Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB): Hike of a lifetime (Part 1)

With Covid-19 still lurking around, the only escape available is a trip down memory lane. So here's a throwback to Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) with mum in 2019, one of the loveliest and most precious memory made.

TMB is a pretty famous hiking trail amongst hiking fanatics. About 170km going one full loop around the massif mont blanc, completed within 8-12 days depending on your arrangement and intensity preference. Mum’s gonna tell you that she went on the trip to accompany me but in actual fact, she was the one who found the trip and convinced me to accompany her! Either way, it doesn't matter because we both enjoyed each other's company ♥

Day 0 - Transit day

First leg was from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to London (England). Second leg was from London to Geneva (Switzerland) where the flight was delayed. It wasn't too horrible, 2 hours delay meant me and mum had some time for a cuppa coffee. And honestly, Heathrow airport was decent enough. 

20 hours later, we finally made it to Geneva. We took a car ride to France and arrived at our accommodation for the night, Rocky Pop and this was our view... 

We haven't even started the hike but I was already amazed by the view!

Room was nice and cozy. Just nice for me and mum.

After getting acquainted with a few other peeps from the hiking trip, we took a bus to Chamonix. Did some last minute shopping for the hike. Bought gloves and a base layer just in case it gets chilly. 

Day 1 (8 Aug 2019) - 24,154 steps

Les Houches > Col de Voza > Les Contamines-Montjoie

Butterflies in my stomach! First day of trek and sincerely I wasn't sure if we’re well equipped. Packing was damn "cincai" (whatever)... True enough, in a few days time, me and mum will realise we did not pack any blisters tape nor a proper poncho that works well in the rain. 

We took a bus from our hotel, followed by cable car to get to the starting point. Everyone still look fresh, of course. 

We had to cross a suspension bridge and one of the ladies asked if I could help take a photo of her. 

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLOODY BRIDGE. and below us was a bloody GUSHING RIVER. Knowing me, the possibilities were endless. Thank goodness I did not end up losing someone's phone on the first day. Wouldn't have been a nice way to start Day 1.

We were greeted by the sun on our first day of hike. That’s when I came to appreciate the marvel of pants shorts, or known as Ports by Mr Kim from Kim's Convenience. With just a zip, you're able to transform pants to shorts. 

I would do anything to get a lunch view like this again! 

After lunch the group split into 2. 

Route A was the easier one. Flat ground for 1.5 hours and then a shuttle bus to the hotel. Mum took that. And I took Route B. Of course I had to take the "harder" one. Up another hill and then back down, 2+ hours before reaching the town. 

Just as we were approaching town, my shoe died. I could see the sole coming off, flapping away. Whilst most of it was still intact, it would be too risky knowing I have another 7 more days to go. I had to get new shoes. 

Shop owner was a French who used to live in Singapore for 4 years and he was a fine salesperson. He managed to sell me a pair of shoes and convinced me that my backpack was shit. Well he wasn’t lying, that backpack I carried was pretty horrible for long treks... In fact, the zipper was kind of giving way. And just like that, I spent EURO230, equivalent to approx RM1200. *insert crying emoji* 

But he was nice enough to throw in a free water bag and a free service in attempt to fix my broken walking stick. Only day 1 and almost everything had to be replaced already. 

The fatty in me only documented our dinner spread instead of the cottage. Bunk bed style, about 4-6 adults in a room, as far as I can remember. 

Day 2 (9 Aug 2019) - 27,745 steps 

Les Contamines-Montjoie > Vallée des Glaciers

Woke up at 5am so that we could start our journey at 6.45am. We were informed that today was going to be the toughest. Hence, mum decided to bail on Day 2, along with another Aunty from the hiking crew. 

We don't actually carry our luggages for the hike, only bring along a daypack. Our luggages get picked up from one point to another... it's one of those porter services. So the two of them decided to hitch a ride at EURO40 each. The plan was to get dropped off at the next checkpoint, along with our luggages. 

Retrospectively, they should have done the hike with us. They went out to the town to chill just for a little while and went back to the cottage at 11am, waited all the way till almost 4pm, doing absolutely nothing. The car that was supposed to pick-up the luggages broke down and didn't pass the message along. Otherwise they could have stayed at the town for a little longer, perhaps even grab a nice lunch. 

But then again, I'd admit it was quite a tough hike. It started off on flat grounds and then a steep ascent before we got to the meadow. 

Our local guides pointed out wild raspberries along the hike. Sweet, and free! 

All sorts of trails. From pebbles to freaking ice. 

Got to the first peak at 12pm after almost 6 hours of non stop ascending. Again, lunch with a view to die for. Cous cous, sandwich with cheese and prosciutto. 

Not forgetting to sunbath while we're at it. 

We continued our journey at around 1pm. Another ascent until we reached the second peak at about 2pm. Along the way, needless to say, WHAT A VIEW.  

2 hours of descent before we finally made it back down at around 4pm. As we waited for the rest, we missed the 4.20pm bus. No fret. Had a beer while the group leader went looking for a taxi. 

Day 2's accommodation was in the middle of nowhere. We got to Refuge des Mottets at around 5.30pm. Whereas mum and the luggages didn't arrive till almost 6.30pm!

Dinner was served at around 7.30pm. Vegetable soup with all sorts of beans. Rice with eggplant and sausages. They even did some sort of performance and all the ang-mohs started to do a sing-along. 

Where we stayed used to be a barn. Personally, I was quite impressed how they've transformed it into a pretty decent living space!

Day 3 (10 Aug 2019) - 32,415 steps

Vallee des Glaciers > Val Veny/Courmayeur

DRAMAAAAA! Somewhat, somehow, one of them found out that the group leader actually pre-booked a taxi last year for day 2. I suppose she didn't want to do it this year and tried to "rush" the group so that we could make it for the 4.20pm bus (which we didn't...) in order to pocket a little extra? AND APPARENTLY, even the local guides were not satisfied with her arrangement. They thought day 2 was just little too much. 

Day 3 was supposed to be easier which led me to believe... I think my Apple steps tracker might have gotten confused with the timezone. How the hell did I clocked in more steps on Day 3 than Day 2?!?! 

Anyways, trail wise, indeed Day 3 was a lot easier BUT GOD DAMNIT. It started pouring. This is when me and mum realised, our so-called waterproof jacket was in fact, water resistant. I did not even know there was a difference. Learned it the hard way. 

3 hours later (in the rain...) we crossed over to Italy. TMB is interesting that way. The trek passes through Switzerland, Italy and France. I get to check-off 3 countries in 1 hike! 

It was extremely windy at Col de la Seigne. So windy I had to hold my hair back so that I can take a decent enough photo with mum. 

History of Col de la Seigne goes way back. Even during World War 2, a series of military outposts were built along this path and it was known to be one of the darkest hour in this region. 

For those who enjoy museums or similar kinds, make sure to stop by La Casermetta. They're an environmental education centre with some pretty good information about the surrounding areas. Not me though, I stopped only to use the restroom. Oops.  

The way down was really relaxing. I felt like I was in a postcard when strolling along these valleys. 

Upon descend, we took a shuttle bus and made it to Courmayeur! Knowing our water-resistant jacket will not survive if it rains again, we bought ourself a proper poncho. Along with a TMB T-Shirt, and most importantly, ice cream. 

Dinner was mehhhh. Some dish with spinach, tomato spaghetti, breaded chicken with some lemon sauce, potato and long beans. Look at this. Cmon. 

But at least tonight's accommodation was at a hotel! Finally, a toilet that I didn't had to share with anyone else but mum. 

To be continued...