Opening Chapter: In the Footsteps of Saint Roch

Photo: @gijsferkranus

TRAIL REPORT
After starting out as a gravel event, Le Pilgrimage took a new turn and developed a trail running stage event across the mighty mountains of the Ecrin region. Fuelled by the curiosity and new activities of the organisers, the new event still reflects the main values: sharing adventure and creating individual experiences by challenging yourself. Making the most of the amazing scenery and offering a unique blend of a challenge and comfort. 

Le Pilgrimage Trail took it’s own first steps this July. The path we follow? The footsteps of Patron Pilgrim Saint Roch. Long ago, Saint Roch walked our valleys with little more than a walking stick, a loyal dog, and an open heart. He shared meals with strangers, climbed peaks, listened to stories, and always searched for a place to rest his feet. His spirit still lingers here. So we invited a new generation of pilgrims to follow in his path.

The group was a patchwork of backgrounds and experience, coming from Germany, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. The youngest was 23, the oldest 60. Among them: an Olympic silver medalist from the 2016 Rio Games, a man who had rowed across the Atlantic, ultra trail veterans, and hikers who had walked the length of countries. There were cyclists curious to start running and trading wheels for trails, and a few who had never set foot in the mountains before.

On that July evening, they all sat together at one long table. Outside, thunder rolled over the mountains, cooling the region down from the heatwave of the week before. Inside, the warmth of basecamp Hotel Saint Roch took over. Chef Anne introduced the first dinner, crafted from local ingredients and made in collaboration with a farm in the valley. She spoke a few words of encouragement and promised to see the runners again out on the trails, at the checkpoints.

Simon followed with the stage briefing: route highlights, elevation, water sources, safety instructions, and one key message: “Take your time. Look after each other. This is not a race. It’s a journey.”

Les Pilgrims:

Nis Alps, Jana Barková, Dana van Bentum, Juliet Elliott, Tim Geraedts, Jolanda van Ginkel, Felix Gottschlich, Jan-Willem Groeneveld, Nicolas Hoffschir, Inge Janssen, Bart Mulder, Jan Nouwens, Michel Reuser, Joey Rikkers, Tom Rijnders, Janneke Scherpenhuyzen, Martijn van Strien, Mary-Lou Veldkamp, Ruben van Steenberghe (DNF), Nico Ruitenbeek (DNF), Carlijn de Jonge (DNS), Jakub Wolf (DNS)

Stage 1: Vallon de Narreyroux, Col de la Pousterle & Les Têtes

Photo: @gijsferkranus

The cowbell rang. “Cinq, quatre, trois, deux, un – allez!” The first edition of Le Pilgrimage Trail had begun.

Stage 1 brought the group into the peaceful Vallon de Narreyroux, then descended sharply into the Fournel valley before climbing again to the panoramic viewpoint at Les Têtes. The day was hot and the pace up front was high, leading to overheated heads when the first runners reached the old wooden barn at the Col de la Pousterle, now transformed into Checkpoint 1.

Some immediately sought shade, others reached for their brevet card to get their first stamp. A bubbling pot of curry above the fire was met with hesitation from the frontrunners, but those arriving later gratefully accepted a plate and collapsed in the tall grass outside. That’s the idea. Checkpoints at Le Pilgrimage are designed for slowing down, cooling off, and gathering strength. Strength for the final climb of the day to Les Têtes, and for the thousands of meters of elevation still to come in the days ahead.

By the time the pilgrims returned to basecamp Saint Roch, we learned that our youngest participant, Ruben, had to withdraw from the journey. A fall around the 10 km mark had fractured his foot, though he continued to run another 20 km before stopping. With a remarkable display of determination, unfortunately his pilgrimage ended earlier than expected. Speedy recovery, Ruben.

Stage 2: Bouchier & Montbrison Massif

Photo: @gijsferkranus

Stage 2 led pilgrims across the flanks of the Montbrison Massif. After descending into the valley, the trail climbed toward the hamlet of Bouchier, a village abandoned for centuries after a devastating landslide and only partially rebuilt after the Second World War.

