Our final day on the TMB as we neared the symbolic “finish line.”

Argentiere

We ate our European breakfast, packed our last lunch tin and checked out of the most comfortable hotel on the trip.

Argentiere

Took a short walk up the road to the bus stop.

Tre le Champ

Getting off the bus that took us to another charming hamlet catering to TMB hikers.

Tre le Champ

Looking up at the snow kissed mountains overshadowing the town.

TMB Trail

Group photo at the trailhead that are shared with railroad tracks. You mean we can take a train?

TMB Trail

Skirting the French chalets as we struck out on the path.

TMB Trail

Aida with one of several wooden totem poles along the trail. Local transplants?

TMB Trail

Roaming through alpine pastures.

TMB Trail

We are going here!

TMB Trail

I hear you knocking but you can’t come in. I hear you knockin’, go back where you been.

TMB Trail

Ferlino and Patrick walking on the elevated footpath.

TMB Trail

Looking back down into the valley where we had just departed.

TMB Trail

Spider-Man and Uncle Ben made an appearance in the tree line as we waited for the rest of the group to catch up.

TMB Trail

Climbing our way through the more than 3,200′ of elevation gain today.

TMB Trail

Hiking our way up through the rock strewn landscape.

TMB Trail

Jumping for joy.

TMB Trail

Mari striking a pose against the backdrop of the Mont Blanc massif mountain range.

TMB Trail

Approaching the rock formation called Aiguillette d’Argentiere, which serves as the springboard for aspiring alpinists.

TMB Trail

There are alternative paths that significantly change the experience of the trail. Is this such a variant?

TMB Trail

Group photo with Aiguillette d’Argentiere in the background and her two hikers perched at the summit.

TMB Trail

Climbing queue to go up the “infamous” ladder section which is also part of the Aiguilles Rouges National Nature Reserve that was created in 1974 and covers 8,100 acres.

TMB Trail

Sylvia following me up the ladder. This is where bottlenecks happen as the line becomes easily backed up and sometimes two-way traffic flow adds to the congestion.

TMB Trail

Spider-Man climbs up the ladder in his own way.

TMB Trail

Robin climbing up from the base.

TMB Trail

Mari traversing across a narrow stretch with the assistance of a bolted cable.

TMB Trail

“Deb, tell me again why this is fun?”

TMB Trail

Chico climbing up a short and steep ladder.

TMB Trail

Aida and Roger between steps and ladders.

TMB Trail

Back on the ladders.

TMB Trail

Those with an aversion to the inclined metal rungs can take the variant Col des Montets trail which avoids them altogether. But we did not have such an aversion.

TMB Trail

Aida soaking in the views.

TMB Trail

Somebody in a red and blue costume was making their way up the Balcon Sud trail, so named because the path provides unmatched panoramic views of the Southern side of the Mont Blanc massif.

Tete aux Vents

Photo at the cairn that marks 7,020′ in elevation and the junction where the traditional trail takes one to La Flegere, but we would be taking the higher variant trail to Lac Blanc.

TMB Trail

Leaving the junction as we steadily chased more elevation.

TMB Trail

Looking ahead to the rustic mountain hut that dominates Chamonix Valley.

Lac des Cheserys

We soon arrived at the string of five alpine lakes that populate this side of the mountain.

Lac des Cheserys

Aida next to the cairn that marks the 7,350′ elevation.

Lac des Cheserys

Ferlino and Robin overlooking the largest of the five lakes, where we noticed ladders at the end of the lake which previously helped hikers enter and exit the body of water. Swimming is now prohibited for safety and preservation reasons.

Lac des Cheserys

If you can’t swim, might as well enjoy the views.

TMB Trail

“Ladders? We don’t need no stinking ladders!” repeating the widely quoted paraphrase of a paraphrase.

TMB Trail

Chico failing to maintain his three points of contact as we left the alpine lakes behind us.

TMB Trail

Patrick charging up the trail, looking for that elusive “fun” that he was asking about the whole time on the trail.

