We Tried the 100 Mile Hike “For Beginners”
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- Can a beginner hiker finish this historic trek through Europe's most impressive scenery? Should they even try? There's only one way to find out.
In mid-July we embarked on an epic hike through three countries and we wanted to find out whether it was fit for beginner hikers. Welcome to the Tour du Mont Blanc. The TMB will test you and wow you, with plenty of cappuccinos in between.
Full Tour du Mont Blanc Alltrails route: alltrails.pxf.io/anGEej
TMB Alternate route from Refuge Croix du Bonhomme to Refuge Mottet: alltrails.pxf....
Music:
Inspiring Cinematic Ambient by Lexin_Music
Middle Ages by Lexin_Music
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Long distance hiking (at least 7 days) always clears my head and sparks creativity. I usually solve all my problems and see a clear path forward. Highly recommend to anyone who feels “stuck” in a situation and is looking for answers 😊
I have done the TMB twice and love it. I really enjoyed your commentary and the personal bits. Very many videos have just the bare facts.
Thank you! Not surprised to hear that, it's worth doing again. Did you try it in both directions?
Great video! I am watching all the TMB videos to get an idea of our (daughter, 24, me, her mom 64) trip this Sept (2024). All the videos I have watched never had any "shots" of the huts and I was so happy to see what they actually are like inside, so thank you for that. I love the part where the man asked if Mary was from Russia and she said, "no, Maine", if so, that is cool as we are as well, if not come visit as it is beautiful there. In any case, thank you for giving me a glimpse of the accommodations, to help us plan better. Keep Calm and Hike On!
So happy to hear we could help! And yes, we are no strangers to the cold since we grew up in the Pine Tree State 💪🙂
So, how cold did it get? Asking for a friend 😂
@@me-lg1yw It probably got around 45F/7C once, not too bad
Thanks for a great video, very informative, funny and landscape showing. Wonderful.
This video was so nice to watch very easy very normal and refreshing to see. Honest is probably the right word to use and helpful. Now to google map these refuges and get a picture in my head of where exactly you guys went 😂 thankyou!
Thank you so much, start planning your trip 😀
My wife and I did this last August and it was a total life changer. Doing the Alta Via 2 this summer and can't wait. Thanks for making such a cool trip down memory lane!
Thanks for watching! If the Alta Via 2 is anywhere as nice as the Alta Via 1, you're in for a treat!
Amazing video.
I did the TMB also in last year July (2-11). really hot weather with thunderstorms at night. I was at every refuge you went, not always for sleeping and sometimes just for a snack or a midday meal, like at Col de balme (an omelette with soup, with indeed strange hosts)
Sad you didn't go to fenetre D'Arpette with the amazing glacier du Trient.
My hardest day was from refuge de Bertone to La Fouly with almost 30km
i stayed at refuge de la flégère with a bed and windowview at Mont Blanc
The TMB is amazing
That is awesome!! Yeah we were hoping to see the Fenetre, maybe next time. Dang, you went all the way from Bertone to La Fouly, that is a big day indeed, well done!
Can you share your itinerary and stays in the description?
Excellent video. I will be in charmonix on June 28th 2024 to start my tmb experience ❤
Very nice video!! I just did the TMB last summer as well and made a full film too to capture these unique moments. I liked the way you talked about how it made you think about daily life, what matters etc... As you said, even though I didn't get back completely changed,I definitively had some thoughts about it too :)
Thank you! Love to hear that you also got some mental benefits out of the hike. Will check your video out 🙂
Fabulous!!! You gave us confidence. We start July 11th.
Have a blast!!
Absolutely brilliant. Thank you so much. ❤
Great Video!!! when was your trek?
Thanks for watching! We went around this time in July last year.
So inspiring! Thank you so much!
Thank you for watching ❤️
Amazing video..rather I must say amazing documentry
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Diky za tip. Super video. Inspirativni:)
Are there places to stop and go to the bathroom?
Yes you can usually use the bathrooms at the huts/cafe's along the way!
Loved the video- please can you tell me what camera and editing software did you use?
Thanks! Nothing too fancy, GoPro hero 8 and final cut pro
Can you camp along the trail? Or do you have to book huts? Is it special camp spots or can you camp anywhere? Looks amazing.
We saw people camping only next to huts and in designated campsites. I believe you pay the hut a small fee and if they have space you can even join for dinner/breakfast. In the Swiss portion there were more developed campgrounds with showers and some RVs. We met people who camped the whole way so it's definitely possible!
