Hiking in Europe
Read all about the hikes I did in Switzerland, France, Italy and others
TMB Day 7: Fenêtre d’Arpette
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.
TMB day 6: the Swiss Val Ferret
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.
TMB Day 5: to Switzerland
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.
TMB Day 4: a Long Day in Italy
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 32 km.
TMB Day 3: a Night at the Museum
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.
TMB Day 2: a Long Climb to the Lakes
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.
TMB Day 1: a Rainy Afternoon
The first half day of the Tour du Mont Blanc I spent in an airplane and busses, until I finally got the the trailhead. Heavy fog made me change my plans already within 2 hours on the trail.
Planning the Tour du Mont Blanc
With a length of 172 kilometer / 107 miles the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) seems very similar to the SEKI Loop I hiked in California last summer (104.7 miles / 168,5 km). But the altitude is much lower, the climate different and I also expect to see a lot more people on the trail this summer.
Short hikes on the Isle of Sark
The Isle of Sark is so small, that it would take no more than half an hour to walk straight from the eastern to the western shore. But because of the jagged coastline there is a lot more hiking to do, with great views every time you turn a corner.
Back to the Ice Age: the Morteratsch Glacier
The Morteratsch Glacier is one of the biggest glaciers in the eastern alps. A guided tour leaving from the almost 3000 meter mountain viewpoint Diavolezza offers a wonderful day hike, crossing two glaciers with views of stunning high peaks.