The Tour du : Trekking Through the in Comfort

September 4, 2022 – September 17, 2022 (trip# 2229)

Hiking the

1 Overview

The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) trek is considered one of the finest hiking experiences in Europe, and possibly the world. Join us for a 2 week trip as we hike over 100 miles through three diverse cultures and cuisines and trek through France, Italy and Switzerland on a journey around the highest peak in Europe. We will breathe clean alpine air, hear cowbells in the valleys, see jagged snow covered peaks, meadows bursting with wildflowers, deep turquoise lakes, and spectacular panoramas. Most nights we will stay in cozy hotels in beautiful alpine villages, trekking in comfort with only a daypack, as our luggage is transported and awaits us when we arrive. We will occasionally take cable cars or other transportation to facilitate a smoother trip, minimize road walking, and provide better lodging. We will be accompanied throughout by a knowledgeable and experienced bilingual mountain guide. A September trip should provide us with cooler hiking conditions, and the crowds will have disappeared.

Location of the Tour du Mont Blanc

2 Trip Difficulty

This trip is a strenuous (6) mountain trekking experience. It will consist of ten vigorous to strenuous hiking days interspersed with two rest days. Participants should be capable of hiking 5-8 hours a day (excluding breaks) and 9-16 miles on trails with steep ascents and descents. The trails are often rocky and daily elevation gains and losses can range from 2,000 - 5,000 feet. Most of our hiking is between 5,000 and 8,500 feet above sea level. While no technical climbing is required, there will be some narrow trails bordered by steep drop offs, and a few metal ladders. It is strongly recommended that each participant begin a conditioning regimen at least 3-4 months prior to departure that includes hiking to prepare for the rigor of the trek.

Itinerary Summary

Magnificent mountain scenery

3 Trip Details

Our trip starts in the small town of , France, easily reached in 90 minutes by shuttle bus from the Geneva, Switzerland airport. After an orientation and welcome dinner, we stay the night, before embarking on a 12-day counterclockwise journey around the .

We will hike from hotel to hotel (or hotel to hut one night). Typically, we sleep in small villages in the valleys. We hike up and down to high passes or high points most days as we pass from valley to valley. Most of our hiking is on trails, but at times there may be road walking, ski lifts, cable cars, and buses. Note to the purist that the use of transportation means we will not hike every step of the TMB. Over the 12 days, we will hike 100+ miles and have almost 32,000’ feet of cumulative elevation gain and loss! While some days are less strenuous, we have one day that covers 16 miles, with a gain of almost 4000’ and loss of over 5000’. For all but two nights, our luggage is transported and will be waiting at the hotel when we arrive. For those two nights, we must carry what we need for that evening and the next day, where our luggage will catch up with us again.

We start out with three relatively difficult days as we hike from Les Houches to , Italy then take a well-deserved rest day. We can visit this small, cobblestone-laden town with its alpine botanical garden and museum about local history, or perhaps take the Mont Blanc cable car for more spectacular views of peaks and . When we leave town we take a short bus ride then hike to Refugio Bonatti, a hut situated at an altitude of nearly 7300 feet with a spectacular view of Mont Blanc. In exchange for a hotel that night, this will provide us the intimacy of the mountains, the opportunity to be among them for sunset and sunrise, and the chance to mingle with hikers from all over the world. The next day we descend, then hike to the Grand , the highest point of the official TMB, and then hike into Switzerland. This is followed by a gentler day passing through delightful Swiss villages before three difficult days to reach the beautiful resort town of , where we get another rest day. Here we have the option of taking a train and a short walk to see the , one of the largest glaciers in Europe, and the opportunity to walk through a glacial ice cave. One final day with our greatest descent of 5800 feet brings us back to our starting point in Les Houches and the end of the trek where we will celebrate with a farewell dinner. The trip ends after breakfast the following morning.

4 Mountain wild flowers

References

Kev Reynold’s book “Trekking the Tour of Mont Blanc”, published by Cicerone Press, is a great reference for this trek. The book describes each daily stage of the trek in detail. While our itinerary may vary slightly from his stages at times, in general we are following his counter-clockwise description of the trek. This book is a great pre-trek read. It is available as an e-book, which provides a way to bring it on the trek without weighing down your pack with a paper book.

