Thursday, August 01, 2024

Tour du Queyras France Trek: Trip & Gear Report: Footwear, Apparel, Packs, Poles and More

 Article by Dominique and Sam Winebaum and Rene Lorenzini

Photo credit: René Lorenzini


In June, RTR my brother René, Sam, and I, trekked the Tour du Queyras (FR), which is also referred to as the GR 58, an approximate 80 miles route with significant elevation gain (25,345 ft) and loss (25,180 ft), around the Queyras Natural Park located in the Hautes-Alpes department near the Italian border, and south of Briançon.  


We tested, and cover in the article, all kinds of gear from multiple types of footwear, packs, apparel, trekking poles, and even mini crampons as we had plenty of snow.


Philippe Lamour, mayor of Ceillac (from 1965 to 1983), initiated the creation of the Queyras Natural Park in 1977 and designed the Tour du Queyras trail.  

This remote area of very small villages, some seasonal, has not only benefited from the trail but from the simultaneous development of very small alpine ski areas and nordic ski trails. 

All at a reasonable intimate scale that respects the landscape and history of the region



Gear Highlights 


The Tour du Queyras afforded us the perfect ground to test new and already reviewed gear here at RoadTrailRun. This article features some of the gear we brought along our trek; for in-depth reviews, go to the links (see below) when available.  


Ultimate Direction Fastpack 40 L ($195) Review

Black Diamond Beta Light 35L Pack (review soon)


Merrell Moab Speed Mid 2 Gore-Tex® ($180) Review

Saucony Xodus Ultra 3 ( Review)

adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 (Review soon)

NNormal Kboix (Review soon)


Gorewear Concurve Gore-Tex Jackets ($250) Review

Gorewear Contest 2  T-shirt and Long Sleeve (($80-90) Review

Salomon S/Lab and Aero Tees (Review)


ONE-WAY MTX Carbon Vario Dark Foldable Trekking Poles ($230) Review

Durston Gear Iceline Poles Review


Kathoola RENAgaiter Low ($50) Review

Kathoola MICROspikes® Footwear Traction ($75) Review

Buff Aqua Glove + Key West Sky ($35)


Fractel Bucket Hat B-SERIES “MOUNTAIN DISCO” ($60)

Fractel Cap and Bucket Hats RoadTrailRun Edition (SHOP HERE)


The Trek

Back in February, I organized our Tour du Queyras relying on the site “Mon tour du Queyras” which greatly facilitated the task of booking refuges/gîtes even though I wasn’t familiar with the region.  


The Topo Guide “Tour du Queyras - Parc naturel régional du Queyras - GR® 58,” only available in French, was a helpful guide to many on the trails.  The Topo maps IGN, Carte 3637 OT and Carte 3537 ET,  cover the Tour du Queyras.  


The trail is well marked with red and white GR markings, and when in doubt, Sam navigated with the help of the Komoot app, which even when not loading the day’s stage, showed our current location and all trails.


We opted for an 8 day tour with 7 overnight stays in late June, which was manageable, although snow cover over several of the passes and rain (3 days), made it more challenging.  My brother René, who lives near Geneva, drove his car reaching Ceillac in less than 4 hours, which spared us a day spent traveling on the train.  Montdauphin-Guillestre is the closest train station to the Queyras Natural Park. 


Our itinerary was as follows:


Saturday, June 22:  Ceillac to St-Veran (Gîte Costebelle)  

Sunday, June 23:    St-Veran to Refuge Agnel  

Monday, June 24:    Refuge Agnel to l”Echalp  (7 Degré Est)

Tuesday, June 25:   l'Echalp to Abries (Edelweiss)

Wednesday, June 26: Abries to Les Fonds de Cervières

Thursday, June 27:             Les Fonds de Cervières to Brunissard (Les Bons Enfants)

Friday, June 28:                  Brunissard to Refuge de Furfande

Saturday, June 29:             Refuge de Furfande to Ceillac


We hired a service to transport our baggage allowing us to hike light and bring extra gear, such as snow shoes and 3 pairs of test shoes for Sam.The service by  Sherpa Queyras, “Petit Mathieu” was extremely reliable and reasonable, at 11 Euro per bag per day.


