Friday, July 27, 2018 Overnight accommodations: Le Vert Hôtel, Chamonix Places visited: Absolute Chamonix Paragliding; Poco Loco (lunch); Mont Blanc Natural Resort cablecar to Plan Praz; Spar (grocery store); Aiguille du Midi; Le Vert Hôtel (dinner) We woke up around 6:30am, packed up, and had breakfast at 7am. The very friendly lady who runs … Continue reading Day 12: post-TMB adventures in Chamonix
Thursday, July 26, 2018 Start: Refuge La Flágère End: Les Houches, Gite Michel Fagot Mileage: 10.7 Elevation: 4294′ gain, 7086′ descent Stage: 11 After a tasty dinner chatting with two Americans and then watching the sunset light descend Mont Blanc (along with a few dozen photographers with high-powered cameras), we headed to bed around 10pm. … Continue reading Day 11: Tour du Mont Blanc
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 Start: Montroc, Gite le Moulin End: Refuge La Flágère Mileage: 5.8 Elevation: 4000′ gain, 2291′ descent Stage: 10 After an amazing dinner and dessert at a quiet table with just us and Michael last night, we had showers and a lovely, cool night sleep. Breakfast this morning was very nice, … Continue reading Day 10: Tour du Mont Blanc
Tuesday, July 24, 2018 Start: Col de la Forclaz, Hotel du Col de la Forclaz End: Montroc, Gite le Moulin Mileage: 11.7 Elevation: 5500′ gain, 6128′ descent Stage: 9 variente After an overly warm night trying to sleep, with the Irish group drinking loudly outside our window until 11pm, I was awakened at 6am … Continue reading Day 9: Tour du Mont Blanc
Monday, July 23, 2018 Start: Champex, Gite Bon Abri End: Col de la Forclaz, Hotel du Col de la Forclaz Mileage: standard: 10.0; variente: 8.7 Elevation: standard: 3191′ gain, 3032′ descent; variante: 5322′ gain, 5169′ descent Stage: 8; Toby took the standard way, and I took the variente Last night was less pleasant than it … Continue reading Day 8: Tour du Mont Blanc
Sunday, July 22, 2018 Start: La Fouly, Auberge Maya-Joie End: Champex, Gite Bon Abri Mileage: 10.3 Elevation: 2946′ gain, 3423′ descent Stage: 7 This morning, after gloriously good sleep, we got up around 6:45am, had breakfast at 7am, said goodbye to Nours and Suzie, and started hiking around 8am. The first few hours of hiking … Continue reading Day 7: Tour du Mont Blanc
Saturday, July 21, 2018 Start: Rifugio Bonatti End: La Fouly, Auberge Maya-Joie Mileage: 12.4 Elevation: 4134′ gain, 5453′ descent Stage: 6, variente/original TMB route taken due to poor signage After a nice but very busy hostel last night, we were eager to be on our way this morning. We were up at 6am, breakfast … Continue reading Day 6: Tour du Mont Blanc
Friday, July 20, 2018 Start: Courmayeur, Italy, Hotel Berthold End: Rifugio Bonatti Mileage: 8.1 Elevation: 4336′ gain, 1681′ descent Stage: 5 After a late night last night, we decided to sleep in. We slept until 8am and then went downstairs for breakfast. The hotel offered the most elaborate breakfast I’ve ever seen; there were cheeses, … Continue reading Day 5: Tour du Mont Blanc
Thursday, July 19 2018 Start: Rifugio Elisabetta End: Courmayeur, Italy; Hotel Berthod Mileage: 11.2 Elevation: 2150′ gain, 5175′ descent Stage: 4 After a cozy but surprisingly solid night sleep, despite sleeping in a triple bunk with 22 other people, we were awake at 6am, breakfasted at 6:30am, and were on trail by 7am. … Continue reading Day 4: Tour du Mont Blanc
Wednesday, July 18, 2018 Start: Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme End: Rifugio Elisabetta Mileage: 10.0 Elevation: 3482′ gain, 4464′ descent Stage: part of Stage 2 variente, stage 3 As it turned out, our 2 roommates never showed up last night, so we had the room to ourselves. … Continue reading Day 3: Tour du Mont Blanc
Transcending Mountains 