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Runner climbing to Monte Moro pass

Stage 4 – Macugnaga to Grächen

44.1 km with the promise of an exceptional mountain experience on the Monte Moro pass.

The final stage that completes the kora of Monte Rosa, and definitely a privilege to run this in daylight as a stage racer. You’ll be glad if your race strategy has kept some reserve energy for this stage.

Route summary

For runner Ruth Croft, this was her favourite stage. “It did start off with tired legs and a relentless, steep climb in the dark, but things quickly turned around with the epic sunrise on Monte Moro Pass,” she says. See the stage profile below, the climb is indeed relentless!

In the rifugio at the pass On Running situate their awesome aid-station (see the video below), where you most need it. Recharged, there is a technical descent into Switzerland with “views of the turquoise Mattmarksee, sitting between the massifs of Rimpfischhorn and Stellihorn,” remembers Croft.

After a long runnable section to Saas Fee, the day is only half over. The Höhenweg comes next – 20 km of unrelenting twisting and undulating trail. It’s the final challenge of this Bold, Brutal & Beautiful course.

Stage 4 highlights

  • Sunrise on the southern face of Monte Rosa from Passo Monte Moro. A glorious sight in clear weather.
  • Generous attention at the Monte Moro aid station, run by the On team.
  • The satisfying technical descent into Switzerland with views of the turquoise Mattmarksee.
  • Completing the challenge of the airy Höhenweg.
  • The smooth descent into Grächen where a warm welcome will await you.

Date
7 September
Distance
43.8 km
Ascent
+3469m
Descent
-3162m
Start time
06:30
Time limit
12:00

From Space

UTMR earth stage 4 track 2021 1920

On the pass…

Stage 4 was my favourite. And tough with tired legs. But the epic sunrise on Monte Moro Pass & views down to the turquoise Mattmarksee, it was one of those times where I had to stop running for a moment just to take it all in.
Ruth Croft Scott Trail Running
ruth croft ultra runner

How it looks!

Photos from the stage over the years. Click to enlarge the photos.

Stage 4 profile

Checkpoints, distances, elevation and cutoff times

Check points km Cum. km Altitude m m Cut off Refreshments DNF Medical
START Macugnaga 0.0 0.0 1307 ↑ 00 ↓ 00
12 Passo Monte Moro 6.4 6.4 2786 ↑ 1537 ↓ 60
13 Saas Fee 16.6 23.0 1796 ↑ 1918 ↓ 1442
12:30
14 Hannigalp 17.0 40.0 2124 ↑ 3434 ↓ 2627
FINISH Grächen 3.8 43.8 1624 ↑ 3469 ↓ 3162
18:30
  • Water
  • Snack
  • Meal
  • Firstaid
  • Ambulance
  • Dropbag
  • Rest
DNF notes:

PDF maps

 PDF Map 1:100000  

GPS tracks

 GPX File    KML File  

NB right click and “Save As”

ITRA

 ITRA  

Results

 2018    2017  

What next?

Registration opens 30 January 2023. Places are limited! Join our mailing list (button below) to be kept informed about future editions!

Pre-registration info   
Pre-register info.