Same mountain. A different season. A completely new adventure.
The Grand Ballon can never be experienced the same way twice. Snow and ice, mud and meltwater, bright sunshine or dense fog… At an altitude of 1,424 meters, the mountain helps shape what your trail looks like.
With our events, you will discover the Grand Ballon throughout the seasons. Always across the same impressive Vosges, but always with a completely different character.
January – Into the cold
This is the Grand Ballon at its wildest. Snow, ice, wind, and temperatures far below freezing can turn the trails into a real winter challenge. Sometimes you run through a thick blanket of snow, sometimes over frozen paths, and sometimes you get unexpectedly milder conditions. January is unpredictable. And that is precisely where the adventure lies.In extreme weather conditions, an adapted course B is ready that avoids the highest peaks
Temperatures between -15° and +5°
April – Never trust spring
Spring has begun… or has it? In the valleys, nature may already be fully awakening, while higher up there is still snow. Even at the end of April, snow can fall again on the Grand Ballon. Add rain, mud, wind, and perhaps a delightful spring sun to that, and you will understand why you can experience multiple seasons here in a single day.Temperatures between -5° and +20°
July – Summer? Think again.
Summer in the Vosges does not automatically mean running in the heat. Down below it can be sunny and pleasant, while up on the peaks you suddenly find yourself in fog and a cold wind. Even in July, the temperature up there can hover around 5°C. But just as easily, you get blue skies, sun, and magnificent views. On the Grand Ballon, you never take summer for granted.Temperatures between 5° and +38°
A different challenge every season
Every period changes the landscape. Every period changes the terrain. Every period demands something different from you as a trail runner.
You may know the mountain.
You may know the course.
But you never know which Grand Ballon you will get at the start line.
There is only one way to find out.
Run the seasons. Experience the Grand Ballon.