Refuge du Lac Blanc

Mari topping out at the highest point on the trail at 7,716′ elevation.

Lac Blanc

Somebody was smart and went straight to the lake for the views before eating lunch.

Refuge du Lac Blanc

Table with a view. Understatement of the year.

Refuge du Lac Blanc

Sights and smells of hot vegetable soup, hot dog and chilled soda on this chilly day sent our packed tin lunch out the window. Sorry Sylvia.

Lac Blanc

Group photo in front of the cloud diffused view of the lake. Oh well, at least our tummies were full of hot soup and meat byproducts and carbonated sugary liquids.

TMB Trail

Sylvia said there were rumors of rain in our forecast, so we quickened our pace during our descent.

TMB Trail

We saw a pair of female alpine ibex which was near the brink of extinction by the 19th century, but has been successfully reintroduced to its natural habitat.

TMB Trail

Passing another alpine lake on our way down.

TMB Trail

Switch backing our way down as we alternated between metal and ground.

TMB Trail

Passing an unmarked cairn on the trail, perhaps to symbolize that we were almost there! There were also abundant blueberries on the trail for snacking.

TMB Trail

Traversing the boardwalk around Lac de la Flegere with muted views of the mountains.

TMB Trail

Walking near the Index Chairlift which takes skiers and hikers further up to the “roof” of Europe at 8,514′ in elevation when working. Not today.

La Flegere

Photo finish at the 6,175′ resort popular with skiers and hikers alike.

La Flegere

All smiles in the aerial ski lift that was first installed in 1956 and updated numerous times over the years.

Les Praz

We lost over 2,729′ of elevation during our ride down to the picturesque village on the outskirts of Chamonix, which has been inhabited since 1091. We were finished and the fun was done. Yay!

Chamonix

The bus dropped us off back to the town where we had started and the pink hotel with the world famous hospitality that we had missed on the trail.

Atmosphere

Our last dinner together was at the popular alpine restaurant in the heart of town where we were joined by the Tom’s daughter and friend who had just completed the entire TMB trail themselves. The dinner dishes were full of flavor and artfully crafted which was pleasing to the eye and the stomach.

Atmosphere

Collectively we chipped in and gave a monetary gift of gratitude to our guide, Sylvia Frappier who provided a memorable experience for our group.

GPS Tracks

Our abbreviated version of the TMB covered a total of 51.73 miles around the massive Mont Blanc that subjectively highlighted the best views and trail experiences. Bravo to the group for starting and finishing strong and more importantly we all did the hike in good company and spirits and all finished safe and sound.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Chico Cantu, Deborah Tom, Ferlino Carinio, Mari Saito, Patrick Tom, Robin Farr, Roger Schiffman, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

We woke up to our last day in the country famous for its chocolate and cheese, as we prepared for day five on the TMB.

Maya Joie L’uberge

Consumed our standard European breakfast including boiling your own eggs, packed our lunch tins and checked out of our BnB (Bed and Bug). First world problems.

Champex-Lac

The shuttle took us from the village of La Fouly to Champex-Lac to start on the Bovine Trail. Thanks Deborah for blocking the B, at least have a name that can start the trail.

TMB Trail

We passed a colorful bee hive on the way, some “experts” believe that Switzerland has the highest density of domestic bees in Europe.

TMB Trail

The group was here (ici), but where was Honolulu?

TMB Trail

Passing through the alpine pastures dotted with Swiss homes.

TMB Trail

Sylvia pointed out the Swiss fighting cows grazing in the nearby pasture. These stocky chocolate colored Heren breed of cows are naturally combative that participate in televised fights where the female cows lock horns until one backs down. Cowfight not catfight.

Alpage de Plan de l’Au

Ferlino drinking straight from the pipe or the trough?

TMB Trail

Hiking our way up the uneven trail littered with rocks of assorted sizes.

TMB Trail

One of multiple glacier fed stream crossings.

TMB Trail

Name that peak for 85,753 euros.

