Make it count: Day #7

Day #7 - TMB Trek

Wednesday, August 9th

Hiking Day #2 - Les Contamines to Les Chapieux via Col de La Croix de Bonhomme. 11.6 miles, 4,576’ ascent, 3,257’ descent.

It’s 5:30pm - coming to you live from the Refugio La Nova in Les Chapieux, France. We finished our hike today around 2:30pm. We’ve spent the past 3 hours drinking some beers with new friends: Alex & Clare (married couple from Virginia. They are doing half the TMB. They spent time in Chamonix before the TMB trek. Tomorrow is their last day). Jack (ortho PA from Cleveland, Ohio - him and his girlfriend were set for this trip - until they broke up a few weeks ago. He’s going solo. He’s also with Macs Adventures- 10 day trip like us - and started the same day as us). Trisha (works for Nestle, currently lives in Switzerland - from Chicago, Illinois) - then Greg, Korby, and myself.

There’s another couple we’ve met and seen/talked with several times on trail - I’ve forgotten their names (I’ll get it again - their room is right next to ours). They are recently retired. Unfortunately, the wife took a fall on a steep descent into our Refugio tonight. They are currently on their way to the hospital to get x-rays on her wrist - it’s feared she broke her wrist on the fall. I feel incredibly bad for them - she’s in a ton of pain and her wrist is extremely swollen.

So - the TMB Trek - at least during the peak season of July/August is very much a social experiment. So many people on trail today. It’s actually one of my favorite parts of traveling - learning new things from very interesting people. Everybody has slightly different hiking agendas. Some our doing just portions of the TMB, while others are hiking the full loop, while many others are day-hikers.

Today was a long, tough hiking day. Our Macs Adventures app indicated a distance of 11.6 miles - but we were closer to 13 miles at the finish. Today reminded me of a 14er in Colorado. The first few miles were fairly flat. Then we climbed 4,500’ over the next 6 miles, and finished the day with a 3-4 mile, 3,200’ descent. It actually wasn’t too bad. We once again had perfect weather - with astonishing views.

Take-aways from today were the unreal views of the Col Du Bonhomme. This was the peak we gained after our 4,500’ climb. There was a Refugio at the peak - where we had a cup of hot tea and I ate a sandwich I had bought at last night’s hotel.

Health update - currently dealing with a sore throat. I started feeling this last night and woke up this morning having a pretty raw throat. I’ve been drinking a ton of fluids and had a few glasses of orange juice this morning. Also been dealing with a hurting shoulder. The night after our sleepless night on the plane ride over to Paris - I must have messed it up by sleeping in a bad position for about 10 straight hours. It’s actually doing much better - I couldn’t really lift my arm above my head while in Paris. It’s coming around now.

Everyday - I’m so thankful to have the opportunities to travel and have new experiences. This is something I don’t take for granted. Here’s to getting healthy - and squashing this sore throat. Keep the Faith!!! Unfortunately, our Refugio tonight does not have internet - so I’ll have to post tomorrow. (Side note - Refugio’s are very similar to hostels. Most have individual rooms - like we’re staying in - and dorm rooms with more of group dynamic)

Tomorrow we enter Italy! Here’s to staying safe and healthy - and making some great memories!!