Thank you so much for the answer.
The last day is supposed to be a killer on the knees and some choose to take the gondola down instead. I’ve read that some of the best views are along the final day. Is that true?
The best views of Mont Blanc itself for sure. As for general views, every day is pretty stunning. We felt good and really wanted to finish where we started, so we went by foot. I think the key is to hike with poles throughout the TMB, and extend the poles on the downhill portions to take pressure off the knees. If you have major knee pain or just want to limit your risk, there are always options to take gondolas/busses throughout the TMB
What dates did you go (I'm curious about the weather)? Did you use a program to learn French or how did you do that?
We hiked it the second half of July. I took an adult ed course the year before (and continue to do so now)
Really enjoyed watching your hike, appreciate the bits about the refuges too. We’re heading there next year and like you, new to YT and documenting our trips too.
Thank you, happy to hear that! Enjoy your time in the Alps and on RUclips 🙂
You didn't check your ags from the US to France? Did the airline let you take them into the cabin as carry-ons? How large were they?
Our bags were technically larger than the carry on limit but miraculously they didn't make us check them. We definitely risked it at the gate 😂 I have the osprey stratus 36
@@braunventuresThank you for your answer! Next June when I'm doing the TMB I'll be carrying a Stratos 34. I'm flying from Portugal and I'm hoping I won't have any issues since I'm not checking my bag either. Mostly because I don't want to risk getting to Geneva and finding my bag didn't arrive with me...
Really enjoyed your documentary and the introspection about reconnecting with life in the mountains.
I have had TSA take my MSR pocket rocket from my backpack at security when I carried on because the serrated pot points are "too sharp" to go in the cabin. Also United most recently required me to pack the treking poles and sleeping bag inside the backpack when checking the bag.
@@jenniferhauck334 thank you for your comment!
Any info on what it cost.
For 11 days of lodging, it was around $1,500. Most of the days came with dinner and breakfast in that price. There are a lot of different huts/hotels/camping options that can make this figure vary dramatically depending on your comfort level.
Thanks that’s good to know. We are looking at going September next year but those tours are really expensive. Your way looks better and more fun.
I'm voting goat cheese. LOL
we've got one!!
C'é una Pera che pesca, arriva una Mela; pesca? No, Pera.
😂
Great video. Hope to go next summer…But…how can you be from Maine and not like beer? 🍺🦞??
even worse, I have Czech ancestry 😂
Very nice video. However, you do not pronounce the "C" at the end of Mont Blanc...
thank you! when I speak english, my mouth wants to pronounce all the letters 😉
Really well done. Tons of information in a personalized, reflective and inspiring way. Props to you for doing good work - & the TMB
Thank you for your kind words and thanks for watching!
Fabulous film. Superb pronunciation too. Really wants me to return to do the tmb with my daughter.
Thank you! We hope you do 🙂
😂I've done it many times as I used to live in les Houches for several years. Quickest time.....3 days!
Amazing views. Great video. Thanks for sharing. Sub & 👍422
Thank you Khurshid!! Means a lot coming from a fellow creator
My friend and I are doing the TMB this July! Thanks for this video, it was lovely. I've done some long distance trekking in Scotland, but this will be my first foray into the Alps. Can't wait!
Amazing! You will love it.
Well done on the video, the storytelling was great! Can't wait to do it myself this coming September.
One thing to note, when you got into Switzerland you said that you couldn't wait to hike the Bernese Alps. Well, you were in the Swiss Canton of Valais, therefore not in the Bernese Alps - which, while relatively close, are very different from the landscape you find in Valais!
Keep up the great work
Thank you for the note!
Excellent job. Been resting from hikes/treks for a few months but Mt. Blanc is now calling
Thanks David, go get it💪
Well documented and enjoyable to watch! The longest my friends and I have done was 30 or so miles, with plenty of elevation gain, divided into 3 days, but that was with a full pack, food and water on our backs, and extra gear weighing easily into the 40+lb range (we had partners who couldn't carry as much weight so we'd "balance" the packs"). Your thoughts and experiences make this trip just one step closer to reality for us!
So happy to hear that, that's why we made it! You can definitely do this with a light pack then 🤠
Did you train for this and if so, what did you do? I am concerned about all the huge elevation changes and constant days of a lot of miles...
We didn't specifically train for this, but we exercise and go on small hikes often. You can do it!
