Montafon Totale Trail - Why it's worth it!
47 km. 4200 m elevation gain. The numbers are already quite impressive in themselves. I mean, who voluntarily runs further than a marathon distance and then also with 4200 meters of ascending altitude? Ok, there are quite a few ultra runners. And so are ultra runs. But the distance-to-altitude-meter ratio of the Montafon Totale Trail is still quite something. I can tell you why it's still worth starting here.
The prehistory
It should have been 2019 already: My girlfriend and I were at the start line of the Montafon Totale Trail. Both well prepared - ok, she more than me - and both highly motivated - here too: She more than me ;)
After the first long climb, we reached the Kreuzjoch. A quick couple's selfie at the first summit - yes, it has to be in a race - and then we were on our way. But just a few seconds later, my girlfriend was lying a few meters below me. She fell from the Kreuzjoch onto a trail below. And I saw the whole thing.
I don't want to go into the details now. Luckily, everything turned out reasonably well in the end and thanks to the rapid intervention of the mountain rescue team, to whom we are still more than grateful today, she was quickly taken to hospital and was able to slowly start training again six weeks later. Luck in misfortune. But of course the race was over at this point.
Over the Kreuzjoch to St. Gallenkirch
The second attempt was supposed to start in 2020. I don't need to tell you again why it didn't happen. But as the Montafon Totale Trail is due to take place in 2021 and preparation is half the battle, we thought: let's take a closer look at the route.
So in mid-September 2020, we packed our bags and headed south. The weather was going to be really good again and we were very excited to see how we would experience the route - and how we would feel at the top of the Kreuzjoch.
With a hearty hotel breakfast in our stomachs, we set off early on Saturday. The first ascent was familiar and was steep, but led over beautiful root trails towards the Zamang Bahn mountain station. From here it finally became more alpine. Tree-free trails wind their way up to the ridge in front of the Kreuzjoch.
This is where I get my first little surprise: I actually couldn't remember that this was a rather difficult mountain trail, marked white-blue-white. I normally keep my distance from these paths. But well, I've been over it before, so that shouldn't be a problem now. And indeed: it goes well so far and we scramble towards the place where the accident happened.
Mixed feelings...
The first main ascent ends at the Kreuzjoch. By then you have 1700 meters of altitude in your legs - over just under 14 km. A pretty decent number up to here. When we arrive at the summit cross, we are both remarkably calm and composed. A good sign, I would say. We stay here for a short while, my friend takes another look at the accident site - she doesn't remember much about the fall. After a few minutes, we move on. It looks like we've left the whole thing behind us.
I would like to apologize at this point. In the next few paragraphs, and strictly speaking until the end, I will often use superlatives to describe the paths we will be walking from now on. But it simply can't be done without them.
A true trail paradise opens up between Kreuzjoch and Zamangspitze. Wonderful flow trails, the occasional unproblematic scramble and a panorama that is second to none. This is pure fun. Shortly after the Zamangspitze we reach the Grasjochhütte. A break is the order of the day here: hut delicacies!
Strengthened with coffee and cake, I continue uphill for a few more meters and then downhill for a long time. The downhill to St. Gallenkirch is relatively technical and not always easy for me to run, but I'm not really a benchmark when it comes to downhill running.
Seven kilometers and 1300 vertical meters further down, my thighs are tired. Such a long downhill is exhausting and I'm actually quite happy that we're going to do the second half of the route the next day. With many beautiful impressions in my head, we head back to the hotel. Eating and sleeping are now the order of the day.
St. Gallenkirch to the Nova Stoba
Sunday morning. Same game. Get up, have breakfast and hit the trails. A little disillusionment sets in, because the ascent from St. Gallenkirch up to the Valisera Hüsli, another 1300 meters of climbing, is mostly on wide gravel paths. Not quite as nice as yesterday, but of course understandable: you have to make some meters!
From the Valisera Hüsli, we also head downhill on gravel paths into the Vermieltal valley, which stretches gently uphill to the south. Another 700 meters of altitude lie ahead of us, but not very steep and therefore easy to walk - if you still have the strength. From here, things become picturesque again. The Vermielbach stream lines the path, a small lake appears and large boulders are scattered around the area. A great scenery.
At the top of the Matschuner Joch, it's time to marvel again. We can clearly see how the trail winds its way back towards Nova Stoba, the destination of the Montafon Totale Trail. And what a beauty it is. There's no stopping us here at the latest: my finger goes to the camera shutter release at every turn and we take photo break after photo break. IT'S BRILLIANT!
It's a good thing we're not here as part of the run, at least we have time for such jokes.
I can't stop being amazed until the end.It is a true trail paradise.My explicit recommendation to all those who don't yet know whether to do the ultra or just the 33 km variant: Run the ultra!If not, you're missing out. And save some energy - you want to run these trails.Believe me!
Now that we've completed the second part of the Montafon Totale Trail, there's no longer any doubt in our minds: apart from the second climb, the route is simply amazing and we're really keen to run this ultra next year.
I hope you enjoyed our little tour of the course.We'll definitely be seeing you again and I'm looking forward to seeing how I'm doing in training by then.
Take care and see you then,
Your fox.