TMB Trail

The group descending to cross a trickling stream.

TMB Trail

One stick in front of the other. It helps to have magic sticks as well.

TMB Trail

Bodies in motion and rest on the incline trail.

TMB Trail

The path soon plateaued to a reasonable horizontal level where it seemed to gather people to collect themselves.

TMB Trail

Back to the grind.

TMB Trail

Looking for the payoff after the somewhat strenuous climb up the trail.

TMB Trail

Climbing a tree stump painted with the Swiss colors to get better views of Rhone Valley and points beyond.

TMB Trail

Mari with the prominent peak of Grand Combin behind her, which is one of the highest mountains in the Alps.

Alpage de Bovine

We decided to join the crowds and have our lunch at the closed mountain hut known for its delicious cakes and desserts. We had our chocolate pudding that was provided instead.

Alpage de Bovine

Thou shalt not covet thy other group’s lunch of fresh vegetables and fruits.

TMB Trail

We left the hut to climb roughly 50 meters more to the highest point on the trail.

Alp Bovine

Aida at the 6,692′ summit marked with a nearby wooden cross with the inscription “When the evening dew falls and the stars shine we think of the sweet hours of the past, when you were among us. And you, will you come near us. If you are given to find those you loved on Earth, when are you happy in Heaven?” Well, that’s what Google Translate said.

TMB Trail

“Deb, tell me again why this is fun?”

TMB Trail

Chico at rest.

TMB Trail

The group traversing through the alpine pastures surrounded by the forest.

TMB Trail

Descending down to the mountain pass. Nice change of pace.

Col de la Forclaz

We arrived at the pass that was primarily used by smugglers until the 19th century when tourism became the main economic drivers. The group wandered around looking for souvenirs, solid and liquid refreshments. We had actually arrived two hours early, Sylvia was able to get one of the shuttles to come early, that still left one person out in the cold. Janken Po it is. Sorry Chico.

Le Chatelard

Flashing our passports as we crossed the border back into France.

Argentiere

The shuttle dropped us off at our three star hotel, La Couronne, that was originally built in 1865 and is the oldest hotel complex in the Valley of Chamonix.

Argentiere

Wandered around the quaint town, did our laundry and some folks got their TMB shirt prematurely.

Argentiere

Seated at the hotel restaurant to see if their food matched their infrastructure. It did.

Argentiere

Alpine food served from the regions of Italy, France and Switzerland, the same countries that we had hiked through the past five days.

Argentiere

Most of us turned in for the night, but Aida stayed up and caught the last lunar eclipse of the year. Goodnight from the picturesque alpine village.

GPS Tracks

Our fifth day on the TMB covered 8.3 miles through alpine meadows and steady climbing through the mountains and leaving Switzerland to enter back into France.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Chico Cantu, Deborah Tom, Ferlino Carinio, Mari Saito, Patrick Tom, Robin Farr, Roger Schiffman, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

Woke up to our fourth day on the TMB, more than halfway done!

Courmayeur

The best part of the day was the Italian coffee for someone, for me it was the freshly squeezed orange juice. To each their own.

Val Ferret

Bone chilling group photo at the start of our trailhead after our shuttle dropped us off. Bone chilling for people from Hawaii.

TMB Trail

The start of our almost 3,000′ elevation climb.

TMB Trail

Putting our heads down and putting one foot in front of the other.

TMB Trail

Sometimes you have to look up and appreciate the Alps.

TMB Trail

The group crossing the bridge and following the stream for a bit.

TMB Trail

Hikers silhouetted against the sun kissed mountains.

Rifugio Elena

We stopped at the mountain hut for a bathroom break, snacks and Italian cappuccino. And of course, the views.

TMB Trail

Leaving the mountain hut as we gained more elevation. More cardio.

TMB Trail

Contouring our way above the Alps.

TMB Trail

Two way traffic on the trail fronting the bluffs.

TMB Trail

Nowhere to go but up. Just follow the arrow.

TMB Trail

Standing in front of Mount Dolent which shares the border with France, Italy and Switzerland.

