2024-07-21 TMB-002 Tour du Mont Blanc

<<< Summary >>>

Come join the like-minded adventurers for a fortnight tour with some of the finest scenery in the world. This classic alpine route, the famous ‘TMB’ or ‘Le Tour du Mont Blanc’, circumnavigates Western Europe’s highest mountain over passes and through the valleys of three contrasting countries. This is a circuit with spectacular ranges of granite spires and glacier peaks. We will savor the culture and cuisine of France, Italy, and Switzerland and enjoy the majestic beauty of their legendary alpine scenery.

We will complete our TMB in 14 days and 13 nights. It is designed for members with positive, adaptive, and flexible spirits. Great physical fitness and endurance are also vitally important. Our schedule has a good balance between cost and comfort. It also covers the entire TMB’s 107 miles in 9 trekking days and 3 rest/ exploring days to provide a good balance of challenge and enjoyment.

We’ll have luggage transfer in the morning to our next lodging except one day. This will allow us only carry a daypack on the trail.

TMB-002 is set to start about the same time of TMB-001 essentially due to the fact that we had unbelievable blessing of excellent weather during the entire fortnight. So don’t change what’s working! We’ll once again follow the route of the annual UTMB, Ultra-Trail du TMB. I’m extremely motivated to ride on the spirits of those ultra-racers. In this most prestigious ultra-race in the world, thousands of participants will be pre-qualified by rigorous criteria, and then only be selected by special elite invitations or the final lottery system to enter. They’ll be required to finish the entire TMB in less than 48 hours. I really like their spirits, but much more prefer the choice of a 2 weeks’ time window. Can’t wait to go back and do it again.

Day 1: 2024-07-21 Sunday.

Arrive hotel in Les Houches before 5 pm. We will have a trip meeting at 6:30 pm details TBD.

Day 2: Les Houches to Les Contamines 19 km /11.8 miles, 7 h

Day 3: Les Contamines to Les Chapieux 20 km /12.8 miles, 8-9 h

Day 4: Les Chapieux to La Palud 30 km /18.6 milies, 9 h

Day 5: Rest day to explore La Palud and Courmayeur

Day 6: La Palud to La Fouly 28 km /17.3 miles, 7 h

Day 7: La Fouly to Champex 13.5 km /8.3 miles, 4.5 h

Day 8: Rest day to explore Champex

Day 9: Champex to Trient 15 km/9.3 miles, 5.5 h

Day 10: Trient to Argentiere 20 km /12.8 miles, 6 h

Day 11: Argentiere to Chamonix 12 km /7.5 miles, 5 h

Day 12: Rest day to explore Chamonix

Day 13: Chamonix to Les Houches 14 km /8.6 miles, 6 h

Day 14: The fortnight group TMB trip ends after breakfast

<<< Difficulty Level >>>

Our event will be at the AOC D6 difficulty level. The total distance is 107 miles and the total elevation gain is 32,800 feet. There are at least two D6 days by the definition of D6, but feels like many more. The “average” daily elevation change is about 3,600 feet ups and downs. The ascent and descent on TMB are much more condense and unwavering than any other day hiking trail which makes it feels much more difficult than the “average” number can convey. The continuous nature of daily hiking also adds additional challenge to our fitness and endurance.

There is no vertigo-inducing section on the entire TMB when we stick to the itinerary; and avoid the ‘variations’. Some of the sections can be shortened if desired by the use of cable cars, train, or a local bus service.

<<< How to prepare >>>

The better we prepare, the more we enjoy.

We all have to be physically prepared and trained well before taking on such an epic trip. Best physical conditions enable us to take in everything surrounding us and fully enjoy the amazing natural beauty rather than being out of breath and feeling tired every time going uphill. We must do fitness training a couple of times a week for a minimum 6 to 9 months, and also hiking the steepest mountain hills available to us. My favorite is Kennesaw Mt. which is local, beautiful, and very convenient.

Following guide books are excellent resources for the preparation of TMB tour.