Photo by René Lorenzini (Leaving the refuge de Furfande) 


The week prior to our trek, I joined the Facebook  group “Tour du Queyras - GR58,” to obtain more details on trail conditions resulting in us bringing both snowshoes and micro spikes. FB commentators were waist deep in snow in certain areas as there was a tremendous amount of late snow with the Col de Chamoussière (alt. 2,884 m/ 9462 ft) to be avoided (in non snow conditions the only “hazardous” mile or so), with an alternative route highly recommended (Col du Longet) which we took. 

Celiac, our starting point. 

Dinners each night were similar: soup, main dish, salad, desert. Beer, wine and other hot drinks are extra and available everywhere. Breakfasts: coffee, tea, cereal, yogurt, bread, juice. 


All refuges/gites had hot showers (included). Bedding was clean, but do bring a sleeping bag liner. 


Demi Pension (dinner, accommodations, shower and breakfast) was consistent in quality and pricing at just under 60 Euro per night. Picnic lunches were available in most places and huge, lasting us 2 days! 


We each spent a total of 700 Euro ($755 USD)  for 8 days on the trail including all the night stays and meals, some picnic lunches, snacks bought in small stores and plenty of beer and after hike teas and sodas!

We stayed in refuges-gites with a mix of dormitories and rooms for 3 people. 

Gite 7 Degres Est

The atmosphere in the refuges-gîtes was heartwarming and the accommodations were communal and comfortable, with good food and a great selection of beverages.  

Several huts had air boot dryers and they were needed!


Unlike the Tour du Mont-Blanc, the trails are not crowded (as experienced in late June) with mostly French “randonneurs” or trekkers.  

We enjoyed the fact that the Tour du Queyras is still off the beaten path when it comes to international hikers!   

All three of us are French speakers (my native tongue), so we blended in quite well!  

Late June/early July is also the perfect time to enjoy - and identify - the magnificent blooms from so many different species of flowers: meadow flowers, wetland flowers, woodland flowers, and high mountain flowers.  


Trumpet gentians 


The Gear


I reused quite a bit of gear that I tested on prior treks, including:


Ultimate Direction® Fastpack 40L ($195) ) Review

Currently out of stock at Ultimate Direction, but available at a discounted price (25%) in size s/m on other sites. The pack does not come with its own rain cover, something  I remediated since our trek in Tuscany (May 2023 Trip and Gear Report).  Also, the day we hiked over the Col Vieux from the Refuge Agnel, we carried and wore our snowshoes.  Admittedly, the Fastpack 40L is not intended to carry heavy duty equipment like snowshoes, however, I managed to stow them in the side mesh pockets securing them with straps from the pack.    

Refuge Agnel.: We were a minority wearing snow shoes but were glad we had brought them along. 


Between the freezing conditions, rain, wind, and the muddy terrain when it came to remove our snowshoes, it proved a bit challenging to stow them away again!  

The Ultimate Direction® Fastpack 40L is a lightweight pack that hugs comfortably my shoulders and back with great capacity and a myriad of pockets: front, sides, and back.

  

Black Diamond Beta Light 30L Backpack ($370) 









Sam: I tested the Beta Light. My sample was a small as my usual medium was sold out. 


The pack is roll top style with one giant back stretch mesh pocket, 2 stout side pockets with an internal low mesh compartment for a reservoir with a pass through slot.  It has small pockets on the shoulder straps which I found were not useful for anything other than very small items as they were too high and I was not able to put a soft flask as intended in them.  I am not convinced the issue is one of size. I had other front storage in two zip pockets on the removable waist belt.









Made of Challenge Sailcloth it proved extremely waterproof during 2 days of almost constant rain and wind. Even a tumble into a roaring torrent only had a touch of moisture get through the bottom.

It has a fairly short thick backpad with along the upper back a removable foam pad. Weight is 452g (no hipbelt, stays, foam pad). . 

The pack was extremely comfortable and easily carried the 15-20 lbs daily loads.  While pictures show it sort of sagging backwards, I felt none of this as I think the load was focused on that lower back pad. I do think it could potentially use adjustment straps from the top of the pack to the top of the shoulder straps.

That said, and back to the shoulder straps, no matter what I did the right strap had a tendency to move off my right shoulder. I think the issue is caused by loading and the strap widths. If the load weight is not centered, and in my case biased left as I “list” a bit to the right, the strap will want to try to come off my shoulder. I also think the shoulder straps could be wider at the top and more contoured. Below with a smaller lower load things look better.

A bit critical I guess but it will be on my back for another trek in the Alps in August that is for sure! 


Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid GTX ($180) RTR Review


Last year, I tested my first pair of Merrell, the Antora 3 from a line-up of 9 different trail shoes that was offered to RoadTrailRun contributors.  My experience with the brand was positive and given the popularity of the Moab hiking boot line, I felt confident trying its lighter version..   


First Impressions, Fit and Upper


Trail ready right off the box –  I wore them prior to our trek on day hikes though no break-in was necessary, but just to make sure they were a good fit for me.  

The fit is true to size and extremely comfortable.  There are sturdier options in the Merrell Collection, and from many other brands, such as TOPO and AKU that are better adapted for more rugged conditions, but I was decidedly drawn to the idea of hiking in a light boot.  


At 12.34 oz (350 g), they are considerably lighter than my prior pair of AKU Selvatica (15 oz /428 g).  Both boots are described as lightweight for moving quickly in total comfort.  Not having to carry a heavy load on my back allowed me to lighten the load on my feet as well!

The upper is GORE-TEX® and is described in the specs with “exceptional breathability and waterproof performance.”  I was a bit skeptical that a GTX boot would have “exceptional breathability” yet I can testify that I never experienced discomfort during our 8 day trek, namely my feet never got hot.  They did get wet during three of the stages given the snowy and wet conditions on the trails and heavy rain, but I took note that they dried faster than sturdier/leather boots that other hikers were wearing on the trails.

The toebox is very roomy, which is so important for the comfort of my feet. To be noted, the metal hooks at the top of the collar resulted in zero pressure points, something I have experienced in several other mid height boots.   Both the heel and toe cap are made with abrasion resistant synthetic material providing good protection against shocks and rocks.  The collar is well padded creating a comfortable and secure zone around the ankles. 


The tongue is designed to keep debris out and wraps nicely inside the collar. I wore Kathoola gaiters, the RENAgaiter LOW, on rainy days and when crossing snowy passes, for added protection against the elements.  

                          

More on Kathoola products below, which complimented my footwear in challenging conditions. 


The Moab has not an overly snug foothold like the Deckers X Lab Enduro Max Low, but is plenty secure and extremely comfortable, both on the uphills and downhills.  

Notably, the overlays are plentiful to optimize protection and create a secure foothold while my feet were blisters free throughout the trek with zero discomfort.  I alternated wearing Darn Tough merino socks and Drymax socks with a clean fresh pair just about every day.  On the topic of freshness, the upper is treated with Cleansport NXT™ for “natural odor control.” 100 miles later, I still get a whiff of “natural odor” when smelling the inside of my boots! 


The Midsole

I would characterize the midsole foam, which is FloatPro,™ as providing lasting comfort without the perks of being over plush and/or with lots of rebound.  A lightweight plastic FlexPlate™ adds lateral stability and torsional rigidity while the forefoot is very flexible.  


With its 34-24 mm stack height, the midsole provides plenty of light cushioning that is very protective.  Honestly, my legs did not feel fatigued at the end of each day nor at the end of the trek and I developed no flaring pain in my feet as I tend to get in some boots and shoes.  I will mention the 10 mm drop  is a fairly high drop in comparison to TOPO’s 5 mm drop and HOKA’s 5 mm drop.  I tend to adapt well to different drops though I stay away from zero drop shoes. 



The Outsole

Made with Vibram®’s TC5+ , a Vibram compund formulated exclusively for Merrell, the outsole features 4 mm lugs providing great traction.  A close-up look of the lugs shows that the sides of the lugs have a dotted mini lug pattern "Traction Lug", as opposed to a smooth surface, and this to increase the traction of the outsole.

The Moab Speed 2 GTX outsole is designed for moderate  terrain with a strong emphasis on comfort.  It is not as firm, sturdy nor as “sticky” on wet surfaces as the Vibram outsole on my AKU Silvetica or TOPO Trailventure 2.   After 100 total miles of hiking, the outsole shows no sign of wear.  


During our trek, I felt confident on the trails but was cautious when the surface became slippery.  

I wore Kahtoola MICROspikes to ensure greater traction when hiking uphill or downhill over the large snow nevés, as did Sam and René


The Vibramr® TC5+ outsole was adequate for our Tour du Queyras trek in terms of handling the rugged terrain, which was only occasional, and nothing like the White Mountains.  I would say the outsole contributed to the overall comfort of the boot and the smooth sailing along the tour on dry land and pavement sections.  