TMB Trail

I think Roger was trying out for the job of sheepdog.

TMB Trail

Sylvia pointed out the rare sighting of the bearded vulture, which was hunted to the point of extinction but is making a comeback. If they start circling above you, best to pick it up.

Col du Grand Ferret

Crossing the border into Switzerland at the mountain pass that sits at 8,300′ elevation. Gruezi!

Col du Grand Ferret

Ferlino showing the colors.

TMB Trail

Going down the pass in search of a spot less windy to have our lunch.

TMB Trail

The group having our lunch with unmatched views of the surrounding Alps.

TMB Trail

Standing in front of the snow capped peak that is rarely visible according to Sylvia. The name of the mountain escapes me.

TMB Trail

Happy Birthday to you! Sylvia requested that we sing the song to her friend that was first documented in 1912. The copyright expired in the EU in 2017, so sing away. The animated ones were in the front, while the less animated one was sitting down. By all accounts, the recipient was quite pleased.

TMB Trail

A sea of sheep soon migrated from the Italian side to the Switzerland side accompanied by a constant blur and mash of bleating and bells ringing.

TMB Trail

Sheep crossing.

TMB Trail

Making our way down with the imposing Aiguille du Talefre and de Triolet mountains in the background.

TMB Trail

Going down the trail where we passed a puzzling driveway type gate. Push.

TMB Trail

Headed down to the Swiss mountain hut that is part of a working farm of cows and sheep. They even had a harmonica player. Ferlino missed out.

Alpage de la Peule

We took a small break, had their delicious ice cream, some more than once and Groot marked the neutral country.

TMB Trail

Left the charming hut and traversed through uneven terrain before breaking out of the alpine forest.

TMB Trail

Hiking through the pastoral landscapes in the Swiss Val Ferret Valley.

TMB Trail

Passing the Pramplo Trail as we were constantly treated to valley, glacier and mountain views.

TMB Trail

Walking over a stout wooden bridge that crossed over a rather parched streambed.

TMB Trail

Following the valley floor to La Fouly.

TMB Trail

One was sure footed and the other was not so sure footed on the “bridge to nowhere.”

TMB Trail

The last bridge crossing of the day as we soon approached the village boundary.

TMB Trail

More cowbell.

Maya Joie L’uberge

All smiles as we walked up the road to our hostel for the night. What gave us pause was when we read the memo about the bed bugs and not to worry.

Maya Joie L’uberge

The married couples were assigned to the rustic cabin, but upon inspection the linen was soiled and stained and the pillows musty and there was a bug of questionable character crawling on the sheets. The staff assured us that it was not a bed bug but just a bug. They said all the hostels in the area were of the same, even if we forked out considerable euros to move to a more palatable place. They mollified us by moving us all to the more modern dormitory style housing. Liberal amounts of bed bug spray was still applied to our bedding. Our backpacks and duffel bags had to stay in the cloakroom to keep down the chances of any bed bug infestation. We could only take essential stuff to our rooms.

Maya Joie L’uberge

We showered and cleaned up and then went to the dining area for our evening meal. Our main dish was melted cheese on potatoes. We don’t have anything else? Just cheese and potatoes. Eat up.

Maya Joie L’uberge

Group photo at the family style dinner. We then retired to our dormitory rooms and kept one eye open for the bed bugs, slight exaggeration. Good night and don’t let the bed bugs bite.

GPS Tracks

Our fourth day on the TMB covered 8.63 miles through what some argue is the most scenic section of the trail and we have now been in three countries since we started the hike; France, Italy and Switzerland. Wonderful day with good friends and only slightly marred by the “bed bug scare.”

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Chico Cantu, Deborah Tom, Ferlino Carinio, Mari Saito, Patrick Tom, Robin Farr, Roger Schiffman, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

Woke up the next day to start our third day on the trail that was formalized in the early 19th century as a means so that the general public could explore and hike the surrounding areas of Mont Blanc.

