Trail running in France faces regulatory and environmental shifts

Trail running in France is facing various logistical, environmental, and regulatory challenges. In the Vosges mountains, drought conditions have begun to impact organized events, leading to the unprecedented cancellation of a trail training camp because a refuge's water source ran dry.

In the Chamonix Valley and Mont-Blanc region, new regulations have been introduced to manage a 50% increase in hikers since COVID-19. These measures include mandatory reservations for overnight stays in designated paid bivouac areas and the prohibition of wild camping, a move criticized by some for undermining the sport's core values of autonomy.

On the competitive front, Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz has begun an attempt to break the GR20 record, with key progress markers expected at Col de Vergio and Vizzavona. Additionally, a unique ultra-trail event called ‘La Clé de Douze’ is set to depart from Sapois, featuring a 216 km course where participants do not know their full route in advance.