Conclusion: 

I would recommend the Merrell Moab Speed 2 GTX to hikers looking for a lightweight boot with an all-around comfortable platform.  Designed for moderate terrain as opposed to rugged terrain, I felt they were sturdy enough for the White Mountains (on one hike).  Merrell tends to offer shoes that are more affordable, however, at $180, the Moab Speed 2 GTX is comparable in price to the Topo Trailventure WP 2 – a heavier and sturdier boot.   For sure, unless my feet were wet from all the rain & water crossing, I was not eager to remove my boots once I had reached our destinations – see picture of our table at the Refuge de Furfande below.


Sam’s Hiking Shoes


Sam: Of course being a shoe geek with many to test I brought along 3 pairs to test during the trek.  Left to Right below: Saucony Xodus Ultra 3 (RTR Review), adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 (RTR Review), and NNormal Kboix (prototype). I wore them 2 to 3 days each.


While it was tested on the “dry” days, the Xodus Ultra 3 was my favorite. Very light and highly breathable it had the most stack of cushion and was the only one with a rock plate that is more for stabilizing than protection as the outsole and deep midsole provided plenty of rock protection. It got wet as the others did in big stream crossings did and dried the quickest by far, in a hour, although the weather was sunny. It is also totally runable on trail and even road.as is the NNormal Kboix. 

The Free Hiker 2 GTX was the only “boot” in the mix. Its mostly Boost expanded TPU beads midsoles provided the most bounce on firm paths and almost 10K of pavement in a storm while its Continental rubber outsole had outstanding grip while remaining well planted and smooth on easier terrain. 

Its Gore-Tex upper is more trail shoe-like than boot-like and has the widest toe box. To go with the friendly room up front, it has, of course, higher stout support towards the rear than the others with a plastic clip wrapping the heel. The only Gore-Tex or waterproof upper shoe of the three, it dried the slowest and is the heaviest.

The NNormal Kboix (RTR Preview)  is a prototype in final testing so I can’t comment in any great detail. It has 3 different entirely swappable midsoles that slide in and out of the shoe: Soft, Bounce, and Reactive. 

I preferred the Bounce for the trek with the Soft ideal for smooth trail and even road running. 

Its Vibram Megagrip outsole with larger flat lugs than the others was the most versatile. Along with the Free Hiker, it was tested in extremely wet conditions: rain, torrent crossings, and snow with plenty of rocky sections in the mix. 


The removable midsole stayed put and stability was outstanding. The Matryx upper was very comfortable especially when used with the Bounce or Soft midsoles as the Reactive, as it is slightly denser, actually reduces the shoe’s volume and increases foot hold for more technical running or hiking. 


Gorewear Concurve Gore-Tex Jackets ($250)

Back in March, RTR contributors, including Sam and I reviewed the Gorewear Concurve Gore-Tex Jacket. The Concurve is a running jacket with a streamlined fit that is both windproof and waterproof and is made with PFC Free Gore-Tex fabric.  


Though we were not running, but hiking, on our Tour du Queyras, I liked the idea of a lightweight jacket that would be fully protective, yet breathable, and without the bulk of a traditional Gore-Tex jacket.  


The breathability factor of the Concurve jacket was very good hiking in the rain and in cool to cold temperatures.  Unlike my husband Sam who tends to sweat profusely, I tend to sweat only mildly in normal temperatures.   

The ascent of the Col Vieux (alt.2806 m/ 6844 ft) on June 24th! 


The Concurve jacket delivered for me on our Tour du Queyras though I made the mistake of not wearing enough layers on a particular day when the conditions were below freezing.  I got cold in challenging weather conditions.  I felt better once I stopped to put on my light puffy underneath my Concurve jacket.  In fact, I was surprised that the streamlined fit of my jacket would have room for the light puffy underneath – an Ultimate Direction Ventro Puffy jacket!  


Lesson learned: the Concurve jacket is not an “expedition jacket” which is what it felt like that day hiking/snowshoeing over the Col Vieux in late June.  Yet, the mere fact of layering up with a light puffy underneath did the job.  My hiking pants were too light too! By all means, this was a challenging day for all.  

By then, we were “out of woods” and while my legs and feet were drenched, I stayed fairly dry underneath my Concurve and puffy. 