Hotel Base Camp Lodge

It was hard leaving the creature comforts of our second night lodging. The show must go on. We had our usual European breakfast, packed our lunch tins and duffel bags and checked out.

Les Chapieux

The same shuttle driver from last night picked us up and drove us to the trailhead while a sheepdog seemed to either want to herd or guard us on the way.

La Ville des Glaciers

Group photo at the start of the hike, the driver said this was our only opportunity to use the last toilette in France.

TMB Trail

When the dogs are sleeping, the goats are roaming.

TMB Trail

Crossing over one of multiple bridges to stay on trail.

Refuge des Mottets

Somebody got iced coffee at the mountain hut where the temperature hovered around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This place is also a donkey and mule sanctuary where the beasts of burden can take your baggage for a euro.

TMB Trail

Standing in front of the monument that is dedicated to the B17 bomber crew that crashed into the Aiguille des Glaciers in 1946. The melting ice finally gave them back from 1972 through 1979.

TMB Trail

Huffing and puffing our way up the switchbacks.

TMB Trail

Cheaper to pay a fence than a sheepdog.

TMB Trail

Mari striding over one of many glacier fed streams.

TMB Trail

Walking into the picturesque window of clouds.

TMB Trail

The group talking and hiking at the same time. But can they chew gum too?

TMB Trail

Yielding to a horse on the trail coming down. You mean we could have took a beast of burden instead?

TMB Trail

Who says I don’t like waterfalls or something that closely passes for one?

TMB Trail

The rest of the group making their way up against the stunning backdrop of the Alps.

TMB Trail

Soaking in the splendid views of the valley and mountains.

TMB Trail

Yielding to mountain bikers hurtling down the trail. You mean, we could’ve took pedal-driven single track vehicles instead?

Col de la Seigne

Everybody had their own way of crossing the border into Italy at the 8,241′ mountain pass. Ciao!

Col de la Seigne

The wind was biting cold, time to head down into Italy.

TMB Trail

We saw this Taiwanese hiker standing on the rocks below us. Monkey see, monkey do.

TMB Trail

Others chose to keep their feet planted on the ground with snow capped Mont Blanc in the background.

La Casermetta

Going down the trail as we passed the former military barracks turned reception center in search of a less windy place to have lunch.

TMB Trail

We found it below the shadow of La Casermetta that was thankfully just vacated by another group. It was still teeth chattering cold for myself.

TMB Trail

These poles are made for hiking.

TMB Trail

A mountain too far, with the Aiguille Noire de Peuterey that is part of the Mont Blanc Mountain Range.

TMB Trail

Easy peasy on the trail.

TMB Trail

Coming or going?

TMB Trail

Two way traffic on the trail.

TMB Trail

Who’s who? How do you say doppelganger in Italian?

TMB Trail

The cow was not cooperating.

La Chapelle de Giorgio Patriarca

Early mountaineers built these structures as a place of refuge and worship as they feared the Alps were the abode of demons and dragons.

TMB Trail

Chico explored the old military ruins that dates back to when France and Italy were not on friendly terms.

TMB Trail

Please don’t pee near the water source. Perched on the hillside is Rifugio Elisabetta, the only mountain hut on this section of the trail.

TMB Trail

Crossing over the water source.

TMB Trail

Dropping into the valley known as Val Veny.

TMB Trail

The worst toilette in all of Italy. But when you gotta go, you gotta go.

TMB Trail

Taking a photo of the photographer taking a photo. Redundancy in action.

TMB Trail

One of many bridge crossings.

TMB Trail

Kicking dust on the trail as we yielded to a car on the road. You mean we could have ridden down?

TMB Trail

Where there is a tree or rock to climb, Ferlino will be there. Chico will be not far behind.

TMB Trail

End of the trail for today. Time to take a load off our feet.

Hotel Edelweiss

The shuttle dropped us off to our hotel where we checked into our private rooms. Heaters don’t work in the summer. Suck it up.

