Paul Bonhomme starts Via Alpina 'Zero to Zero' run across the Alps in 28 days
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Planetmountain
After dozens and dozens of first ski descents, many of which brutally extreme, Paul Bonhomme set off at 4:00am this morning on a vert different sort of adventure: traverse the entire Alps in a mere 28 days. The French mountain guide plans to do so by running the Via Alpina, a massive network of paths that leads across eight countries, starting from Muggia in NE Italy and finishing in the Principality of Monaco.
Although not difficult technically, it goes without saying that the 2650km and 150,000D+ trail poses a challenge of gigantic proportions. Usually the trail is covered in months, but Bonhomme has split the trail into just 28 different stages, with each day intended to be more or less of the same difficulty. While some days are long - like today which entails 105k and 3600 elevation gain - other days are shorter but contain more height gain and loss. The fastest known time for this epic feat of endurance was set by Belgian ultrarunner Karel Sabbe in 30 days in August 2021.
Planetmountain was fortunate enough to join Bonhomme during the final moments of his preparations yesterday afternoon, just a few hours before his departure. Bonhomme explained "I'm excited. I've trained for this for 10 months and now the moment has finally come. I can't wait to get started, to experience something very different from when I'm in the high mountains: smell the flowers, touch the trees, savour the mountains from a lower altitude. The only thing I'm a bit worried about is the weather, it's going to be hot in the beginning. I have no idea if I'll make it, no idea how my body will react, but just being here with my team is a dream come true."
Bonhomme's progress can be followed via his live tracking. Furthermore, anyone wishing to join him on sections of the run is free to do so and details of all 28 stages stages are published on his IG handle.
Paul Bonhomme thanks: CAMP, Karpos, SCARPA