Beyond Bouchier, the scenery opened up. Runners passed beneath the imposing Tenailles de Montbrison and ascended to the Croix de la Salcette, where a panorama of the Durance Valley awaited. From there, a steep descent followed by a traverse beneath the Tête d’Aval brought them close to today's checkpoint. Just before Cabane de Marcellin, a cold mountain spring flowed, its basin filled with bottles of chilled Orangina. It was the first welcome sign that relief was near.

Just half a kilometer further, the wooden hut came into view, smoke curling from its chimney. Sausages sizzled on the grill, sending their scent down the mountain path. One by one, hungry pilgrims arrived for their second stamp in the brevet and a little snack. "Haute dogs" were served at 2,000 meters, marking the altitude checkpoint of the day, with the final kilometers of the stage ahead.

Stage 3: Refuge DU Pelvoux & Puy Aillaud

Photo: Dan Monoghan

Stage 3, the queen stage. 62 kilometers. 3,800 meters of climbing. Two days on foot, one night in a mountain refuge.

Pilgrims left basecamp packed with headlamps, warm layers, and mountain hut gear. Destination: Refuge du Pelvoux. At 2,700 meters, it sits on the flanks of Mont Pelvoux (3,946 m), watching over the Écrins Massif.

The trail led them back into the northern forests of the Montbrison Massif, past waterfalls and glimpses of the immense vertical face of Mont Pelvoux. Tucked among the pines, a treasure awaited inside Cabane de Chouvet: a message left by Saint Roch himself, alongside a postcard, a pen, and a camera. A moment of reflection or a quick slice of sausage before the journey continued.

From there, the final climb toward the refuge began. After a quick refill in Ailefroide, the pilgrims entered the Écrins National Park for the 1,100-meter ascent. Wildflower meadows, glacial streams, scree switchbacks, and cascading waterfalls guided the way. Across the valley, snowy couloirs and rockfall debris told the story of the alpine wilderness.

At the top, the Le Pilgrimage flag greeted the runners in the breeze. Nis and Jan Willem were the first to reach the high plateau, their arrival rewarded with a sweeping view of distant peaks, including Monviso on the horizon. One by one, pilgrims followed, welcomed by cheers and smiles. At 18:15, just before dinner, the final pilgrim arrived, met with loud applause from the group already gathered at the refuge.

Dinner was shared with mountaineers aiming for summits the next morning. Soup, stew, cheese, and homemade tart were served, and refuge guardian Mathieu presented a bottle of génépi, which made its way around the cairn as the sun dipped behind the peaks.

That night, the dormitory filled with quiet breaths, tired legs, and the occasional snore.

Retour to basecamp Hotel Saint Roch

At dawn, the cowbell rang once more, echoing into the valley below. The final 30 km had begun. From Refuge du Pelvoux, the route dropped into the valley and climbed again toward the shores of Puy Aillaud, where a quiet alpine lake offered a final moment of pause.

Feet were dipped, heads submerged, and some pilgrims dove in completely. It was the last cold shock before the descent into the Vallouise valley. From there, one final climb remained, the stretch back to basecamp at Hotel Saint Roch.

There was no clock at the finish line. Only a sense of arrival. A return not just to the place we started, but to a place now transformed by experience. Pilgrims gathered around the table one last time. Plates were passed. Stories exchanged. A fire crackled outside, faces lit by its glow.

And just like that, the first lines of this new chapter in the Le Pilgrimage story were written. 121 kilometers, 7,660 meters of elevation, and a trail that stitched together strangers, mountains, and memories.

As with the gravel event, the participants of this inaugural trail pilgrimage found way more than just a physical challenge. They faced their own fears and mental challenges, they pushed beyond borders they discovered and rewarded themselves with alpine views and a very personal sense of achievement. They might have had their own reasons to show up on the starting line, they shared the experience of a lifetime.

Merci.

Thanks to those who were part of the inauguration edition. You fully lived this journey. And thank you to those who helped make it possible: our partners Hotel Saint Roch, Café du Cycliste, Opinel, the Pays des Écrins, Brooks and our media team — Gijs Ferkranus, Martijn van Strien, and Dan Monaghan.

Le Pilgrimage Trail returns in summer 2026.
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