Courmayeur

We explored and walked around “Italy’s best ski resort town.” Sampled some gelato in cones and cups. Shopped for souvenirs. Popped into the Church of Saint Pantaleon, who is the patron saint of physicians and midwives. Groot “marked” the boot shaped country. Chico got friendly with the “natives.”

Courmayeur

Taking in the sights of the picturesque town that sits at the foot of Mont Blanc.

Courmayeur

Dinner was at Cadran Solaire, described as a place of conviviality serving Alpine cuisine. It was quite tasty. Somebody got a doggie bag to go or as the Italians say “vaschetta per gli avanzi.”

GPS Tracks

Our third day on the TMB covered 9.4 miles through the mountain pass of Col de la Seigne where we crossed over into Italy and down into Val Veny and finally Courmayeur. Somebody was questioning why we did not get the 13 miles on the trail as “promised” in the itinerary. Really? Nobody was talking about taking zero days anymore. Committed to the finish line.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Chico Cantu, Deborah Tom, Ferlino Carinio, Mari Saito, Patrick Tom, Robin Farr, Roger Schiffman, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

Woke up the next day in our sleeping bag liners and found ourselves thankfully free of any bed bug infestations.

Le Pontet

Organized our bags, caught the pastel sunrise, packed our lunch tins and consumed our breakfast of cheese, meat and bread.

Le Pontet

Bright eyed and bushy tailed or something close to it.

Le Pontet

Leaving the campsite as we saw other hikers breaking down their tents to get ready for another day on the trail.

TMB Trail

We crossed the bridge to start our hike for the day.

TMB Trail

Chico using the trail telescope to make sure we were going in the right direction.

Notre Dame de la Gorge

This Catholic Church as we know it today was rebuilt in 1699 and also serves as a place of prayer for safe passage to the Col du Bonhomme mountain pass.

TMB Trail

Yielding to vehicular traffic on the trail. You mean we can ride instead of walk?

TMB Trail

Mari using her “magic hiking sticks” on the trail. This part of the route was supposedly taken by Hannibal of Carthage who traversed the Alps, once thought impossible; with 30,000 soldiers, 15,000 horse mounted cavalry and 37 war elephants in 218 BC against his war with Rome.

TMB Trail

We briefly stopped at the bridge to watch the stream flowing below us and then rain made its thankfully brief appearance.

TMB Trail

Looking at a 16-point buck mounted on the outside of the cabin we were passing. I’m sure that was the buck of a life time for whatever hunter that bagged him.

TMB Trail

“Deb, tell me why this is fun?” I don’t think I ever heard the answer the whole time on the trail. Enquiring minds want to know.

TMB Trail

Headed up the trail with the 8,818′ summit of Aiguilles de la Penaz to our right.

TMB Trail

Watching a cow get its mineral nutrients from a salt lick. Much like how hikers need electrolytes.

TMB Trail

Passing the Refuge de la Balme, no iced coffee?

TMB Trail

Hiking next to a river fed by glacier melt.

TMB Trail

Pushing up the trail with the alpine forest behind us.

TMB Trail

We waited for the rest of the group to catch up, so Chico decided to climb the nearby power line tower. There were no trees around to climb, so he had to make do with what he had.

TMB Trail

Perhaps it would be prudent not to sit next to a sign that says falling rocks. But then again, the risk can’t be any more than being electrocuted or falling from a tower.

TMB Trail

What do you call a sheepdog without sheep to herd or guard? Just a dog.

TMB Trail

Hikers coming up separate paths which will eventually merge together. Just like in life.

TMB Trail

Group photo with our alter ego characters.

TMB Trail

Standing in front of Tumulus Plan des Dames which it turned out is a burial mound containing two English ladies who perished in a terrible storm sometime in the last century. Custom is to throw a pebble at the site to ward off bad luck, not an apple.

TMB Trail

Mari treading carefully.

TMB Trail

Some took it slow and steady on the trail.

TMB Trail

Others elected for fast and furious.

