u/Secure-Anything6877

Hey there!

I’ll be leaving for my TMB hike this week, and planned a non traditional itinerary for the first few days. However, I just realized my calculations in October were off, and am now wondering how much I’m capable of— from my hut on the far side of Les Houches to Auberge du Truc it seems to be a 5k gain, and my second day (plan glacier loop) is another 4k. I’ve done several 3.5k hikes here in Colorado with higher elevation than this, so I I figured 4k was doable if I push myself. But now I realize the first day is 5k that sounds like a LOT. I’m a bit of a hiking purist and want to do all of it, but I’m a bit worried about burning myself out on day one and stumbling through the rest of the week—especially since I’m hoping to take many variants. I saw some people take the cable car to avoid “boring” forest views, but I happen to love being in forests. Unless there’s some other detail I didn’t know that makes it boring?

Anyway, I guess I’m asking how hard that hike to Truc feels, especially if anyone is coming from higher elevation. And if its worth sacrificing the “complete every step” accomplished feeling for the cable car to have legs later on.

Hello! I’m flying out in a few days, and starting the TMB on the 12th. I’m traveling with small luggage, and wondering if microspikes are worth packing for the high variants. Has anyone done them recently? is the snow manageable without microspikes, or should I budget my pack space for them? (for reference I’m from Colorado— I don’t mind some flat packed snow, and will be bringing poles, but will use spikes on icy slopes)