55 Photos
Fastpacking Tour du Mont Blanc in 7 days
7 day hike/trail run with ultra lightweight gear (3 kg backpack without food and water). We stayed in the super cozy refuges, met many happy hikers, each with their own story. We covered 20-30 km per day and climbed +10.000 alt. meters. The scenery was amazing. We started mid June and there were still snow many places in the higher altitudes.
Mixed
Hike
Hiking on June 15, 2023
It had rained the days before, but when we started ...
On day 1, we took the Col du Tricot variant. The downhill run was fast and almost killed my left knee and I got a bit worried. But I had no issues for the rest of the trip.
Hike
Hiking on June 16, 2023
On Day 2 we hiked from Refuge de la Balme in France to Refuge Elisabetta in Italy. A lot of snow on the first mountain.
Ended the day with fast running to the refugio and saw many marmottes that day.
Hike
Hiking on June 17, 2023
Day 3: We took a small detour to see the small lake of Lago di Miage.
Then towards Courmayeur and the final, hard climb to the amazing refuge Bertone with a view to die for.
Run
Running on June 18, 2023
Day 4: This day offered the best trails for running on the whole trip. Amazing!!!
We left Italy and entered Schwitzerland where even the stacks of firewood are neatly organised. Still snowy trails in certain places, where slipping was not an option.
Hike
Hiking on June 19, 2023
Day 5: The least challenging day of trip. A nice hike to Champex, where we took a swim in the clear lake right in the city centre. We stayed a bit further up the mountain in the cozy refuge Relais d’Arpette.
Hike
Hiking on June 20, 2023
Day 6: We killed this one. A fast traverse across two mountains to a very special, small, wooden refuge full of hikers: Refuge La Boerne.
Hike
Hiking on June 21, 2023
Day 7: The final stretch, where we took a detour to Lac Blanc. An epic, remote small mountain lake.
We took a swim in another lake close by and Mr. Mayaki from Tokyo did not disapoint with his 798-ish photos...!
We met a local runner and all 3 of us hammered down to Chamonix. Seppo and I continued to our hotel in Les Houches. Exactly where we started a week earlier.
A lifetime experience.