I Hiked the Alps!

The Mount Blanc Trail or MBT to be precise. I’m still processing the experience and sometimes still can’t believe I did it! I have had the goal for a number of years and this was the year to check it off. I knew that it would be challenging and it was all that and more. Definitely an experience I will never forget and I’m so grateful to have had the chance. I did it with an adventure travel company called Mt Sobek and they have been around doing this kind of thing for decades. They surpassed my expectations - everything was super well organized, great guides, good hotels, wonderful food so all I had to provide was 100% effort every day.

I originally was going to try and post a bit each day with information and pics from that day. No way that could have happened unless I wanted to get even less sleep and we all know sleep is essential. I was up at 6:15 every morning to get ready for the hike, pack my suitcase and head to breakfast by 7AM. We were in a different hotel every night since we were hiking in France, Italy and Switzerland. Eat a good breakfast and pack your snacks for the day and be ready to leave by 7:45. Hike all day and get back around 5 or 5:30 for a quick shower and meeting at 6:45 to get the details for the hike the next day, dinner at 7 and bed. Get up and repeat.

In the 6 days we hiked we did over 65 miles and had ascents anywhere from 2300 to 4000 and equally steep descents. It seemed the hikes got more challenging each day which makes sense since we were gaining confidence. The trails were rocky, often covered with tree roots, and sometimes basically no trail at all. Just a huge rock face where you tried your best to find a toe hold and place to grab to pull yourself up. And sometimes pretty steep drop offs😱 (Just lean into the mountain they say. Uh ok?) My preparation served me well. I spent months doing all I could to prepare with 10 mile hikes, strength classes, the stair master, elliptical on hills, treadmill with an incline, and a hiking trip in July to Minnesota. We ended every day with lots of high fives and a real sense of accomplishment and also gratitude that we were alive😂 The views were spectacular every single minute.

We started and ended our hike in Chamonix France. Such a beautiful town! Night 2 in Les Contamines France, then Bourg-Saint-Maurice France, Courmayeur Italy, Champex Switzerland, Argentière France and back to Chamonix.

Here is our great hiking group of 15 plus our two guides Julian and Eric. Actually Eric is taking the picture so just Julian. At the official start of the MBT.

We hiked up to have a delicious lunch at a lake formed from a glacier.

Speaking of lunch it was so memorable and delicious every day. The guides would go early in the morning to the best boulangerie in town and get fresh bread, then delicious cheeses, meats, fruits, veggies and always some kind of dessert. Cookies or chocolate bars. Each hiker would put a part of the lunch in their day pack and then at lunch we would have a picnic and enjoy the well earned and needed food.

We hiked into Italy - no border control or passport necessary. It was super windy so the brim of my hat is totally flipped up😂

Notice the chain we are all using to pull ourselves up this part of the trail. This was on day one so I was a little freaked out about what I had gotten myself into. After that I just took everything in stride.

I found my new tiny home! So adorable up in the Alps. Julian said she’s actually a really mean lady and hates when hikers take pictures outside her house. Oops!

This was a tough ascent so we needed a victory pic.

We also hiked into Switzerland and it was very cold up there. We carried extra layers in our day packs and multiple times a day we would put things on and take them off. Add two, take off one, add three, take off two etc.

I think this was our highest ascent on the last day. Straight up for the first 4 hours. Julian said not switchbacks - Swiss backs which go straight up.

We hiked past flocks of sheep that totally ignored us. Much more interested in eating and close enough to touch.

Also cows. Wearing bells on collars that were huge! I loved hearing the sound of the bells as they moved to where the portable milking machines were waiting for them. The cows spend the summer up in the mountains and they bring the milking machines to them. They were starting to bring the cows back into the villages for the winter which is really like a cow parade through town. Notice the brown rings around the eyes of these cows. Their milk makes a delicious cheese called Beaufort. We had it at lunch one day and it was great.

One of my favorite pics❤️

Our amazing driver Ronny who met us every day with our bus and a cooler with cold local beer, wine or fruit juices. My favorite was the mango juice. So refreshing!

Our dinners were delicious. Sometimes we ate at the hotel or other nights we walked to a local restaurant in town. It was always a choice of appetizer, entree and dessert. One of my favorite meals was in Italy. I can’t remember what the appetizer was but this mushroom pasta was fantastic and an apple pie with gelato.

Another meal with a pizza appetizer and salad and fish with potatoes. Almost every night there was a fish option which was great with me.

Another fish and potatoes, pumpkin bisque soup and panna cotta for dessert.

Breakfasts were always lots of choices. Eggs, meats, cheeses, yogurt, fruit, pastries, my beloved croissants and great coffee options too. We were encouraged to eat hearty and I did my best. If you were lucky they would make you a fancy cappuccino!

I could keep posting pictures but hopefully this gives you a sample of how spectacular it was. We lucked out on weather as it never rained. Or snowed! Yes that is a possibility and actually snowed the week before our hike. We could see the fresh white stuff up high on the mountains.

This was the most physically challenging thing I have done in my life, and I really am proud of myself for accomplishing it. We can do hard things! Next up will be the exact opposite. One of the most relaxing things I have done in my life - a few days in Bellagio Italy. Check back soon🤗