Micro adventure with the crest shuttle

A summit challenge this summer

told by Elise, our local expert

A keen long-distance hiker, last summer I set myself the challenge of walking from the Lac Blanc to the summit of the Grand Ballon in a single day, a total of 41km. It's a very simple route that follows a long straight line along the crest of the Vosges massif, passing by the most famous peaks and passes: the Schlucht, the Hohneck, the Markstein, the Hahnenbrunnen etc...

41km in one go, that's a bit crazy! you think. It's true that such a distance is not insignificant and requires a certain amount of training. So you're probably thinking that it's not for you. But what if we told you that a shuttle bus runs the same distance in parallel every day of the summer? That every 10km you can choose to continue or stop. This challenge seems more accessible, doesn't it? This summer, I invite you to experience the same challenge.

MY ADVENTURE FROM ONE END OF THE RIDGE TO THE OTHER

I set off in the early hours of a sunny August day. It was around 5.30am when I set off. My first steps were in the half-light. I climbed towards the summit and a few chamois and kilometres later, a sumptuous golden light from the Alsace plain appeared. My first satisfaction: being able to admire a magnificent summer sunrise from the ridge.

I set off in the early hours of a sunny August day. It was around 5.30am when I set off. My first steps were taken in the half-light. I climbed towards the summit and a few chamois and kilometres later, a sumptuous golden light of the Alsace plain appeared. My first satisfaction: being able to admire a magnificent summer sunrise from the ridge.

The first rays are beginning to show. I keep going at my own pace, admiring the typical high altitude scenery, the herds of Vosges cattle and the farmhouse inns along the way. On the outskirts of the Hohneck, already 15km in, I enjoy my packed breakfast, as well as my lunch a little later, and a few energy snacks. There are not many contemplative breaks, because 41km is obviously a lot of walking. Not to mention the fact that I had to reach my goal before the last shuttle run, if I wanted to get back to bed that evening. In the end, it was around 4pm that I reached the summit of the Grand Ballon, from where the panorama was worth all the effort!
 

After a well-earned refreshing drink on the terrace, I board the shuttle bus to take me back to the starting point. On the road, I watch the landscape go by in the opposite direction, exhausted and proud of how far I've come. I was also amused to see how much quicker the return journey was than the outward journey. 

By telling you about this experience, I hope to inspire you to try this challenge on a fine summer's day. The aim is to surpass yourself by covering a long distance one way, but above all it's to enjoy the fresh air of the Vosges peaks and the panoramic views without worrying about the effort of the return journey.

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