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 | 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...
by Pieter@Overseashiker | Oct 25, 2019 | Italy, Switzerland, Thru-hike, Tour du Mont Blanc
Day 5 of the Tour the Mont Blanc was beautiful and not too hard. I hiked up the Italian Val Ferret to connect with the official TMB again, climbed up the mountains and crossed the Grand Col de Ferret into Switzerland. Day 5: Tronchey – La Fouly Start: Tronchey...
by Pieter@Overseashiker | Oct 11, 2019 | Italy, Thru-hike, Tour du Mont Blanc
Day 4 of the Tour the Mont Blanc would be the longest day of all. Along majestic glaciers, mountain tops and refreshing lakes, I hiked all the way down to Courmayeur. And up again in search of a legal campsite. I reached camp after 12 hours of hiking and a distance of...
by Pieter@Overseashiker | Sep 23, 2019 | France, Italy, Thru-hike, Tour du Mont Blanc
On day 3 of the Tour du Mont Blanc I climbed up and down the amazing number of 4 mountain passes within 23 km / 12 miles. And when I finally reached Italy, I concluded the day at a tiny museum with 5 other hikers. Day 3: Les Lacs Jovet – Col de la Seigne Start:...
by Pieter@Overseashiker | Sep 15, 2019 | France, Thru-hike, Tour du Mont Blanc
My second day on the TMB was the only part of the trail with no descent at all (apart from a few steps down now and then). It was one long climb from the village of Contamines all the way up to the stunning Lacs Jovet. Day 2: Les Contamines to Les Lacs Jovet Start:...
