Tour du Mont Blanc - Kit!

I have to admit that I have spent way too much time these last few month's fretting about what to take (and what not to take) on the Tour du Mont Blanc. With my flight to Geneva now less than 72 hours away I had to get closure on this issue sooner or later.

I have read way too many accounts of what is, and what isn't essential - but all say that, if you are carrying the whole way, which 2 of us are, less is best. The main problem has been that, although it is now in theory mid summer according to the calendar, the alps around Chamonix don't seem to have noticed this. There was significant late snow fall in the alps this spring and even 30-50 cm of fresh snow above 1800m as late as May 23rd. Cool and wet weather since then means that there are significant patches of snow everywhere above 2000m, and the main high passes have deep wet snow all the way up. In theory prudent advice is to carry crampons and even an ice axe, just in case.

This was definitely not part of the plan. In fact as a "hand-baggage only" traveller there is no chance of getting anything bladed or pointed on the plane anyway. I am even going to have to leave behind my "wizard sticks", the articulated z-poles that I have finally grown to love on long hikes. They will be replaced with some cheap ones from a Decathlon store once I arrive in France on Friday.

This morning I laid out all the kit I have "selected" in a spare room and (yippee) it does all actually fit in my pack, which remains below cabin baggage limits.

Here it all is:

The weight of my hiking pack, fully loaded, but with no food or drink, and not counting the trekking poles is almost exactly 6 kilos. On a warm day, wearing no jacket this could creep up to 7kg in total including drink and food. Whereas climbing a high pass in low temperature, I may be wearing a kilo or more of clothing. However you look at it, you have to carry it!

For those who may in future be Google searching people in the same position here is the full list, with some comments:

Wearing to travel:

SHOES - Salomon XA Pro GTX "Fast pack" shoes - these are more solid than classic trail running shoes and have a less high profile sole, but as I have already run and hiked over 200km in them on Dartmoor, I am pretty confident that they are up to the job. They have a Goretex membrane, so should help keep feet dry through mud and slush.

CLOTHING - Karrimor lightweight convertible (zip on / off legs) hiking trousers; short sleeve technical tee; running slip; short running socks; Decathlon (Kalenji) waterproof 'Novadry' breathable jacket (hood detached).

WAIST PACK: Passport, money, phone, credit cards.

Pack:

Ultimate Direction "Fastpack 20" - I've both hiked and run in this fully and partially loaded. It is a hugely impressive and adaptable piece of kit that spreads weight very evenly. It weighs 535g empty.

Hydration:

UD Hydrates 500ml bottle that fits in the pack shoulder straps.
Sawyer Microfilter. Allows the use of stream water for drinking, passing through a filter system that gets rid of virtually all possible contaminants.

Clothes:

2 pairs of running shorts - one lycra cycling style, one ultralight conventional. I bought both in Lidl for £4.99 each and they are perfectly good.
2 base layers - one long sleeve, one short sleeve. Both aimed at runners, from Decathlon Kalenji range. Quick drying / wicking.
2 pairs of pants - both Decathlon, Kalenji, aimed at runners. Quick drying and wicking.
2 ultralight short sleeved t shirts. Decathlon Quechua hiking brand.
2 pairs of socks. Both are X socks, one high compression and one mid merino blend. I see foot hygiene and comfort as a major risk to success and enjoyment. Spending £45 on 2 pairs of socks is not normally my style!
Thermal long johns - will double up for sleepwear. Decathlon Quechua brand.
Thermal merino blend long sleeved top - will double up for sleeping too. Same brand.

Extra Outer layers / walking aids:

Microlight down hooded jacket - Decathlon Quechua brand. At £30 I may have the bargain of the whole lot or have a piece of kit "not fit for purpose". Time will tell.
Waterproof trousers - Helly Hansen "Hellytech". They are old, a bit big, a bit heavy. But they have proved themselves many a time. I agonised over what to take here more than on anything else, but finally decided a new set wasn't warranted and others I own might not cope with a heavy storm.
Hood - The Kalenji waterproof jacket has a zip-on hood. I have used it a few times - it works and doesn't blow off.
Gloves - Decathlon Kalenji warm running glove. Not waterproof - possibly a bit of a risk.
Hats - 1 Decathlon Kalenji lightweight running cap for the heat; 1 Colombia thermal beanie hat for the cold. Both well tried and tested.
Buffs - 2 of these. They will double up as headbands and / or sweatbands or scarves.
High viz jacket. A featherlight microshell by Decathlon. It doesn't stop much, but weighs next to nothing, and could make a group leader visible in fog or gloom. Why not?
Snow / Ice studs - an aid to grip that can be pulled on over shoes. Decathlon. (if they don't make the baggage check, I'll have to buy again.)
Gaiters - Trail running gaiters by Decathlon / Kalenji. Not waterproof but should stop the grit.
Trekking poles - leaving them behind. Will buy a basic pair at Decathlon on friday in France.