The website http://www.autourdumontblanc.com/en/ has some interesting information and resources about the TMB, including information on some of the accommodations.

5 Trekking route with lodging locations

6 Itinerary

The itinerary below describes our daily plans. The description is what the leader and guide have planned at the time of writing. Various factors may require changes for reasons of safety, transportation or lodging availability, and unforeseeable circumstances (such as weather considerations, natural disasters in areas to be visited, or recommendations of governmental agencies). The leader reserves the right to make such changes as necessary, both before and during the trip. The leader and guide will always try to make decisions that prioritize the safety of the group.

The following abbreviations are used to indicate meals provided by the trip: B = breakfast, L= Lunch, D = dinner.

Day 0 (Saturday September 3, 2022):

Fly from the US to Geneva, Switzerland.

Day 1 (Sunday September 4, 2022):

After your arrival in Geneva, you will take a shuttle bus (not included) from the airport to Les Houches, France and meet up with the group and the guide at the Hotel du Bois. We will have a group welcome and orientation meeting and dinner. Specific information will be provided later on how to get to the hotel, and the required arrival time. There is a supermarket down the street from the hotel, where you should buy any items needed for tomorrow’s trail lunch. There is a smaller market/bakery in tomorrow night’s village, so you may want to buy two days of lunch fixings if you have dietary restrictions. (D)

Day 2 (Monday September 5, 2022) Les Houches – Les Contamines:

A walk up the street from the hotel takes us to the chairlift up to Bellevue (5900 feet). We hike through the Col du Voza, passing through small hamlets such as Bionassay and Chapel, with ups and downs, trail hiking and road walking, near mountains and in river valleys, before arriving in Les Contamines village where the spire of the old church sits in front of a rocky mountain backdrop. If you need lunch provisions for tomorrow (and possibly the day after), stop at the market or bakery today (the bakery may not have sandwiches ready by departure time tomorrow morning, so it is best to shop this afternoon).

9 miles, 5 hours. Total ascent 2200 ft. Descent 4300ft.

7 Stay in Les Contamines in a hotel. (B, D)

Day 3 (Tuesday September 6, 2022) Les Contamines - Chapieaux:

An early start is required today as we have a long, well graded climb through alpine meadows. The first half involves gentle walking along the mostly flat valley floor, at first following a river. Then the path climbs into the upper valley on an old Roman road, at one point crossing a Roman bridge by a waterfall. We will climb steeply to reach treeline where there will be wildflowers among erratic boulders. Brooding Peaks are all around before we begin a long descent to a valley through beautiful meadows full of wildflowers. The path zigzags through fields to the tiny hamlet of Chapieaux, a pretty spot tucked deep in the valley.

13 miles, 7 hours. Total ascent 4600 ft. Descent 3400 ft.

Stay in Chapieaux at Auberge de la Nova, possibly in a shared dormitory, but if space is available we will stay in private rooms with shared bathroom facilities. (B, D)

Alpine Meadows

8 Day 4 (Wednesday September 7, 2022) Chapieaux - Courmayeur: After taking a short bus ride, we will climb steadily to the Col de la Seigne, and cross into Italy. The views from here are spectacular. From here, we walk down to La Visaille where we will catch a bus to Courmayeur. Courmayeur has all the amenities for stocking up on lunch supplies. There are also great Italian restaurants. Dinner is on your own.

11 miles, 5 1⁄2 hours. Total ascent 2700 ft. Descent 3100 ft.

Stay in Courmayeur in a hotel. (B)

Day 5 (Thursday September 8, 2022): Today is a well-deserved day off in Courmayeur, which everyone is at leisure to enjoy independently.

Options include visiting this small, cobblestone-laden town with its alpine botanical garden and museum about local mountaineering history, or perhaps taking the Mont Blanc cable car for more spectacular views of peaks and glaciers. There are many restaurant options to choose from as well as opportunities to stock up on supplies. Dinner is on your own.

