Check another one off the bucket list.
I planned to keep my trip to France short but, like every time I’m here, I’m finding it hard to leave. This time I can do something about it. I cancelled my trip to Croatia (I’ll need more than 8 days anyway) and snuck in a quick visit to Normandy. Then it’s off to Nepal for hike No. 4 via Qatar (to see my friend Anton, and his parents) and either Jordan or Oman.
Have I mentioned I really like France?
Col des Fours
Tour de Mont Blanc, Part 1
My original plan for the TMB was to treat it the same as my first two hikes. I was going to carry my food, filter my water and camp every night. Basically, I would approach the TMB like it was a remote mountain adventure even though there are towns in every valley and refuges near every pass.
It wasn’t long before the TMB disabused me of the notion that I’d be roughing it in the backcountry. I gradually realized that on the TMB there’s only frontcountry. And in this frontcountry, there is no shortage of comfort and amenities.
Tastes great, less filling and it’ll probably cook you dinner, too.
Wow! I had the great fortune to share a silky smooth 1970 Bordeaux blend with some old and new friends. That sets a new PR by decades. I’m going to remember this one for a long time.
Descending from Col de la Seigne (Photo courtesy of Travis Olsen)
The Tour de Mont Blanc (“TMB”) is one of Europe’s Great Walks. Labelled Grand Randonée (GR) 5, the trek traces a circuit around the Mont Blanc massif. On the traditional anti-clockwise (or counter-clockwise for my American readers) route, the Tour begins in the French village of Les Houches, passes out of France into Italy and then Switzerland, before crossing back into France and returning to Les Houches. Along the way, the TMB offers incredible views of Mont Blanc, the surrounding peaks, and an array of quaint alpine villages.
Fin Dome, near the Rae Lakes
In Part 3 of my JMT trip, I have another distant brush with a backcountry airlift, connect with Taylor after his bruising trip up Taboose Pass, avoid getting fried by lightning on a 12,000 ft pass, and reach Mt. Whitney after 211 miles. If you need a refresher or missed them the first time, here are Part 1 and Part 2.
NOTE: I just finished hiking the Tour de Mont Blanc in France, Switzerland and Italy. Check out a GPS map of the route here. Posts about that trip are on the way.
7Trails 