The North Face Ultra Trail takes place this weekend

Departing from Chamonix on 25 August at 19.00hrs, participants will cover a total of 155kms, travelling through 3 countries, 7 valleys, 71 glaciers and 400 summits, experiencing a difference in altitude of 8500 metres!! This race is a true test of endurance, a combination of pleasure/pain, highs and lows.

The trail begins and ends at Chamonix but you can catch sight of the runners as they pass through Les Houches, Les Contamines, Les Chapieux, Courmayeur, La Fouly, Champex, Trient, Vallorcine and Argentiere. Each of these areas celebrates the achievement of the runners by holding a fete with concerts, barbeques and general encouragement, clapping and cheering as the runners pass by.

So what then is the prize waiting for the winner at the finish you ask? There is no monetary prize for being the first to complete the course as the philosophy of the trail is that everyone's a winner – it's a personal achievement and as such there is a wonderful sense of team spirit about the event.

The race started in 2003 with just 700 entrant. Of those 700, only 67 actually finished, with winner being Dawa Sherpa. In 2005 the competition had attracted up to 2000 participants with the winner crossing the finish line in an amazing 21 hours and 6 minutes. Subscription for the 2006 race was opened on November 29th 2005 and by the 17th December 2000 applicants had already subscribed so the decision was taken to open up the competition to a further 500 places. 1000 places were accepted by to those who will complete the course from Courmayeur-Champex back to Chamonix.

For us lesser mortals, it is possible to take a similar tour of Mont Blanc over a period of 8 to 10 days, staying in mountain refuges and hopping on the odd bus if necessary, or getting the odd mule to take the bulk of our walking supplies.