Tour du Mont Blanc – Day 9 – The Finish

Our last day. I was determined to take it slow and not rush. And whole-bodily attempted a lie in.

On the trail for 6.50. The best I could do. We hiked initially through sleepy main roads to regain the trail by the wooded River. The first and only flat section of trail on the TMB.

The first opportunity to hike (steeply) through little cute French villages before anyone was awake. Little cute €5-10,000,000 houses.

Hey-ho, we settled for a cup of granola on the side of the hill before our ravenous bellies got the better of us. This for me, this is day one of hiker hunger kicking in. Surprising that it took 8 days. My usual permanent state is that of hunger, but on this trail I’ve been relatively controlled, untill now.

We climbed some of the steepest terrain yet, but luckily it was short lived. Half way up we stopped for coffee just as the second to last refuge on our path was opening for the day.

335 more metres ascent in 2 kilometres and all our total ascent for this trail would be over. And what a sweaty-ass, never ending climb it was to finish. We’re both moving at a good pace now though and feeling pretty good, like we could carry on for a good few more months. At the top, a massive ugly hotel. With stonking views of Mr Blanc. It was glorious and sunny once again.

The ascent to col de Voza (this last summit) is the usual first summit for hikers who go the traditional anti-clockwise direction. So when we began our final descent back to Les Zooosh we met a lot of fresh faced hikers blowing out of their bottoms coming up the hill. Clearly regretting all of their life choices, barely able to say hello. Haha.

The rocky track eventually became stone road and then paved road before civilisation emerged and we found ourselves taking a little cut through path directly back to our car. Patiently awaiting our return. Good lad.

After minimal faff, a photo at the end point, we were back at the brew pub where we started.

Snakes had it in her head that we were to get each other ‘self gifts’ as a well done for finishing, I was entirely on board with this, until we discovered that even in the height of the season in one of the worlds most popular hiking towns, shops are closed on Sundays. Buggeration.

We settled for a big platter of food and a beer. One last glance at Mont Blanc and then motored off North to a non-specific, desolate campsite in a very run down town outside of Dijon, breaking up the journey home nicely.

As an aside, we had another overnight stop off on route to Calais, in Äy Champagne for a real treat of a finish, if anyone is thinking of driving themselves down this way, I can highly recommend a particular air bnb.

To summarise, I had low expectations for this trail, I fancied it merely because we were in the area and as such, it was easy for the stonking, beautiful, imposing Alps (in all three countries) to entirely slap those silly low expectations round the face. It was spectacular.

It’s beautiful, its expensive, it’s either up or down so its certainly not easy, but, its extremely accessible for fitness levels of varying degrees due to the frequency of huts. The coffee is 95% diabolical, the food is largely atrocious, I’m very pleased we camped, I’m very glad we went clockwise, my biggest regret is not taking a stove and if we went again (which we won’t) 7 or 8 days would have suited us better.

Its great to be writing again, its great to have you all along, its great to come home to a poodle and some tomatoes. Thanks for bearing with my spelling mistakes. Next up…. Arizona!