Stay in Courmayeur in a hotel. (B)

Day 6 (Friday September 9, 2022) Courmayeur – Refugio Bonatti:

After a short bus ride, we have a gentle climb to the Refuge Bertone with great views over to the Mont Blanc massif. We then turn northeast up the Mont de la Saxe with time to include a TMB variant to the summit of the Testa della Tronche from where there is a stupendous panoramic view before continuing on to the refuge situated at an altitude of nearly 7300 ft.

10 miles, 5 1⁄2 hours. Total ascent 3600 ft. Descent 2800 ft.

Stay at the Refugio Bonatti. (B, D)

9 Refugio Bonatti

Day 7 (Saturday September 10, 2022) Refugio Bonatti – :

After descending from the refuge to the road at Arnuva we hike up to the Grand Col Ferret, the highest point of the official TMB and then walk into Switzerland. The views will be particularly breathtaking. We will walk through storybook Switzerland past animals with bells, meadows full of wildflowers, and timber huts before descending gradually to the sleepy (in summer) ski resort of La Fouly where we will stay in a hotel constructed in an authentic Swiss log cabin style. La Fouly is a small village, but it does have a supermarket.

12 miles, 6 hours. Total ascent 3100 ft. Descent 4600 ft.

Stay in La Fouly in a hotel. (B, D)

10 Hiking to Grand Col Ferret

Day 8 (Sunday September 11, 2022) La Fouly - :

Today is a gentle day passing through some delightful Swiss villages to get to the popular lakeside resort of Champex. The only ascent is at the end of the day.

10 miles, 5 hours. Total ascent 1500 ft. Descent 1900 ft.

Stay in Champex in a hotel. (B, D)

11 Local fauna

Day 9 (Monday September 12, 2022) Champex - Triente:

Today provides two great choices for our route. The official TMB route via the Col de Bobine provides a relatively easy day. It passes through forests with some open stretches providing sensational views down the valleys.

If the weather is not threatening in any way, and the group strong, there is the option of heading towards the de Trient and the famous and magnificent, but more difficult, Fenêtre d’Arpette. At 8750 feet, this would be the highest point of the trek. This route not only involves much more climbing, but it is considerably more difficult as the terrain is challenging in places with the negotiation of big boulders and steep, loose, and rocky terrain on the way down.

14 miles, 6 1/2 hours. Total ascent 2900 ft. Descent 3500 ft. or,

10 miles, 7 hours. Total ascent 3900 ft. Descent 4500 ft

Stay in Triente in a small hotel with private rooms and shared facilities. (B, D)

12 Heading towards Fenêtre d’Arpette

Day 10 (Tuesday September 13, 2022) Trient - Argentière:

Today we climb through the forest and then get stunning views above Col de Balme followed by a delightful descent. An option that adds an extra hour allows the hike to be more varied and take in the spectacular Aiguillettes de Posettes ridge with its rocky outcrops and pink alpenrose. There are views in every direction from what is perhaps the most spectacular view in the Chamonix Valley. The descent is steep, rocky and exposed at times.

11 miles, 5 1/2 hours. Total ascent 3600 ft.Descent 3700 ft, or,

11 miles, 6 ½ hours, Total ascent 4200 ft. Descent 4300 ft.

Stay in Argentière in a hotel. (B, D)

13 Day 11 (Wednesday September 14, 2022) Argentière - Chamonix:

We take a short bus ride to Tré-le-Champ before ascending to the “Grand Balcon Sud” with unforgettable views across to the Mont Blanc massif. Today features some sections with ladders which includes a nearly 100-foot ascent up a sheer rock face that is very exposed in places. We will use the Flégère cable car for our descent into the valley.

9 miles, 5 hours. Total ascent 3200 ft. Descent 1700 ft.

Stay in Chamonix in a hotel. (B, D)

Day 12 (Thursday September 15, 2022):

Today we have another well-deserved rest day in the beautiful resort town of Chamonix where we have many interesting options for independent exploration, or to just take it easy in town and have a good rest.