Gorewear Contest T-shirt ($80) and Long Sleeve ($90)

Like the Gorewear Concurve jacket, the Contest t-shirt, which is also available in a a long sleeve, is primarily a running top.  We received our Contest t-shirts several months ago and I have been wearing mine for running and playing tennis.  We brought it along our trek to help us stay us cool and comfortable when hiking in the heat.  Made with ultra-lightweight fabric and designed with “laser-cut ventilation,” I can barely feel the Contest against my skin.  We bought a long sleeve Contest as a gift for my brother, René, who was happy with this technical top on his trek.


To be noted, the fabric is ultra-lightweight and quite resistant to the rubbing of a backpack and straps around the waist.  Yet, I would be cautious as this is an expensive t-shirt.  


The moisture-wicking properties of the Contest help keep you dry, and though you sweat less, body odors linger after a long day hike.  This is the only drawback and perhaps merino wool or Sam's Salomon Tees below might be a better option when hiking on a multi-day trek.  However, at no point, I felt overheated when wearing the Contest.  Slim-fitting and attractive looking, especially in the “scrub purple” color.  Reflective elements are incorporated in the back and sleeves on the t-shirt for added visibility in the dark.  


Salomon Sense Aero and S/Lab Speed Tees (RTR Review)

All days but one, I wore one of these Salomon Tees be it pouring rain and cold or hot. Similar in materials, they both feature 37.5  thermo regulating tech. And it really works in heat and cold as the embedded 37.5 particles draw moisture away from the skin more effectively than any other combination I have ever tested.  In cold and wet these tees keep you drier or actually dry as I found on a day at near freezing with hard rain and in heat they help cool by increasing moisture transport and evaporation. 


Not overly snug, thin and soft against the skin they also feature many days between wash odor resistance with the S/Lab having a botanical citric acid based Inoic+ treatment. 


ONE/WAY MTX Carbon Vario Dark Foldable Trekking Poles ($230) Review

Sam lent me his ONE/WAY MTX Carbon Vario Dark Foldable Trekking Poles for the trek while he was testing the Durston Iceline (RTR Review).  This is my second pair of “top of the line” trekking poles that I received as a “hand-me-down" from Sam, and I am always grateful for high performance “sticks” when hiking.  

ONE/WAY just launched its new trekking pole collection after being in the business of manufacturing high quality nordic and alpine ski poles and accessories since 2004.  Originally from Finland, the company is now located in Austria.   

Though I was hiking at a leisurely pace, and not speeding, I greatly appreciated the high quality of my trekking poles.  Lightweight with long grips and easy going fabric straps, my One/Way poles became my best companion on the trails, relying on them every single step of the way.  In all the pictures we took, I am hiking with my trekking poles.  

There were plenty of nevé  (snow field) crossings, river crossings, steep uphills and downhills, during which I relied heavily on my trekking poles. I was able to replace the small diameter baskets with larger ones (screw on Leki type) so that my trekking poles would stay “afloat” on the soft snow surface.  It was easy to do and equally so to then revert to the smaller diameter baskets.  





 





We met Marie-Agnes on the trek and she became our trekking companion for several of the stages.  On a few occasions we took shelter under her large umbrella.  Unlike me, Marie-Agnes would often hike without trekking poles.

Sam: I tested the Durston Iceline Trekking Poles ($169)  RTR Review. Said to be the lightest trekking poles yet they weigh a mere 126g each and are 100% carbon. 

Adjustable from 95-127cm they do away with the usual internal cords and mechanisms and just snap out to become two short easy to carry sections. So light and yet sturdy, I never “folded” them in 8 days. 

Without sliding tubes down low and with the snap in connection simple and rugged they have a stout 16mm diameter their whole length and are rock solid and rigid. 

While they have no strap (as of yet as a new version is coming this fall with straps), I only very occasionally worried about losing them on a few very technical sections where hands were required but they are so easy to shift from hand to hand, and yes will say it again so light, I never worried much about losing them and really appreciated the ease of grabbing both if I needed my hands or wanted to walk pole less. 

The Iceline takes Komperdell compatible snow baskets (Komperdell manufactures the Iceline for Durston) and I for sure used them. It also can serve as a snowshoe, winter hike, even nordic ski pole although for that last I wish the maximum length was longer than 127cm.

My brother René crossing one of the many streams that had been somewhat enlarged by the heavy rain. 


