Category Archives: Tour du Mont Blanc

July 21 – 24, 2022 Chamonix, France Those French are something else indeed. On day two of the Chamonix bartender asking me if I wanted ice in my rosé, and me looking at him like he’s an alien, I finally asked him if people really do that. Put ice in their rosé. He said yes,Continue reading “Rosé… with ice?”

Thursday, July 21, 2022 Tour du Mont Blanc – Day 11 Refuge Lac Blanc to Chamonix! Starting elevation: 2,352 m Ending elevation: 1,008 m Elevation gain: 318 m Elevation loss: 595 m Distance: 4.9 miles to cable car, 4.2 miles on valley floor Last night the rains rolled in, first before dinner, and then offContinue reading “Chamonix, here we come!”

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 Tour du Mont Blanc – Day 10 Auberge la Boerne to Refuge Lac Blanc Starting elevation: 1,395 m Ending elevation: 2,352 m Elevation gain: 957 m Elevation loss: 0 m Distance: 3 miles Ladders: 8 (?) Last night was another shit show.  We arrived at the refuge by 3 pm orContinue reading “I hope you’re not claustrophobic…”

Tuesday, July 19, 2022 Tour du Mont Blanc – Day 9 Refuge le Peuty to Auberge la Boerne Starting elevation: 1,279 m Ending elevation: 1,395 m Elevation gain: 1,144 m Elevation loss: 1,028 m Distance: 8.8 miles Col de Balme: 2,204 m Col des Posettes: 1,997 m L’Aiguillette des Posettes: 2,201 m Today was anotherContinue reading “From the Dragon Lady, with love”

Monday, July 18, 2022 Tour du Mont Blanc – Day 8 Hotel Mont Lac to Refuge le Peuty Starting elevation: 1,466 m Ending elevation: 1,279 m Elevation gain: 795 m Elevation loss: 982 m Distance: 9.9 miles Alp Bovine: 1,974 m Col de la Forclaz: 1,526 m Today was the ultimate shit show.  Sorry, momsContinue reading “I’m pretty sure that guy’s in his underpants”

Sunday, July 17, 2022 Tour du Mont Blanc  – Day 7 Hotel Edelweiss, La Fouly, CH to Hotel Mont Lac, Champex- Lac, CH Starting elevation: 1,600 m Ending elevation: 1,466 m Elevation gain: 523 m Elevation loss: 657 m Distance: 9.1 miles There are so many possible titles for today, all hilarious.   We started theContinue reading “I have still not mastered the art of the European shower”

Saturday,  July 16, 2022 Tour du Mont Blanc- Day 6 Rifugio Elena to Hotel Edelweiss, La Fouly, CH Starting elevation: 2,062 m Ending elevation: 1,600 m Elevation gain: 535 m Elevation loss: 997 m Distance: 7.2 m Col Grand Ferret: 2,537 m Today we left Rifugio Elena to head over Col Grand Ferret, and onContinue reading “If I flush after 10, will you report me?”

Friday, July 15, 2022 Tour du Mont Blanc-Day 5 Courmayeur to Rifugio Elena Starting elevation: 1,226 m Ending elevation: 2,062 m Elevation gain: 1,426 m Elevation loss: 590 m Distance: 12.2 miles Last night’s dinner took way too long, a leisurely Italian affair, with complementary limoncello, and then we got up early with the goalContinue reading “No clouds, one star”

Thursday, July 14, 2022 Rest day in Courmayeur We didn’t have high expectations for a good night’s sleep after we got here last night.  The room was quite warm, with no A/C, and only a sheet on the bed.  Also, we judged the bed to be quite firm…but after a hot day’s hike and aContinue reading “Fontina! I know that one.”

Wednesday,  July 13, 2022 Tour du Mont Blanc – Day 4 Cabane du Combal to Hotel Berthod, Courmayeur Starting elevation: 1,950 m Ending elevation: 1,226 m Elevation gain: 505 m Elevation loss: 1,229 m Distance: 7.5 miles Today we woke up at about 6, and since we had so much space, our own bathroom,  andContinue reading “Ella es sucia, the Italian version”