09/24/2026
Was recently visiting Mont Blanc/Monte Bianco (actually on the Italian side in the area of Courmayeur, Italy. At the mid-point of the gondola ride up to the main observation deck, there is a Crystal Museum of crystals found in the area - found typically when massive areas of rocks collapse from the walls. Usually variations of Quartz, some with inclusions, as well as Fluorite was seen. I took 3 photos of some specimens I liked - all three pieces I liked were floaters and therefore, terminated on all sides.
Also, there was a big race finishing in Courmayeur while there - some running up to 450km with a time limit to finish. This is a race in the alps.
Key Races:
TOR330 (Tor des Géants): The flagship 330 km non-stop alpine circuit with 24,000 meters of elevation gain and a 150-hour limit.
TOR450 (Tor des Glaciers): An extreme 450 km test scaling high-altitude ridges and glaciers with 32,000 meters of climbing.
TOR130 (Tot Dret): A 130 km point-to-point race starting in Gressoney and finishing in Courmayeur.
TOR100 (Cervino-Monte Bianco): A 100 km route running from Breuil-Cervinia to Courmayeur.
TOR30 (Passage au Malatrà): A shorter 30 km race starting from Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses and crossing the iconic Col de Malatrà finish stretch into Courmayeur.
The flagship Tor des Géants (TOR330) race starting and finishing in Courmayeur features a total cumulative elevation gain of approximately 24,000 meters (about 78,700 feet).Race Elevation BreakdownElevation Gain/Loss: ~24,000 meters (78,700 ft) of total climb and descent.Highest Point: Col Loson at 3,299 meters (10,823 feet).Mountain Passes: Crosses 25 high-altitude passes over 2,000 meters (6,560 feet), with several above 3,000 meters.Starting Altitude: Courmayeur sits at roughly 1,200 meters (3,937 feet).