One very scenic possibility is taking the Aigueille du Midi cable car, which takes you to an altitude of almost 12,400 feet and a vast metallic building clinging to a rocky pinnacle. From there a lift takes you even higher to a summit terrace with unsurpassed views. Another option is the rack and pinion mountain railway from Chamonix to the viewpoint at Montenvers to see the best known glacier in the Alps, the Mer de Glace. Although decreasing rapidly, it is still a colossal tongue of ice over 600 feet thick, and two miles wide. Be sure to also see the "Grotte de Glace" (Ice Cave), a 15-minute walk from the Mer de Glace. This incredible 100-meter-long cave is a man-made tunnel re-sculpted every year and gives visitors an inside view of a glacier. For those wishing to stay in town, The Museum of Alpine History illustrates the history of Chamonix from the first tourists who admired the glaciers to the installation of cable cars and the golden era of ski resorts.

Stay in Chamonix in a hotel. (B, D)

14 The Grotte de Glace

Day 13 (Friday September 16, 2022) Chamonix – Les Houches:

We use a cable car to get back up to Flégère then continue on foot up to pass Mount Brevent. There is a small section with ladders. This final day of our trek ends in style with an ascent to Le Brevent, a rocky pedestal high above the valley at the southern end of the Aiguilles Rouges ridge. The descent begins on the west side of the summit where a path snakes down through a beautiful landscape of undulating ridges decorated with shrubs and boulder fields. After a long, drawn out descent we finally reach Les Houches and completion of the TMB. We will celebrate with a farewell dinner.

12 miles, 7 hours. Total ascent 2900 ft. Descent 5800 ft

Stay in Les Houches in a hotel. (B, D)

15 Day 14 (Saturday September 17, 2022):

The trip concludes after breakfast at Les Houches. Participants can then make their way independently to the Geneva airport or other destinations… (B)

Hiking Summary

Distance Time* Gain Loss Day Date Hike (Miles) (hrs) (feet) (feet) 2 Mon., 9/5 Les Houches – Les Contamines 9 5 2200 4300 3 Tue., 9/6 Les Contamines - Chapieux 13 7 4600 3400 4 Wed., 9/7 Chapieux - Courmayeur 11 5.5 2700 3100 5 Thu., 9/8 Rest day ------6 Fri. 9/9 Courmayeur – Refugio Bonatti 10 5.5 3600 2800 7 Sat., 9/10 Refugio Bonatti – La Fouly 12 6 3100 4600 8 Sun., 9/11 La Fouly - Champex 10 5 1500 1900 9 Mon., 9/12 Champex - Trient 10 7 3900 4500 10 Tue., 9/13 Trient - Argentière 11 6.5 4200 4300 11 Wed., 9/14 Argentière - Chamonix 9 5 3200 1700 12 Thu., 9/15 Rest day ------13 Fri., 9/16 Chamonix – Les Houches 12 7 2900 5800

* The times are walking times only. They do not include photo stops or lunch.

PARTICIPANT PROFILE AND EXPECTATIONS You should have a keen interest in cultural explorations and enjoy strenuous hiking with considerable elevation gain and loss every day. On an average day, we will walk for 6-8 hours and cover 10-12 miles. Daily elevation gain ranges from 3000’-4000’. You need to be prepared to commit yourself to keeping in shape between the time you sign up for the trip to the time you depart on it. The trip is geared towards the outdoors adventurer who is very fit and can hike all day at a moderate pace. Due to the unavoidable metal ladders encountered on one day, this trip is not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights.

16 You should recognize that you may find yourself in closer quarters or be less comfortable than you are used to at home. You should make it a priority to help others on the trip and contribute to their having a great time. If you do that, you will have a great time.

When you participate in this activity, you should be in proper condition for the challenges outlined in this prospectus and equipped with appropriate gear. You should always be aware of the risks involved and conduct yourself accordingly. You are ultimately responsible for your own safety. Prior to your acceptance as a participant in this trip, you will be asked to discuss your capabilities and experience. References may be requested to confirm your fitness level and suitability for participating in Relaxing together after a great day on the trail trip activities. Please do not be offended by the questions.

While the itinerary in this prospectus is what the leader and guide have planned at the time of writing, various factors may require changes for reasons of safety, transportation or lodging availability, and unforeseeable circumstances (such as weather considerations, natural disasters in areas to be visited, or recommendations of governmental agencies). The leader reserves the right to make such changes as necessary, both before and during the trip.

