La Via di Annibale

In 218 BC, Hannibal crossed the Alps on the way to Rome at the Colle dell’Autaret with his army, consisting of infantry, cavalry, and the famed 37 war elephants. La Via di Annibale celebrates that moment, retracing his route through the Valli di Lanzo, about 80 km northwest of Turin, Italy. The terrain has two passes above 3,000 meters, with fixed ropes and chains on exposed sections. Snowfields are possible as late as early August, and runners will also run over the remnants of the Bertà glacier. 

Three distances start and finish in the Italian village of Usseglio, at 1,260m. These include the Ultra Sky Marathon at 52 km (4,250m elevation gain), the Sky Marathon at 42.2 km (3,500m elevation gain), and a shorter 24 km circuit. Due to the technical terrain, participants are required to bring a climbing helmet on the Ultra route. The high point of that course, Punta Costan, is at 3,305 m. It sits just inside France, with views reaching from Monviso (3,841m) to Mont Blanc (4,808m) on a clear day.

Turin, accessible by train and plane, is around an hour away, making it the natural entry point. Turin is worth a visit for those lingering in the area. It’s the home of the bicerin, a layered coffee-and-chocolate drink served here since 1763, and the broader Piedmont region produces Barolo and Barbaresco wines in the Langhe hills to the south.