by Pieter@Overseashiker | Nov 30, 2020 | Haute Route, Switzerland, Thru-hike
Day 5 on the Haute route was a day of rain, snow and mist. And because of poor visibility quite demanding. Especially the climb up to Cabane de Moiry on a rocky zig zag path with 29 turns in complete mist was exhausting – but beautiful. Haute Route 5: Les Haudères to...
by Pieter@Overseashiker | Nov 6, 2020 | Haute Route, Switzerland, Thru-hike
A long and demanding fourth day on the Haute Route. After an easy stroll along Lac des Dix, a very steep ascent took me up to rough and misty terrain full of rocks, under heavy clouds – with sometimes no trail at all. Halfway I encountered the challenging ladder...
by Pieter@Overseashiker | Oct 6, 2020 | Haute Route, Switzerland, Thru-hike
An amazing third day on the Haute Route. I climbed four mountain passes, sled down a snowfield and crossed glacial waters. On the way there were turquoise lakes, a herd of ibex and I reached the highest elevation of the entire Haute Route. Haute Route 3: Cab. du Mont...
by Pieter@Overseashiker | Sep 28, 2020 | Haute Route, Switzerland, Thru-hike
My second day on the Haute Route was a full day of ascending, with exciting views of the Massif du Mont Blanc and the snowy peak of Le Grand Combin. Gaining more than 1.600 meter in elevation, I reached Cabane du Mont Fort early in the afternoon. Haute Route 2:...
by Pieter@Overseashiker | Sep 15, 2020 | Haute Route, Switzerland, Thru-hike
The Haute Route, also known as the Chamonix-Zermatt Trail, shares the first 3 sections with the Tour du Mont Blanc, but then continues east into the high mountains. I started my thru-hike in a lovely quiet and green valley as a prologue to another 10 days of desolate...
by Pieter@Overseashiker | Sep 13, 2020 | Gear, Haute Route, Thru-hike
When I first started backpacking, I had a heavy Fjalräven backpack and a total weight of about 25 kg on my back. Especially since my first major thru-hike in 2018 in the High Sierra, I have been lowering my pack weight significantly. For my last thru-hike on the Swiss...
by Pieter@Overseashiker | Dec 17, 2019 | France, Thru-hike, Tour du Mont Blanc
On the last day of the Tour du Mont Blanc I climbed all the way out of the valley, to the panoramic views of Le Grand Balcon and Le Brévent. It was a long way down again to reach the TMB finish line in Les Houches. Day 9: Argentière – Les Houches Start: Argentière...
by Pieter@Overseashiker | Dec 5, 2019 | France, Switzerland, Thru-hike, Tour du Mont Blanc
Day 8 of the Tour du Mont Blanc was wet, cold …and short. I hiked up to the Refuge du Col de Balme, where I warmed up and made plans for the rest of this rainy day. Then I hiked down to the valley to the first hotel that had a room available. The day ended...
by Pieter@Overseashiker | Nov 21, 2019 | Switzerland, Thru-hike, Tour du Mont Blanc
Day 7 of my Tour du Mont Blanc was the most impressive day of the tour, and one of the most spectaculair hikes I have done. More than a 2.000 meters up and down a very steep and rough trail, with an hour of scrambling boulders… and sometimes no trail at all. ...
by Pieter@Overseashiker | Nov 16, 2019 | Switzerland, Thru-hike, Tour du Mont Blanc
My sixth day on the Tour du Mont Blanc turned out to be the easiest part of the entire thru-hike so far. The Swiss Val Ferret has a very moderate elevation change, sweet green pastures and a nice cold lake at the end in Champex. Day 6: La Fouly – Arpette Start: La...
