r/TourDuMontBlanc

I went up to Arpette today. It has a challenging bouldering section and bad moves on the boulders can lead to injury. This is counter clockwise. I would hate to go down this clockwise.

The descent is a whole other beast. The rock is very rotten, and stable footing feels almost impossible. I saw a lot of people fall and hurt themselves. One fell so bad she got stuck between two rocks and I had to pick her up.

Another group was asking for water before the summit. There were no working water stations. I probably should have told them to turn around.

If you are a novice hiker, please reconsider this route. I saw a lot of overconfidence today.

I would like to know how is heatwave affecting TMB route ? I assume its not bad as TMB trek is in alpine region at high altitude.

I am planning for next June but I cannot tolerate heat wave like I experienced in August few years ago at Nice. Last year in June just for night layover in Zurich I had hotel with fan which was bearable. But it seems this year heatwave has been brutal. I do well with temp 24 to 26 degree celcius but beyond that I find it hard.

I keep reading about people getting sick! Trying to figure out whether it is from the heat and sun, norovirus, or food poisoning🤷‍♀️. And making last minute plans to stock up on sanitizer, electrolytes, water purifying tablets, a sun umbrella,and imodium 😳. Any insight?

Hey, I'm planning on doing an 8 day trip with only camping/tent in first week of August.

Do you think it is necessary to book camping spots or just go with the flow of finding camping?

Does it get better at night? Any tips?

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.

We're doing the hike in about 2 weeks and will be staying mostly in refuges. We are concerned about bedbugs and the like, but also don't want to be weighed down on the trail.

Hi everyone, I’m starting the trek early August with Cloud9 Adventure but haven't received any updates since my final payment. Their last email said a hiker app would be ready 1-2 months before the trip. We are now less than a month out, and I have sent two follow-up emails over the last 10 days with zero response. I know they are a legitimate company, but the silence is making me a bit nervous.

Is anyone else booked with them this summer experiencing communication delays, or has anyone already received the app? Thanks!

Looking for best luggage storage in Les Houches for while we hike. Staying at Hotel Le Saint Antione.

Thanks in advance!

Hello! I’m starting my 10 day trek mid July and will be hiking hut to hut. This might be a dumb question but will I need to bring a sleeping bag or do huts provide blankets? I am bringing a sleeping bag liner but just noticed that one of the huts says to bring a sleeping bag. I wasn’t sure if maybe it was a translation issue and was meant to say sleep bag liner. Thanks!

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)

Hi, we have booked the tmb for mid September and are coming up with our route options.

I like the look of col des fours as a variant to do but can anyone give me some advice on whether that one is worth it and which others to look at.

Really looking forward to it!

Thanks

Has anyone else had trouble confirming their reservation with rifugio elena? I’d received an email, but the link to confirm the reservation was broken. Since then Ive emailed them multiple times and called twice with not much luck (when I called both times they said they were unable to confirm at that time and to call back later).

Has anyone faced this issue or had success in resolving it? Im starting to get nervous since the email said my reservation would be cancelled if I didnt confirm in time

Hi there,
I’m hoping to trek the tmb from around the 13-20th of August and camp along the way, I’m wondering as someone who sleep hot will I be ok in a comfort five degrees sleeping bag (can bring liner) and instead of bringing a full puffer jacket would a down gilet from rab generally suffice at this time of year.
If anyone has any experience hiking the trail with Salomon xt6 or alrta Olympus 275 please let me know your experience with them or would I be better off wearing hiking boots.
Thanks in advance and happy trekking.