Just Finished hike there last week
I was just over there in the Alps. I could barely walk 10 to 20 minutes at a slight incline. I don’t know what level of out of shapeness I am but oh my gosh, I really don’t know how anybody does it.
One step at a time 😊 keep on keeping on!
Fun watching this after Mediocre Amateur newest videos on the trail
Thanks for watching! Will check them out
@@braunventures I really liked your video. Good work on the editing and a fun narrative. The channel I mentioned just happened to do this trail recently but he wasn't able to show the full experience as well for reasons that you will see.
Thank you, much appreciated 😊
Just finished the TMB for the second time. Enjoyed the video. Hiking poles were absolutely essential for me though.
Awesome, did you do it in the opposite direction the second time? Hiking poles were essential for us too, thanks for watching 😊
@@braunventures No. We stayed with counterclockwise and also built in a down day in Courmayeur and Champex-Lac .
We are older and like that you visited a lot of towns along the way. most other videos are just at higher elevations. Is there a specific path that you followed to visit the towns? I also have a HUGE fear of heights. Is there an opton to get the feel of the trail, visit more towns and avoi drop offs and extreme heights?
We followed the Tour de Mont Blanc route which goes through many towns along the way. On the last full day we stopped for lunch and ended up taking a slightly lower elevation route to Le Flegere which avoided ladders on that section of trail. (I don't have a name for this section but if you look on a TMB map it runs parallel to the standard route and there are signs along to trail pointing you to Le Flegere). I am also afraid of heights and I understand your hesitance. If you wanted to avoid the high alpine areas you could take a bus and connect to the next town. However, having completed this route, the stretches of trail that I was initially nervous about were definitely the most beautiful sections. Even with my apprehension, they were my favorite days on the trail and I would encourage you to try the standard TMB route. Other than the ladders I mentioned between Bonhomme and Le Flegere, and the descent from Le Flegere to Les Houches most of the trail does not have any technical terrain.
@@braunventures Thank you!
Hi! I just had to say it. « I’m not alone ». Yep! I also name things or read signs out loud when I walk and probably tired. 😉
Highly amusing! I am setting off to do half of the TMB in a week, and I am not ready!
Thanks! Just put one foot in front of the other 😊
What shoes you had?(name)
Danner Mountain Pass, I love it and it is built to last
Geitenkaas
🤯🤯🤯 the real answer has revealed itself!
Ok, ill bring a spare t shirt. Love the dry humour!
Loved this video! You either ate at or stayed at all of the places we have booked for summer 2024! When did you do the tour? Month? Year? We are so looking forward to this!
Thank you, you're going to love it! We went this past July.
Great video, love the low key sarcasm style too :D I was particularly interested in the final stages because they are shared with the Walkers Haute Route which I'll be doing this year, but some confusion from this I hope you can answer. I was under the impression that the (famous) TMB ladders on the Grand Balcony Sud were between Argentiere and Refuge de la Flegere, and not between that refugre and the Planpraz - Chamonix cablecar. Please can you confirm? This affects my plans because we want to take in the Grand Balcony and the ladders as a varient of the WHR. Thanks.
Hi, thank you much appreciated. The ladders you are referring to are the more famous TMB ladders. We bypassed that section inadvertently when leaving Argentiere by taking a path through a more wooded area. The ladders you see in our video are right below Le Brevent, which we climbed on our last day going from La Flegere back to Les Houches. Hope that helps! Enjoy your trip
Watching this now because I am considering joining a guided group this summer. It looks like you had a great time. I have hiked quite a bit (I'm your neighbor in NH), but I am pretty scared of heights and can struggle with open spaces and drop offs, so I was looking to see which parts of the trail might be too frightening, especially since I'm going solo. Any extra feedback on that? Thanks!
Hi Sarah, avoid the ladder sections between La Flegere and Les Houches, those will be difficult if you are scared of heights, but they are doable says Mary who is also scared of heights. Between Champex and La Flegere there is a steep section to the right of the trail (where we saw the fog in the video), but I would say it is managable. We didn't do the fenetre d'arpette because of weather, we have heard that is quite steep. Poles are key to feeling more stable and in control on any downhill section. Overall, I think as far as heights go, its managable considering the elevations and scenery around you. I think if you've done a lot of hiking near you in the White Mountains, you should more than be able to handle the heights. Hope that helps and you enjoy the trail!
Hi,
Thanks for the informative video, really enjoyed it.
I would greatly appreciate your help...