It may happen on any trip that a trip member is or becomes unable to participate in one or more of the planned activities. Leaders in their sole judgment have the right and obligation to refuse participation in any activity to any group member for reasons of safety, whether it be of the group or of the individual. Illness, injury or lack of proper gear or fitness for a particular activity are examples of some conditions that might result in a participant’s being unable to perform one or more activity. The leader may try to find a substitute activity for the trip member, but this may not always be possible.

17 ACCOMMODATIONS We will spend nine nights in 3 star hotels, one night in a 2 star hotel, and 2 nights in more basic lodging with shared facilities. The hotels will provide twin-bedded (i.e. two separate mattresses) rooms. In Europe, twin beds are sometimes immediately side-by-side in a single bed-frame, while in the US twin beds are in separate bed-frames and are separated by a few inches.

Hotel du Bois in Les Houches

AIRLINES AND TRAVEL Plan to arrive in Geneva on the afternoon of September 4 (depart from the US on September 3). Additional details about arrival times and meeting in Les Houches will be supplied later. The trip leader will assist you with information on flights from Boston,

18 NYC, and other points. The trip ends in Les Houches after breakfast on September 17. Of course, you may arrive early or extend your trip. Do not make any non-refundable travel plans until told to do so by the leader.

WEATHER September on the TMB often has some beautiful weather. Days tend to be sunny and comfortably cool, and nights cold and clear. Daytime temperatures are in the high 50’s – high 70’s at the lower elevations and about 10 colder at the higher elevations. One – two rainy days per week is normal. The cooler weather makes it less likely that we will encounter afternoon thunderstorms. It is possible, but unlikely, that we will have snow at the highest passes on the TMB during a cold front.

SAFETY AND RISKS Participant safety is a high priority for all AMC-sponsored events. Participants should be aware that there are risks associated with outdoor adventure activities, including but not limited to adverse weather and environmental conditions, remote locations of our trips, and transportation in vehicles or on foot. Aside from any personal medical problems, participants should be aware of the possibility of sunburn. You should regularly use sunscreen, take care to be adequately hydrated and bring 2 quarts of water every day. Please carefully read and sign the AMC liability waiver document.

AMC MISSION

AMC Adventure Travel trips are run in a manner supportive of and consistent with the conservation, recreational and educational principles and mission of the club. The leader will encourage participant conduct consistent with Leave No Trace environmental and conservation principles and local regulations.

PHOTOGRAPHY

For those interested, this excursion can involve more than a splendid hiking trip. Dan is a semi-professional photographer whose photographs have been exhibited and published many times. There is absolutely no requirement that you be interested in photography, or even bring a camera, and this is not a class or workshop. First, and foremost, it is a hiking trip in a beautiful region. However, if you are a seasoned photographer or a budding novice, or just curious, Dan will share his perspective on any of your photographic interests. When convenient Dan will try to be out in the early

19 morning and early evening light to take advantage of the best times for photography. Participants are always welcome to join him.

TRIP COST The trip price is $4000 for AMC members and $4100 for non-members. Non-members can join for $100, and get the same price (see Join AMC for membership information). This will cover the following items: ● Lodging, breakfasts, most dinners (all but 2) ● All transportation after arrival at our hotel in Les Houches to breakfast on the final morning. ● Experienced bilingual guide ● Baggage transportation all but 2 nights ● Emergency medical and evacuation insurance coverage Flights to Europe, airport transfers on arrival and departure, tips, other meals, snacks, beverages (e.g. coffee/tea, mineral water, alcohol, etc.) and other personal expenses are NOT included. The cost of any optional activities on the two rest days are also not included. The leader will provide a detailed packing list when the trip gets closer. The trip leader will advise you as much as you need and will facilitate group travel. There are several flight options to Geneva via other European cities. At this time, we estimate that the price for a round trip between the east coast and Geneva, Switzerland will be ~ $1200. The final trip cost may be adjusted in accordance with the best final arrangements we can make and currency fluctuations. Any savings we achieve, as well as any cost increases, will be passed back to you. Our cost estimates are conservative, and so a refund is considerably more likely than a price increase. AMC Adventure Travel trips are run on a non-profit basis. Leaders are volunteers who are not compensated except for their travel costs associated with the trip. The advertised trip cost includes an overhead fee which goes toward the administrative expenses of the AMC Adventure Travel program.

