Rebecca M. Douglass, Author

  Check here for the previous posts in this series:  Part 1    Part 2     Part 3    Part 4   Part 5   TMB Day 8: Champex-Lac to Col la Forclaz, via Fenetre d'Arpette This was another day for us to split the party. My companions had done the Fenetre d'Arpette several years before on another trip, and encouraged me to do it but showed no desire to repeat the trip (for reasons that became clear to me). As a result, we split up not long after leaving our hotel in Champex-Lac, though I can't say I was hiking alone. I'm guessing more than half of TMB hikers on that day chose the higher and harder route. Though there were stretches where I enjoyed a little solitude, they never lasted long.   Dawn from the hotel balcony. We headed out at the usual time--about 8 a.m. I walked with my companions to the edge of town, then said goodbye and headed up the mountain alongside a tumbling mountain creek. Can't seem to find a name for the creek, but it was a pretty mountain cascade

Read the complete TMB series :  Part 1    Part 2     Part 3    Part 4   Part 5   Part 6 TMB Day 6: Rifugio Bonatti to La Fouly (Italy to Switzerland) Since the Bonatti Refuge was in the mountains, not in town, I was up and outside at the crack of dawn to see what photos might be taken. It wasn't the best early morning I've done, but the mountains were beautiful in the early light. Bonatti hut with Monte Bianco in the distance catching the morning sun. After being up very early for the photos, it seemed an eternity until breakfast at 7 or 7:30. We finally got fed (as noted last week, breakfast was limited in scope but all-you-can-eat so we were able to get enough food to go on with), and headed out. Today's hike was the  longest of the whole trip, and we had a major pass to climb (and descend even farther), so we didn't dilly-dally. The first part of the walk, however, was a fairly easy traverse with fantastic views. Through the window of one of the many ruined build

Read the complete TMB series :  Part 1    Part 2     Part 3    Part 4   Part 5   Part 6     Courmayeur Rest Day #1 After about 5 days of significant hiking, we were happy on our first day in Courmayeur to just play tourist in a lazy fashion. We did a walking tour of town, including the old town of Dolonne across the river, before returning to our hotel to spend the afternoon resting. The morning started with beautiful sights indoors... ... and out.      Old Dolonne. I am always fascinated by the ancient walls and doors in places like this. By way of contrast with all the old buildings, we found this very modern sculpture tucked into a courtyard not far from our hotel. I could find no markings indicating title or even who made it. For the record, our restful wanderings totaled about 4 miles. Courmayeur Rest Day 2: Mt. Blanc Skyway Our second rest day was more exciting, and involved much less walking. Having figured out how the day before, we took the bus up the valley a bit to take