The PTL® (Petite Trotte à Léon) is an “ultra-endurance pedestrian event leading participants on a large tour of Mont-Blanc (300km and 25000m of ascent), taking high routes, without way-markers on the ground, which necessitates the sense of orientation on and off paths.” Starting in teams of two or three, this years sole UK team representation was Gregor Heron, Matt Davis and Graham Nash. We spent a few days in Chamonix valley before the race with feelings of half dread, half thrill as to what was to come.
Although part of the UTMB week, the PTL has its own organisation committee, and the route is different each year to “cross little known areas, often difficult to access and with the most breath-taking views”. Teams must navigate themselves and be autonomous for the duration, with just two life bases and seven partner refuges enroute. The time limit to return to Chamonix is 152hrs30mins, will some fairly stringent time cut offs.
105 teams were on the start line for 8.00am on Monday 22nd August, in fair weather conditions. By the start of the first night Gregor decided to stop at the first partner refuge, Plan de Glacier, leaving Matt and Graham to continue as a pair. We left the second refuge just over an hour before the cut-off.
The next day we were to learn of the tragic death of a Brazilian runner as a result of a fall.
This year’s course was particularly technical (helmets, harnesses and via ferrata lanyards a requirement), with much exposed scrambling and crossing of unmarked terrain. At times we seemed to be in a surreal world where the organisers would put obstacles in our way, whether it be a 1,000m ridge scramble, a 1,000m scree descent, a never-ending moraine boulder field, or a descent through a pathless jungle, but as our energy levels reached empty , we were then assisted by the PTL volunteers and guides at the refuges or a remote col who would provide a meal, some restless sleep or point the way across a maze of jumbled blocks. We continually felt the pressures of the time barriers for the first 48hours before we built up a 10 hour cushion.
We tried to establish a pattern of two hours sleep during the dark hours, the time between refuges often 12+ hours. Just a short time off our feet was enough to rejuvenate us. By the third day we were feeling stronger in our legs and were passing teams on the climbs and the rougher terrain. This is an event for those with a passion and love of the mountains, the wild places, the environment and wildlife. You need 100% trust and reliance in your teammates, together with a sense of humour to see you through the dark moments.
We returned to Chamonix on the Sunday after 143hrs39mins, one of 43 teams to complete the course, having made many friends from our fellow teams and the PTL volunteers, without whom this event would not be possible. It will take a few weeks for the memories to form, but we’ll forever remember the sad loss on that first night, and think of his partner, family and friends.
UTMB Group statement:
https://utmbmontblanc.com/en/mag/283?fbclid=IwAR0WhKsUk1YRWNe7cIn–84PO7sAOjI3ddBb3M_mXifl9EAsuy1jb2mjpfY
Race info:
https://utmbmontblanc.com/en/page/23/23.html
Finishers:
https://livetrail.net/histo/utmb_2022/classement.php
Graham Nash