The Tour du Mont Blanc: Some Tips I Learned Along the Way

At 66, I felt like the father of the hiking community when I hiked around Mont Blanc earlier this fall. But the Tour du Mont Blanc is doable for any reasonably fit hiker, and there were plenty of people on the trail who were older than me.

For total newbies like Shelly and me, it’s wise to be proactive about health and safety. Here are some tips I’ve learned along the way:

Good shoes, liner socks, slippery powder, and moleskin are essential for soft skin. We became sort of gear geeks — investing in good day bags (Osprey), fleece (socks, underwear, shirts) and hiking boots. I was never so grateful for a wool hat in Europe.

I was skeptical of a lot of “good ideas,” but two things I finally came to appreciate were my daily baggie of trail mix and my metal water bottle. (I complained about its $40 price tag…but quickly recognized that it was a great price).

I have to say, if the weather turns bad and it rains hard, I don’t think most of the trail will be any fun. In fact, it would be dangerous. Hiking poles are essential, and even in the best of weather, I would have been worried about stumbling without my trusty set.

Eat a solid breakfast. One day we had breakfast without protein, the climb was tough.

Apply sunscreen, even if the weather is bad.

Having learned my lesson on other long hikes, I decided to be religious about stretching on the Tour du Mont Blanc from the start. I had a routine of six stretches and spent time throughout the day making sure I wasn’t stiff. Very important!

Don’t be a hero. If the skin is hot, wrap it up. I made it all the way to TMB without a single blister—and then only managed one goal in the last two hours.

Good gear, smart and active ways to stay healthy, stretch and make it easy… it all works out great.

I’ll be sharing more photos, stories and tips from Mont Blanc in the November 29 edition of Monday Night Travel. Want to come along? Register now for this fun — and it’s free! – The event