We had a few hours left in Chamonix before our travel day started. After breakfast, I/we repacked our baggage to ensure that our carry-on items included the necessities for our upcoming African adventure – our hiking gear was no longer essential. Once we got all of that sorted out, then…
Mont Blanc
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TMB Day 6: Les Contamines ->Bionnassay ->Les Houches ->Chamonix
No bus transfer to the trailhead for us this morning! Instead, we started with a mile hike on the road outside of Les Contamines and rejoined the trail in La Chapelle. The climbing began from there through the trees. Once we reached the junction at Le Chosal though, our guide…
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TMB Day 5: Les Chapieux ->Bonhomme pass ->Les Contamines
Our day began with a private bus transfer to Les Chapieux, the starting point for today’s hike. Then, as usual, the climbing began right away. We had a long, steep ascent towards the Col Du Bonhomme mountain pass. Our guide allowed us to proceed ahead at our own pace, if…
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TMB Day 4: Courmayeur ->Seigne pass ->La Ville des Glaciers
At this point, we’ve got the daily routine down: Eat breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the starting point of our day’s hike, climb up a mountain, eat a picnic lunch on said mountain, go down the mountain (and, try to stay upright). Rinse and repeat. That’s not to say…
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TMB Day 3: Champex-lac->La Fouly->Col Ferret->Arnouva->Courmayeur
Au revoir, Switzerland! Ciao, Italy! After breakfast, we had a private bus transfer to a small village in the Val Ferret, the starting point for today’s hike. Our guide, who has led multiple tours around Mont Blanc this summer, chose an alternative trail to ascend on our way to the first…
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TMB Day 2: Argentiere->the Forclaz pass->Bovine->Champex-lac
Bonjour, Switzerland! After breakfast, we had a 20-minute private bus transfer across the border to Forclaz, which was the starting point for today’s hike. Just like yesterday our hike began with a climb. The scenery was dramatically different though. We ascended through forests of pine and larch to the sounds…
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TMB Day 1: Chamonix->La Flegere->Lac Blanc->Argentiere
The real deal started today! We said goodbye to our bags in the morning at the hotel in Chamonix – some would remain there in long-term storage until we return on Saturday afternoon and some would be transferred and waiting for us at our hotel for the night in Le…
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Chamonix: The Prologue
After only 12 hours in transit (including a 1-hour layover in IAD), we arrived in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday morning. I always appreciate the efficiency of the Swiss, and our arrival procedure into the country proved to be no exception. We grabbed some pastries once we exited the baggage hall,…