Tech / Navigation / Safety:

Whistle & compass. Attached to a lanyard on shoulder straps.
2 x IGN 1:25,000 maps for the route.
Suunto Ambit 3 Peak GPS / Stopwatch / HRM / Barometer / Altimeter.
Ipad Mini - guidebooks, all booking confirmations and some reading are loaded. Backup camera.
Iphone 4S - main camera.
A set of bluetooth cordless headphones.
Charging cables for all above.
Multipoint USB charging plug.
Olympus lightweight binoculars.
Survival bag. Karrimor. Bright Orange Heavy duty plastic. Hopefully never to be used.

In the evening / night & First Aid:

Lifeventures lightweight micro towel.
Ultralight sheet sleeping bag inner.
4 pairs of earplugs. I am a light sleeper and refuge dorms are notorious for grizzly snorers.
Rocktape. Several pre-cut strips in case the ankles or knee goes.
Compeed plasters. For blister repair.
Compeed stick. For blister avoidance!
Bar of soap.
Toothbrush.
Sun tan cream - Garnier small tube. To be supplemented.
(Buying, a mini knife toothpaste and plasters in France)

Dry bags, spare packs:

I am taking a total of 8 dry bags, Karrimor and Decathlon. All the gear is stowed in them as my pack is not watertight (nor would I trust it if it was!), and 2 of these are currently spares.
I have two spare packs, which are a second 2 litre waist pack and a 10 litre backpack. They are packed into a fist shaped mini bag each and weigh about 150 grams between them.

Of course in classic "blog your adventure" style I will review all this on return!


Evolved to run. Born to run. Older, greyer, still running. Follow @Nariokotomeboy

Tour du Mont Blanc - 2 weeks to go

It was an idea that was always there really.

Living in Geneva, Switzerland for 7 years in the late '80s and early '90s satisfied a great deal of my lifetime obsession with the alps that started with a grammar school ski trip to Sedrun in the Grisons region of Switzerland when I was 12. Once I had the cash as a commodity trader in the city, the ski holidays just multiplied and the career opportunity of moving to Switzerland with a young family in 1986 proved a logical next step.

Of course we skied whenever we could. Both my children pretty much loved ski-ing from the first tentative outings. Val d'Isere became the place for "holidays" and Megeve, St. Gervais and Les Contamines became the place for saturdays in winter.

But the alps in summer? I hadn't really thought about it much back then. By the time we "repatriated" in 1993-4, I knew that the "alpine playground" had far more to offer in the summer months than it ever could in winter. And it was cheaper, less constrained, somehow. The attraction of ski-ing is still there of course - not least to escape grey and wet U.K. for a chance for some thrills in a soaring and pristine white environment. But the cost! And the cold.

Summers were pretty warm in Geneva and I soon realised that the mountains provided good opportunities for somewhat cooler exercise. Cycling over a high pass was truly something to be proud of, and going for a swim with mountains all around became something we all enjoyed. Occasionally we would get a hike in, but the age of the kids meant this was not an obvious day out. Just the smell of the alps after a summer shower is something to be experienced.
Trail running, as it is known today, hardly existed in 1993. Hiking seemed to be for the oldies

So I left Switzerland with a slight feeling that I might have missed opportunities somewhere, and 2 weeks from today, and some 23 years later, I am about to set off to take up one of those opportunities. What makes it even better is that my eldest daughter, Lisa, and my best mate, Trev, are going to be part of that experience. Somewhere along the road we became oldies.....

Ten days from now,  Friday June 24th, I fly to Geneva and then travel on to Les Houches in the Chamonix Valley. Lisa, Trev and 5 others will be joining me over the next few days, and we intend on various schedules to walk all, or as much as we can of the famous 100 mile circuit of the Mont Blanc Massif, the Tour du Mont Blanc. The route is the classic anti-clockwise version starting in Les Houches, via Les Contamines, val des Glaciers, Val Veny, Courmayeur, Val Ferret (Italian and Swiss), Champex Lac, col de la Balme and back to Les Houches via the "southern balcony" of the Chamonix valley. Lisa and I will be trying to complete as much of the last 3 legs before the others arrive on June 27th as we have to come back earlier. We also want to do some trail running as well as hiking and each have packs to allow that and a pack weight of 5 kgs or less. We have foregone the traditional high sided heavy boots for Salomon Trail running shoes, and are even weighing our limited supply of underwear!

It promises to be a fairly exciting week, as right now the abundant late spring snow on the Mont Blanc Massif is refusing to melt at the normal rate. This means that most sections of the TMB above 2200 metres have sections of snow on them. The 5 passes above 2400 metres promise each several hours of trudging through "neve" or wet spring snow - an adventure in fine weather, an ordeal or danger in poor visibility or bad weather. We even have fall back plans in place for two sections where we may not be able to pass. Thank goodness for the Mont Blanc road tunnel. We may need it.


Evolved to run. Born to run. Older, greyer, still running. Follow @Nariokotomeboy