TMB Trail

Having our lunch of sandwich and applesauce. Somebody had a kanak attack. Sylvia suggested we not dawdle too much as the weather forecast was predicting thunderstorms this afternoon.

Col du Bonhomme

Partial group photo at our second mountain pass at an elevation of 7,641′, which resulted in the largest ascent gain of 4,300′ in one day.

TMB Trail

Leaving the pass behind us to go climb another pass.

TMB Trail

Following the trail as it wrapped around the rocky flanks of the Rocher du Bonhomme.

TMB Trail

Taking the high and lower trails where the clouds soon erased any visibility.

TMB Trail

Robin standing in place of a tree. Organic tree.

TMB Trail

Sylvia said the trail was going to get technical and to stay together. Technical as in Kalihi Saddle technical?

TMB Trail

Technical as in uneven terrain and wayfinding. Throw in a little rain for good measure. Sylvia directed some other hikers on the correct path as they were about to go “exploring.”

Col de la Croix du Bonhomme.

Standing next to the cairn which marks the 7,900′ mountain pass. No views to be had.

TMB Trail

It was a hop, skip and a jump towards the next mountain hut, but the stench from the outhouse hit me before the actual standalone structure. Hard pass.

Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme

The refuge was originally built in 1922, destroyed and looted during WW2, rebuilt in 1965 and expanded in 1992.

TMB Trail

Leaving the hut behind us along with the clouds and rain as we made the long and gradual descent into Les Chapieux.

TMB Trail

Coming down from the mountain. No metaphorical transition here, just a literal descent.

TMB Trail

Deborah crossing over one of multiple streams cascading down from the mountains.

TMB Trail

Soaking in the views of the beautiful Alps.

TMB Trail

Traversing over a short boardwalk over the uneven slope.

Chalets de Plan Varraro

Passing another mountain hut on our way down, they didn’t seem open for business.

TMB Trail

Is that our ride down there? Wishful thinking.

TMB Trail

The predicted thunderstorm finally made its appearance several hours later but thankfully only 15-20 minutes before our exit.

TMB Trail

Leave no man behind. Where’s Patrick? We got to our shuttles just as the storm in thunderstorm turned on the faucets full blast or as the French say “Il pleut des hallebardes.” Somebody didn’t appreciate the “rough” drive to the lodge as they got motion sickness. Better to be nauseated than soaking wet.

Hotel Base Camp Lodge

Perfect timing. Arriving at our modern lodge for the night just as the storm passed. Clean rooms. Clean bathrooms. Clean everything. First world problems.

Hotel Base Camp Lodge

Dinner was served in the form of bigger than your eye portions of Caesar chicken salad, sausage and pizza and sorbet for dessert.

GPS Tracks

Our second day on the Tour du Mont Blanc trail covered 10.33 miles through more beautiful scenery and terrain. Somebody else wanted to take a zero day on the third day. Is this catching? Economic and language motivation won out again.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Chico Cantu, Deborah Tom, Ferlino Carinio, Mari Saito, Patrick Tom, Robin Farr, Roger Schiffman, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

The day had finally arrived as we started on the CliffsNotes version of the TMB. We had eschewed hiking the entire 106 miles circuit that typically takes 8-11 days to complete. Instead we opted on a guided six-day hike that highlighted the “best” of the trail and left the more “mundane” sections out in left field. The TMB trail started for practical and economic reasons to move herds of sheep between the valleys and to facilitate fur trade among the scattered groups of people living in the valleys. Now it serves to move hikers between the valleys.

Chamonix

We stored our unneeded items in the hotel’s storage, packed our pasta in the provided tins, shared some of the lunch load and ate our standard breakfast fare.

Chamonix

Is that where we are going today? General direction?

Chamonix

Sylvia paying our bus fare as we took the short ride to the next town.

Telepherique de Bellevue

Didn’t we pass Les Houches, the official gate and start/finish of the TMB trail? I guess this will have to do for now.

Telepherique de Bellevue

Waiting in line to take the cable car ride to the top.

La Chalette

Group photo at the top with the panoramic mountain view.

