GGUT TRAILRUNNING CAMP BY THE NORTH FACE

The Grossglockner doesn't reward optimism. Austria's highest mountain has a way of making the unprepared feel that distinction quite clearly, and the terrain around it is not particularly interested in your training log. You don't come to GGUT to see how it goes. You come because you've already decided, and the mountain tests wheth

er that decision was honest.

The camp is the part before that. Four days in Zell am See-Kaprun in June: guided trailrunning on the GGUT terrain, based at the Tauern Spa, six weeks before race week. Whether you're on the start list in July or simply want four days of honest trailrunning, the logic is the same. The Grossglockner is better approached as something you've already met.

Thursday, 4 June

Arrive before 14:00. Check in. The first order of business is the easiest one of the weekend: meet the people you'll be suffering alongside for the next four days. At 14:00 the camp starts properly: introductions, expectations, a look at what's ahead, and a first go at The North Face test equipment you'll be taking out on the trails.

At 15:00, the welcome run. This one's deliberately easy: a loop through the Zell am See-Kaprun terrain to get a feel for the place and the group. No pace targets. No pressure. Just an honest first look at what's outside the door.

Back at the Tauern Spa by 17:00. Wellness, the feels.like recovery station, or a quiet hour doing nothing, which is a completely valid form of preparation. Dinner at 18:30. Afterwards, the first Ratsch-Runde: a proper sit-down, route preview for Friday, and the kind of conversation that gets you to bed at a reasonable hour feeling good about the next day.

Friday, 5 June

Breakfast at 07:30. By 08:30 the first real day is underway.

The route heads up to the Alpincenter, the high alpine terrain above Zell am See-Kaprun where the air gets thinner and the views start making arguments for why you should live up here permanently. Lunch is on the trail: a mountain hut stop plus the MAURTEN nutrition station, because this crew understands that eating well on long days isn't optional, it's strategy. Coming down is civilised: gondola to the valley, bus back to camp.

At 15:00, Physio Angerer takes over. Recovery session with Blackroll and feels.like. The kind of work that turns Friday's effort into Saturday's advantage rather than Saturday's complaint. Wellness and free time follow. Dinner at 18:30. The evening brings a talk from someone with something worth saying – a good way to end a good day.

Saturday, 6 June

Breakfast at 07:30. Morning mobility with Physio Angerer at 08:30, which by this point in the camp will feel less like an optional add-on and more like the obvious thing to do before asking your body for another big day.

At 09:30: the Schmittenhöhe Panorama Trail. Bus to Zell am See, gondola up, run the ridge. At just under 2,000 metres, the Schmittenhöhe looks straight across at the Grossglockner, which, if you're signed up for GGUT in July, is a useful moment of perspective. Not threatening. Just clear. Hut stop on the way, gondola and bus back.

The afternoon is for recovery and the spa. In the evening, another talk. Then dinner, which by Saturday night tends to be one of the better ones.

Sunday, 7 June

Breakfast at 07:30. One run left: the Kaprun Scenic Trail at 09:00. A proper send-off: interesting terrain, good views, the kind of route that earns its name without overselling it.

At 12:30: lunch and the closing round. Feedback, a bit of reflection, and the standard mix of people who are already mapping out their next training block and people who are still somewhere on Saturday's ridge in their heads. Both responses are completely understandable.

Check out. Drive home. Come back in July.

A note on all of the above

Times are approximate and may shift depending on conditions or the group. All gondola and cable car rides are included in the camp fee. Sunday lunch is included. Accommodation and meals beyond that are yours to arrange. Details in the logistics section below.

Arrival & Departure
Check-in at Tauern Spa Kaprun before 14:00 on Thursday, 4 June. The camp begins at 14:00 and runs until Sunday, 7 June at approximately 13:00, following the closing lunch.

Group Size
Minimum 8, maximum 20 participants.

Accommodation
Book directly with Tauern Spa Kaprun using the code SALTYGGUT. The hotel's own cancellation conditions apply – check directly when booking. Arriving a day early or staying longer? The discounted camp rates apply to extended stays too.

Camp rates at Tauern Spa Kaprun (half board included):
- €139 per person/night — double room
- €189 per night — double room, single occupancy

All hotel guests receive a Guest Mobility Card for the duration of their stay: free public transport across the Zell am See-Kaprun region, including buses to the trailheads.

A Note on Fitness
Be honest with yourself. The GGUT Camp is designed for experienced trailrunners who are comfortable with technical alpine terrain and consecutive days of elevation. If you're unsure whether the programme fits your current level, get in touch via email before signing up: hello@saltytrailrunning.com

What to Bring
Trailrunning shoes, clothing for warm, cold, and wet conditions, trail pack with a minimum 1L water capacity, sun protection, sunglasses, poles if you use them, sports watch, phone with a full battery (kept on you at all times on the trail), and a small first aid kit including an emergency blanket. Food for the trails is covered on guided days – the MAURTEN nutrition station has you sorted.

Liability
Participation is at your own risk. Each participant is responsible for their own physical condition and takes part under their own liability. Before arrival, you'll receive a waiver to sign confirming this. Our general terms and conditions also apply – linked below.