Tour du Mont Blanc: Real IGN Maps 1:25,000 - no need to carry separate maps (The Great Treks of the Alps). If you only buy one book for TMB, then this is the one.

The Tour of Mont Blanc: Complete two-way trekking guide (Cicerone Trekking Guides). The small map booklet is well worth the price.

Tour du Mont Blanc: Includes 50 Large-Scale Walking Maps & Guides to 12 Towns and Villages - Planning, Places to Stay, Places to Eat (Trailblazer)

<<< How to get there >>>

Take a flight to Geneva and arrive in the morning or early afternoon local time. The flight is most likely scheduled the day before our “Day 1” because of the time difference and trans-Atlantic flight. Take a 60 miles (1 hr 40 min) bus ride from Geneva airport to Chamonix Sud Bus Station, France. Bus ticket can be reserved in advance. Walk 7 minutes from Chamonix Sud Bus Station to train station Aiguille du Midi, then take a 15-min train ride (5 stops) to Les Houches. Walk about 10 minutes to our hotel in Les Houches.

Alternative travel plans to Milan or Paris are also possible from there to go to Les Houches. Some more information is listed below.

<<< How to sign up >>>

This web page is designed so that you can only put yourself on the waiting list. Once you’re verified to be suitable for this trip, you will be moved to the participant list.

<<< How to qualify >>>

Group will be selected by:

History of social compatibility in the AOC group setting

History of participation in the AOC events

You can comfortably finish 3x Kennesaw 10 hikes, each in 4 hours, in 3 consecutive days. They must be back-to-back in 3 days; or personally I know your hiking ability and fitness condition is qualified.

Couples Participants

Gender match for hotel roommate assignment

The payment of $25 only covers AOC Service Fee. All costs (transportation, lodging, meals & drinks, and etc.) are paid by members on their own. All costs are non-refundable.

Itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of the trip leader.

Expenses

Expenses of 1 person for twin shared room are listed below.

$25 non-refundable AOC Service Fee

GBP 1,980 pay to the outfitter

This payment to the outfitter includes:

* 13 nights lodging (11 nights in 2, 3 and 4-star hotels, 1 night guesthouse, 1 night auberge) for twin shared hotel room, i.e. 2 twin beds shared by 2 persons.

* Luggage transfer (except day 3) - maximum weight 15 kg (33 lbs)

* 13 breakfasts and 6 dinners

* Information pack

* Emergency hotline

Payment to the outfitter is non-refundable:

* Non-refundable down payment GBP 350 at the time of registratoin.

* The balance payment is due 70 days before the trip starting date, and it is partially refundable.

* If anyone cancels 36 to 70 days before the starting date, the penalty is 50%, and 50% will be refunded.

* If anyone cancels 35 to 0 days before the starting date, the penalty is 100%, and there is no refund.

Following items are not included in the payment to the outfitter:

* All lunches & beverages

* Dinners not included at lodging

* Ground transportations: bus and train tickets etc.

* Airline tickets

* Cable cars or (in Italy) a local bus service to shorten some sections

* Souvenirs

* Travel insurance

* Other personal expenses not mentioned

Alternative travel plan via Milan:

Delta has non-stop flights from Atlanta to Milan, Italy. Lower fare tickets may be offered by other airlines. Trains between Milan and Les Houches are about 6 hours one way depending on the connections. There is no direct route for the rail travel; there are at least 2 changes.

Alternative travel plan via Paris:

This route makes sense if you want to include visiting Paris as part of your trip.

Weather

Summer daytime temperatures on the TMB range from 60 to 75F. Evening temperatures generally drop into the 50s. Weather in the Alps can change quickly, so we must be prepared for variable weather conditions including sunny and rainy days, and even an occasional light snow.

The State Department travel advisory

The State Department has issued a level 2 travel advisory for France; for more information go to Advisory.

The State Department has issued a level 2 travel advisory for Italy; for more information go to Advisory.

A non-refundable AOC Service Fee $25 required by AOC.

If you miss the payment date, you will be removed from the list.

There is no refund for cancellation.