Kathoola RENAgaiter Low ($50)


The RENAgaiter Low are the most versatile gaiters from traction specialists  Kathoola.   They were a breeze to put on and take off and provided added protection from the elements during our trek.  







Keeping the gaiter securely and comfortably in place is the DuraLink® instep strap which is extremely durable.  For added rock protection, the gaiter features an Aegis® rock guard.


The RENAgaiter Low was just enough gaiter for me in terms of protection.  Made with breathable material, I felt comfortable wearing my gaiters all day.  The trails were fairly smooth so I mostly wore them in wet conditions for added protection. 



Kathoola MICROspikes® Footwear Traction ($75)









We did not expect to find so much snow in late June on our Tour du Queyras; in fact, it was an exceptional year for snow.  I found out that we would need to be equipped with “mini crampons” to go over some of the passes reading comments from members of the FB group “Tour du Queyras, GR58.”  


All three of us brought Kathoola MICROspikes and it gave us some piece of mind when crossing large expenses of névés and certainly made it more secure.  There were easy to put on and take off in between stretches of snow. 


Key features of the Kathoola MICROspikes include:

  • Twelve ⅜” hardened stainless steel spikes

  • Welded stainless steel chains for traction and packability

  • Durable harness for patented reinforced stress points

  • Integrated toebail for added security.  

  • Raised heel tab for easy on/off









There are less pricey options in the market, namely knockoffs, but we trust the brand Kathoola.  They are made with sturdy material, such as hardened stainless steel for the spikes and the welded stainless steel chains look extremely durable.  Likewise for the harness that stays firmly in place.


They come in 4 different sizes, and in my size 9, I am in between a size small and medium. Shown on my Merrell boots is a size small which fit well. 


Buff Aqua Glove Key West Sky ($35)

Back in 2022, I protected my hands for the sun exposure with a Buff Aqua Glove.  It was a much thinner version that the ones I purchased for our Tour du Queyras.  Primarily designed for fishing and water sports to protect your hands from sun, surf, chafing, and cuts, I have been wearing them for hiking.  True, they are extremely versatile.  

The Buff Aqua Glove Key West Sky provides UPF50 sun protection and is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.  The palm of the glow is reinforced with silicone for improved grip by also for added protection against calluses from holding poles and/or blisters.  


I much prefer this improved version of the original Aqua gloves and after 100 miles and 2 washes, they still look great. 


Fractel Edition Bucket Hat B-SERIES "Mountain Disco" ($60) 

Review by René Lorenzini 

Mountain disco" by Fractel, a magic hat accompanied me on an eight-day trek in the wonderful mountains of Queyras.  It is a beautiful hat, very pleasant to wear and particularly effective for the protection it offers.


First observation, to my great surprise I didn't sweat to much, it offers  perfect and pleasant ventilation. I was also afraid my hat would blow away in the wind. A well-thought-out tightening system prevents and avoids any risk of flight. 


My "Mountain Disco" protects perfectly while being very elegant and it seduces everyone I have met with its shape and colors. Many people have congratulated me on this headgear and asked me where it came from. I will wear it for a long time…


Everyone looks great in a Fractel!

RoadTrailRun Fractel Caps and Buckets

I had brought along a dozen “RoadTrailRun” caps also made by Fractel to give away during our trek. It all started with René getting a lot of compliments for his “Mountain Disco” Bucket hat and though I had only caps to give away, everyone who received one was happy!  

At the Refuge Furfande, with one of hut team crew and our two hiking friends from Toulon.   

On the way to Furfande.

Get your own custom RoadTrailRun Fractel cap or bucket at our store HERE


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Dominique has run for over 40 years, consistently about 25 miles per week at paces between 10 and 11 minute miles and once a week down in the mid 9 minute miles. She races rarely, but always surprises more hard core runners in her age group when she does. She has a 1985 marathon PR of 3:16 in her second marathon which at the time put her on the top 10 Swiss women’s lists. An avid hiker and trekker, she has been around Mont Blanc 3 times, hiked Chamonix to Zermatt, and completed the 48 New Hampshire 4000 footers. She is the mother of two grown children, both runners post college, and also enjoys nordic and alpine skiing, tennis, and gardening. 


Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s  with 2024 Sam’s 52th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 164 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s



Some products covered were provided at no charge for review purposes others were personal purchases. RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased via shopping links in this article. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.

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1 comment:

Jeff Valliere said...

Nice round up and an amazing trip!!