TMB Trail

I guess this is the start of the Tour du Mont Blanc trail for our group.

TMB Trail

Mari crossing the cog railway line. You mean we can take the train?

TMB Trail

The girls making their way down the rooted part of the path.

TMB Trail

Heading out to the picturesque mountains. Not a bad way to start the morning.

TMB Trail

“Chains? We don’t need no stinking chains!” Paraphrasing the famous misquote from the 1948 film The Treasure of Sierra Madre.

TMB Trail

Sylvia and Ferlino passing through one of two cattle gates on the path.

TMB Trail

Is that Mont Blanc in the background?

TMB Trail

Descending down a set of switchbacks which bottled the hikers on the trail.

TMB Trail

Crossing the Glacier de Bionnassay footbridge that passes over the river fed by the glacier melt.

TMB Trail

Passing through an alpine forest as we pushed our way up, somebody had magic hiking sticks on the trail.

TMB Trail

Robin at a nice scenic spot with the Alps in the background.

TMB Trail

Back to the grind.

TMB Trail

We had our lunch below the windswept pass with tins of pasta salad and of course; bread, cheese and meat.

Col de Tricot

Our first mountain pass in the Alps at an altitude of 6,955′ with Mont Vorassay in the background.

TMB Trail

What goes up, must come back down.

TMB Trail

Making our way down the steep switchbacks.

TMB Trail

Descending towards the valley pasture.

TMB Trail

You take the easy way, I’ll take the hard way down.

TMB Trail

Headed towards our first shelter on the trail.

Refuge de Miage

We stopped at the mountain hut in the center of Miage Valley to have carbonated drinks and ice cream.

TMB Trail

Refreshed and recharged, we crossed a small stream and refilled our water bottles before resuming our hike.

TMB Trail

Back on the trail to climb a smaller pass.

TMB Trail

Chico taking advantage of the creative use of a tree stump.

TMB Trail

Nice to have a bench at the top of the pass to rest our derrieres. Trying to speak the local lingo.

TMB Trail

Looking back at our steep descent from the earlier pass where we lost over 1,800′ of elevation.

TMB Trail

Robin trying to orient herself to the direction of the trail.

Chalets du Truc

Brief stop at the mountain hut located on the plateau du Truc with sweeping mountain views of Domes de Miage to the Aravis mountains. We would have to miss the evening milking of the cows.

TMB Trail

Passing through the 14,000 acre forest reserve created in 1979 that encompasses pastures, rivers, forests and glaciers.

TMB Trail

Mari crossing over an electric wire meant to keep the cows in their place. I don’t think anybody actually checked if the switch was “on.”

TMB Trail

The group waiting their turn to cross over another slippery cow barrier. It must be working, we didn’t see any cows.

TMB Trail

Leaving the tree line for signs of civilization.

TMB Trail

Looking both ways before we cross the road. Safety first. We walked on the roads, passed through clusters of places for rent, crossed over multiple bridges, followed the stream and passed a horse pasture among other things.

TMB Trail

Are we there yet?

TMB Trail

We are almost there. That was a long 15 minutes. I think it must have been measured in metrics.

Le Pontet

Checking in, party of nine. We were assigned to our dormitory style rooms with bunk bed accommodations and bed bug powder at the foot of the bunks. There was some confusion as to whether we could bring our packs to our rooms or not. Some heeded and some did not.

Le Pontet

Some of us took hot showers in the common areas and then we all met up to have our family style dinner. BYOC (Bring Your Own Coke).

GPS Tracks

Our first day on the storied Tour du Mont Blanc trail covered 8.74 miles through the wilderness of the Alps. Somebody inquired as to taking a zero day on the second day. Cost was 270 euros for the taxi. That was roughly $315 dollars. Hard pass. The secret to motivating hikers? Hit ‘em in the wallet.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Chico Cantu, Deborah Tom, Ferlino Carinio, Mari Saito, Patrick Tom, Robin Farr, Roger Schiffman, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.