the Charmant Som.

    After a short but invigorating night at the Ateliers du Cucheron, we were ready for a new day of discoveries and adventures. The second day promised to immerse us in the heart of grandiose landscapes and places full of history.

    Our first stop was the Grand Som, an imposing peak that offered a breathtaking panoramic view, with a breathtaking view of the Grande Chartreuse monastery below. The climb is just as spectacular as the Dents de Crolles, with a little gas here and there. In any case, it is a natural spectacle not to be missed!

    After admiring this natural wonder, we continued our journey by taking the Pas du Loup, a narrow passage between the cliffs.

    Our next destination was steeped in spirituality: the Monastery of the Grande Chartreuse. Nestled in a green setting, this thousand-year-old monastery is a place of meditation for around thirty monks. With its sober and austere architecture, the Carthusian monks who reside there have taken a vow of silence and make the famous eponymous liqueur according to a secret recipe. A true journey through time and through the mind.

    Right next to the monastery is the Musée de la Grande Chartreuse. For the curious and the connoisseurs, this museum offers a fascinating insight into the history and production of the famous liqueur (we didn't stop).

    We then started a climb towards the Charmant Som, a summit that deserves its name, but which did not spare us with its long climb in particularly muddy and slippery undergrowth. At the summit, we were rewarded with a breathtaking view of the surrounding massifs, including Cham Chaude (the only summit we were not able to do).

    Too optimistic or too greedy (we will never know), our supplies had run out, and a short stop was necessary at the Auberge du Charmant Som, where we enjoyed their famous blueberry tart and each left with half a cheese board that allowed us to last the remaining 3 hours.

    The final climb to the Banettes refuge offered us an enchanting bucolic spectacle. The alpine landscapes unfolded before us in all their splendor, with green meadows, refreshing waterfalls, legions of marmots and majestic peaks.

    The final descent, which offers a breathtaking view of Grenoble, awaited us with its 1,500 meters of steep elevation gain. A final event that will have mistreated my quads after 70 km of racing, but rewarded by the satisfaction of having completed this adventure!

    Arriving in Saint Egrève, a tram allowed us to reach the Grenoble train station in about twenty minutes. Calm after the storm, we were back among the men in our adventurer uniform. And among the passers-by, civilians, hurried workers or onlookers, we knew that no one around us could imagine the fabulous little adventure that we had just accomplished.

    I think we were proud of it...

      PART 2: The Art of Packing Your Bag for a 2-Day Hike with a Night in a Hostel

      The whole pleasure of roaming lies in having a bag that is light enough to keep the sensations of trail running and yet have with you all the necessary equipment for several days of running. In this sense, good packing of your bag is an important prerequisite for the adventure.

      To succeed in this itinerancy, our Sherpa bag plays a crucial role. Because with its 12L capacity, its lightness (lighter than the vast majority of 5L bags) and its support (patented system), we have the possibility of loading ourselves for 2-3 days without having the feeling of being encumbered by a hiking bag.

      The contents of the bag and our outfit also play a crucial role. Here is how we organized our equipment to have optimal sensations during this roaming:

      • Clothing for the race: With 25°C forecast on the trails and stormy weather, we chose ultra-light and breathable clothing to overcome the heat. A 220 BPM t-shirt on top accompanied by a S herpa Race on the bottom. The latter is a valuable addition to the bag because it allows you to store an additional 500mL flask and a total of 1.2L of equipment thanks to its integrated storage belt.

      • Evening clothes: Since we had booked a hostel for the night and given the summer temperatures, we could afford to take fairly light clothes. So I opted for a 220 BPM Long Sleeve on top and a 220 BPM short on the bottom (no need to take boxer shorts, they have built-in briefs). For a total weight of 132g (XS outfit) and a volume of 350mL, their lightness and compactness were perfect for our needs.

      • Equipment for the evening: A toothbrush whose handle we cut off and that we shared (a small hygiene flexibility that we allow ourselves since we are a couple ;p). I also take with me since the last roaming an ultra compact and light 10,000 mAh external charger from the Nitecore brand (150g), the necessary connectors to charge the phone + watch as well as a plug compatible with the set. This small external charger is in my opinion a must-have on a roaming where it is not guaranteed to have a charging possibility in the evening. But it is also an additional security on the journey, especially when you navigate with your mobile or watch, or when you need to take a lot of photos (this is my case ^^).

      • Safety equipment: We have not neglected essential safety equipment. The essential pillar remains our BlackShell waterproof jacket which, thanks to its 20k Schmerber of waterproofing, allows us to effectively protect ourselves against the most hardcore bad weather. Not having planned to run at night, we favored an ultra light headlamp from the Beliight brand. A survival blanket for emergency situations. The NanoShell completes our bag. Made in a water-repellent Everdry Merino, it is the most compact (500mL) and lightest warm jacket there is (160g in M). It provides a valuable additional comfort in the evening without bulking up the bag. But it could also be a valuable additional warmth on the trails if we ever had to spend the night outside.

      To see the complete packaging of the bag, we invite you to watch the short video that we made in the permanent Story .

      Conclusion :

      We carefully prepared our equipment for this duo trail running trip in Chartreuse. Each item we chose was compact, lightweight and adapted to our specific needs. And thanks to our ultra-light and well-organized bag, we were able to fully enjoy every moment of this adventure.

      For you too to experience this adventure, here is the GPX track of the route!

      GPX track