I suppose to land in Geneva on July 2 at 9:40 am
I wanted to know if you think I will be able to get to Les
Contamines Montjoie (14km +/-) on the same day, or is it better for me to wait the day in Les-Houches and start the trek the day after?
Thank you for watching! We would definitely recommend you wait the day in Les-Houches and then start your trek the day after. Trying to do it in the same day would not be a good idea. Have a great hike and we hope you enjoy the trail!
Loved this concise, humorous, well-edited travelogue. I'm planning for 2026. I saved it so I can go back over it again later. Thank you! Your French was impressive.
Thank you! You are in for a treat, it is so fun 😊
This is a great video. Well choreographed with a witty script. Keep making movies like this, improve your marketing ("Newbies take on the Mont Blanc du Tour" (or similar) as a title, with the use of good hashtags, will help it rank higher) and your channel will grow. I'm subscribing!
Thank you so much! Much appreciated
Great video. Liked the commentary especially. My wife and I are doing it this July and she has celiacs. How was the gf food in the huts and hotels and any tips (good gf bakery along the way or bread brand, etc)?
Thank you! The gluten free food was fairly good. As long as you communicate with the huts in advance they should be prepared for you for food. For breakfast there will be a lot of rice cakes instead of bread for the continental breakfast. When you hike down to the towns most small groceries have gluten free bread, so it might be worth carrying a couple extra to avoid the rice cakes. We found that carrefour groceries had good gf options. Italy will be the easiest, that whole country understands gluten free and have great gf options, especially restaurants. In Courmayeur we ate at ristorante la terazza, which was awesome. In Les Houches La Délice is run by a great English guy who has gluten free burger buns which was great too. Enjoy your hike!
This hike is one that I plan to do when I get older, I was there for a month and. half, but, I was actually climbing and trying to get away from the hikers and tourists. Maybe once I get into my 60's I might be able to tolerate them? Maybe not? I know I will avoid August if at all possible. September was like a ghost town compared to August and I really enjoyed it once the tourists were gone.
July wasn't bad on the trail to be honest. There were people in the towns, but the trail was nice. I think it could work great as a retirement hike as well though!
❤ well done , just scrolling through youtube at lunch , what an enjoyable video i found here .. big UTMB race fan here so i actually loved the more relaxed trail journey video so much today . .. should i subscribe for more 😊 ?
Thank you! Glad to hear you enjoyed it. Try our Japan adventure to see if our channel is what you are looking for 😊 ruclips.net/video/3PpHwD7ryM8/видео.html
Great video, thankyou, really useful and interesting! Is there anything you'd do differently if you went again? And where was the amazing cafe on the last day, on your descent into Les Houches?
Glad you enjoyed it!. I would skip Refuge Col de Balme, otherwise it was perfection. The cafe is Restaurant Le Panoramic above Chamonix
I completed the TMB back in August as my first long distance hike. Definitely a learning experience! What an amazing hike!
Congratulations!! You picked a great one 🙂
This video really gave me an idea of what to expect on this hike. My wife and I are planning this hike for summer 2025. I am 60 years old, in good health, and enjoy hiking. So it looks like someone like myself can handle it. Thanks for posting this! You did a terrific job!
Thank you! So glad to hear you are planning to do it, have a great time together
Also planning this trip for mid July with my boyfriend! Maybe our worlds will collide
Terrific video. Thanks for sharing. Im heading to the TMB this July. 😎
Happy you enjoyed it, enjoy the real thing in July! :-)
Amazing and thanks for sharing! what kind of camera did you use to shoot the videos ?
Thank you! Nothing fancy, a GoPro Hero 8
That was great.good job and great representation of OUR culture.
Thanks Mark!
I'd someone has no experience like me ... Can I do it and can make it.. I can't stop thinking about TMB by the way I live in Italy.. your suggestions will be highly appreciated thanks and great hike you guys did...❤
If you are able to walk around your city or town all day, we think you can do the TMB. Just find some hiking shoes and prepare yourself for time in the mountains because it can be unpredictable. You will have a great time and learn a lot! buona fortuna!
@@braunventures grazie mille 👍🏻
"I dont know why i keep doing this" hahahaha😂. Great video!
😂😂 Thank you!!
Awesome🎉
What month/weeks did you do the TMB last year?
we started in the middle of July
I loved your video most Def. Will do it in 2025
Thank you! That's exciting, hope you have a great time 🙂
how to learn english quickly
Duolingo 😎
Excellent video! Loved it! 👍
Thank you so much 😊