Well, we've wanted to do this hike since we finished the C2C in 2008. We're not getting any younger so it's best to take this on sooner than later. The Tour du Mont Blanc is a classic long distance walk in the Alps typically taking 7 to 11 days covering a distance of over 167km
including 8000m of ascent. The route goes around the highest
mountain massif in western Europe over high passes giving amazing views
of the towns, glaciers and mountains as well as passing through alpine
valleys, towns and villages. The TMB is a circular route that goes through three countries - France, Italy and Switzerland. We'll be walking about 100 miles and hope to do it in 9 days or so. We've decided not to pre-book accommodation, except for the first night, so that we can hike according to the weather and to how our bodies feel. We fly to Geneva on the weekend and from there travel to our starting point - Les Houches, France. The standard legs are as follows:
| Start |
Destination |
Kilometer |
Hours |
Ascent Meter |
Descent Meter |
|
| Les Houches |
Refuge du Truc |
12.8 km |
4:59 |
1536 m |
775 m |
| Refuge du Truc |
La Balme |
11.4 km |
3:10 |
544 m |
601 m |
| La Balme |
Les Mottets |
15.9 km |
4:23 |
1166 m and up |
1136 m |
|
| Col de Chercroui |
Courmayeur |
5.78 km |
1:20 |
88 m |
796 m |
| Courmayeur |
Rifugio Bertone |
4.12 km |
1:47 |
727 m |
0 m |
| Rifugio Bertone |
Rifugio Elena |
19.5 km |
5:06 |
1163 m |
1086 m |
| Rifugio Elena |
Champex |
28.2 km |
7:44 |
1045 m |
1656 m |
| Champex |
Le Peuty |
13.6 km |
6:01 |
1213 m |
1274 m |
| Le Peuty |
Tre-le-Champ |
15.7 km |
5:25 |
1219 m |
1108 m |
| Tre-le-Champ |
Refuge Flegere |
7.99 km |
3:18 |
855 m |
413 m |
| Refuge Flegere |
Les Houches |
19.6 km |
6:25 |
889 m |
1773 m |
|
| Total: |
173.5 km |
55 hours |
11.603 Meter |
11.895 Meter |
Here is a small map of the route:
