Project 171 is Fredrik Asche Kaada's documented preparation for UTMB: about 171 km and 10,000 metres of climbing around Mont Blanc, shared through practical guides and honest field notes.

What trail-running guides are available?

The free UTMB guide is live now. A training workbook, field journal and alpine kit checklist are available as previews or early-access releases, clearly marked on each page.

How do you prepare for a 171 km mountain ultra?

Project 171 uses four connected phases: repeatable base miles, efficient climbing, long days that rehearse fuelling and pacing, and deliberate recovery that helps the body absorb the work.

Who are the guides for?

They are for trail runners moving toward longer mountain races who want practical structure, field-tested questions and a more considered way to prepare.

For working runners chasing UTMB

Earn the start line.

Getting to the UTMB start line takes Running Stones, a lottery draw and years of mountain work. I'm turning that into a clear plan: which races to enter, when, and how to train for 171 km around a full-time job.

By Fredrik Asche Kaada · Former DNT hiking guide · 50+ trips led

Get the free checklist Or book 1-on-1 Advisory

Target: UTMB Mont-Blanc
Distance: 171 km
Climb: 10,000 m+
UTMB Index: 413

Watch

Project 171 in under a minute

The plan, the races and the mountain work behind the road to UTMB.

1 · The challenge
Fewer direct places from 2027
Direct Major places drop to 60. More of us now depend on Running Stones and the lottery. See the sources and planner.
2 · Start free
Start with the checklist
Kit, pacing and planning for exposed mountain terrain. Free.
Get the checklist
3 · Go further
Go further, one to one
A personal pacing audit and build plan with me. Capped places.
Book a call

01 Who I am

From guide's pack to race vest

I led more than 50 trips as a hiking guide with the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT), carrying 25 kg. UTMB asks for something else: a light vest, steady fuelling and 171 km without stopping. This is that shift, done in the open.

trips led as a former DNT hiking guide: 50+
pack weight, guiding days to race vest: 25 → 5 KG

The foundation

25 KG

0150+ guided DNT trips
0225 kg loads, carried for days
03Weather and route reading

The shift

≈5 KG

01Race-weight loadout
02171 km continuous movement
03Rolling checkpoint discipline

Four values. Every metre.

Grit
I show up on the bad days and finish the climb I started.
Compassion
For the runner beside me, and for myself when the plan breaks.
Transparency
Real numbers and real setbacks. Nothing invented, nothing hidden.
Love for trail running
Mountains, mud and long days out are the reason for all of it.

02 The work in public

The preparation, not the victory lap

The target is UTMB: about 171 km and 10,000 m of climbing around Mont Blanc. The film, the field notes and every run logged on Strava show the work as it is: unfinished and demanding.

Follow on Strava

Project 171 mountain badge and title — cover for the full field film

Full field film · 01

Film transcript

Project 171 follows Fredrik’s transition from everyday trail miles toward 171 km and about 10,000 metres of climbing. Mountain movement, preparation and steady work tell the story without relying on spoken narration.

This film has no spoken narration, so the complete visual description above is not time-synchronized. The integrated player includes playback, available captions, volume and full-screen controls. Reduced-motion visitors see the still cover until they choose to play.

Miles, in pictures.

Mountain days from the build, painted in the Project 171 field-sketch style. New photos from the trail go up on Instagram.

Follow @fkaada

The ascentThe first real vertical: learning to climb efficiently and pace the grade., phase: First climbs
The cruciblePeak days that test legs, fuelling and the head over many hours., phase: Long days
Ridge lineSteady, repeatable kilometres that build the engine everything else runs on., phase: Base miles
The descentRecovery and control, so the body absorbs the work and comes back stronger., phase: Coming home

03 Four phases

Four phases. One continuous practice.

Plan my season

Straight answers

What is Project 171?: Project 171 is Fredrik Asche Kaada's documented preparation for UTMB: about 171 km and 10,000 metres of climbing around Mont Blanc, shared through practical guides and honest field notes.
What trail-running guides are available?: The free UTMB guide is live now. A training workbook, field journal and alpine kit checklist are available as previews or early-access releases, clearly marked on each page.
How do you prepare for a 171 km mountain ultra?: Project 171 uses four connected phases: repeatable base miles, efficient climbing, long days that rehearse fuelling and pacing, and deliberate recovery that helps the body absorb the work.
Who are the guides for?: They are for trail runners moving toward longer mountain races who want practical structure, field-tested questions and a more considered way to prepare.

04 What helps now

Start with what helps now

Pick a guide, a field tool or a group to train with. Each one is marked live, free or in planning before you share an email.

Community · Skool

Train with the group.

Start free. Upgrade when the mountain gets closer.

€0 · €20/month · €150/year · €1,250 founding price for the first 15 seats (then €1,500). Or 4 × €312.50 (then 4 × €375).

Compare plans

Free · Read now

UTMB guide

Understand race distances, qualification, Running Stones and the route toward the start line.

Read the guide

Free · New each week

Weekly training tips

One practical tip a week, drawn from the current training block — fuelling, gear, weather and recovery.

Read this week's tip

Preview · In planning

Training workbook

Shape a repeatable week around purpose, terrain, recovery and the rest of life.

Preview workbook

Free · Field notes

The blog

Field notes from the build: honest training stories, gear decisions and lessons from the mountain days.

Read the field notes

Free · Guide

Four seasons guide

How the training adapts through the year, wherever in Europe or Asia you run.

Read the seasons guide

Preview · In planning

Field journal

Keep the route, conditions, food, feet and lessons from every mountain day.

Preview journal

Free · Checklist

The mountain checklist

A practical kit, pacing and planning checklist for exposed mountain terrain and changing conditions.

Field-tested

Built from real Nordic and alpine training days, then refined into practical decisions.

Made for durability

Training structure that respects recovery, work and life beyond the trail.

Clear availability

Live, free and planned resources are labelled before you act or share an email.

Plan, race, partner

Training plans

16-week UTMB plan + 8-week mountain block

Weeks 1–2 of both are free to read now.

Start week 1

Next UTMB World Series races

Translantau™
13 November – 15 November · Lantau Island
HOKA Pacific Trails California by UTMB
13 November – 15 November · Rancho San Fernado Rey
Patagonia BARILOCHE by UTMB
18 November – 22 November · BARILOCHE, Patagonia Argentina

All races and dates

Sponsor packages

Trail partner€2,900 · 10 places
Summit partner€7,900 · 10 places
Expedition partner€25,000 · 10 places

See packages

Plans

Pick how you train with me.

€20/ month

Open to everyone · no member limit

Start Monthly

€150/ year

Open to everyone · no member limit

Start Yearly

1-on-1 Advisory

Personal coaching for your first alpine 100-miler. Limited places.

€1,250 founding price for the first 15 seats (then €1,500). Or 4 × €312.50 (then 4 × €375).

Explore Advisory

Compare all plans

Books in planning: a three-part record of the build. Join the waitlist

05 Stay close

Stay close to the work.

Short emails when a guide, sample page or real training note is ready. No tracking cookies, no noise.

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