The trip fee includes emergency medical and evacuation insurance coverage, which is required by the AMC. It does not include insurance for travel delay, interruption, or cancellation, or for baggage loss. If the possibility of such problems concerns you, individual travel insurance is suggested. The AMC has a recommended vendor whose material will be sent to you if your application is accepted.

20 Any unspent funds will be refunded to the participants. If the trip’s financial position is strong enough at the start, the leader may make partial refunds during the trip, in the form of payments toward some meals and/or free time activities which would otherwise not be included.

REGISTRATION and CANCELLATION To apply, you must complete and submit the application, confidential medical form, supplemental medical form (if appropriate) and acknowledgement and assumption of risk and release form. You can download them from this website: Tour du Mont Blanc 2022 Participant Documents. Mail the registration deposit of $1,200 and all required forms to Dan Stone at the address shown on the application form. You will not be accepted, and your check will not be deposited until the leader has determined by telephone conversation with you that the trip is a good match for your interests and abilities. The final balance is due by February 15, 2022. Deposit checks from waitlisted applicants will not be cashed until they confirm continued interest in joining the trip. All payments by check should be payable to the Appalachian Mountain Club. The AMC Adventure Travel cancellation policy is based on the fact that your cancellation may not raise the cost to the other participants or to the leaders. Once you are notified the trip is declared to run as scheduled, the minimum cancellation fee is $200. If actual costs (expenses already incurred on your behalf and any unavoidable future expenses that will be incurred as a result of your registration and cancellation) are higher, they will be assessed instead, unless they can be applied toward another acceptable participant. Should the leaders be able to replace you, you may be charged a reduced penalty. This will generally not be determined until after the trip. Failure to make trip payment(s) in a timely manner will be considered a cancellation.

On rare occasions AMC Adventure Travel may need to cancel all or a portion of a trip due to force majeure [e.g. terrorism, local health conditions, natural disaster, changes in local regulatory environment, etc.]. In the event of such a cancellation, your trip fee will be refunded less any trip expenses already incurred plus any non-cancellable future trip expenditures. AMC Adventure Travel is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by you in preparing for the trip (including non-refundable air tickets, visa fees, gear or medical expenses, etc.

This trip is likely to fill quickly. If you are interested, you should apply as soon as possible. When registration is complete, we will send all participants the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all those going on the trip.

21 In the unlikely event that the trip is cancelled because not enough acceptable participants apply, everything you have paid will be refunded in full.

QUESTIONS and REQUESTING APPLICATION MATERIALS If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dan. He can be reached at 617-750-0511 before 9PM Eastern Time or at [email protected].

PHOTO CREDIT

All photos in the itinerary section of this prospectus except the Rifugio Bonatti picture were taken by Tom Stephens, who took a similar trip in 2017. If you would like to see all of Tom’s photos, you can click on the following link:

Tom Stephens TMB 2017 Photos

22 TRIP LEADER

Dan Stone is a three-season leader with the AMC Boston Hiking Committee. He has led or co-led AMC adventure travel trips to Yosemite, Albania, Colorado and the Alsace in France. He has completed the 48 NH 4,000 footers in winter and hiked the entire Appalachian Trail mostly as a series of day hikes. He has traveled extensively, visiting 49 states and over 60 countries. With a few exceptions, he has designed all his travel adventures himself, as well as coordinating many trips with friends to tackle the AT. Dan is an avid photographer, has had hiking photos published in calendars and books, and has won first place in the AMC photo contest three times. Dan designed and led a series of AMC hiking weekends that incorporate photography. He enjoys sharing his photos and knowledge of photography with others.

Guide – Malcolm Gregory

Originally from England, Malcolm has lived in France for over 25 years. He is a UK Certified Mountain Leader who has been leading groups in various parts of Europe since 1994 and delights in showing people the areas that he loves. Malcolm speaks fluent French, and has an extensive knowledge of the best hikes, regional flora and fauna, as well as local area history and customs. He has been the guide for several AMC trips since 2010. He will be with us from our arrival in Les Houches until our departure from Les Houches.

23