The last day of this fabulous adventure arrived. We had one more big climb, one more day looking at some of the most breathtaking and spectacular scenery I’ve ever seen. 

And the weather was perfect. 

This was the best day – warm and sunny and we hiked along a balcony path that paralleled several Mont Blanc peaks the whole way. We were under tree cover and then we were out in the open in big, wide valleys. We climbed up to a ski lift station with deck chairs on the patio for fantastic viewing of the mountain against the blue sky. It was incredible. 

We started the day with a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel. Then we walked to a bakery where we picked up sandwiches for lunch. The pastries looked divine.  I didn’t buy any (wish I had). 

We walked up to an outdoor spigot, replenished our water supply and we were off. Although we were climbing the usual – paths with rocks and tree roots and switchbacks – on this day, with the sunshine and that view, it was easy for me. I just soaked it all in with every step. Then Neil gave us an option to go one way that required climbing ladders nailed into the rock or to keep on the trail and we would all meet at the ski lift at La Flégère.

While I do consider myself active and an adventurer, I was not going to climb a ladder on a rock. In hindsight, maybe I could have done it. Maybe. 

So Stephanie, Joyce and I continued on the path in the woods and into the open valley while Patrick, Beth, Michael, Jenny, Kareem, Tammy and Laetitia took the ladder route.

At any one point, we were all going up around 8,000 feet. 

There were some pretty steep spots for the three of us with some dicey tree roots we had to maneuver. But overall, it wasn’t too taxing, until we arrived at the open valley. It didn’t look like it would be that difficult to climb. It was wide and open. Not really steep.

It took forever! It was a 2K and 220 meters up (1.25 miles and 700 feet).

I was breathing hard by the time I got to the top. 

This place was just what we needed. It has a big patio area with deck chairs and picnic tables and people were just chilling in front of a view of those humongous, gorgeous, majestic mountain peaks. It’s almost too much to take in at once.  I grabbed a chair and relaxed under the sun.

The rest of the group wouldn’t get to us for almost two hours so we planted  ourselves at an outdoor table, had some refreshments and took it all in. “The queen of the Alps is showing her face,” Stephanie said about our view.

THE LADDERS

As for the ladder group, they rocked it of course. Later I asked them what they thought of that adventure. 

“I was excited,” Patrick wrote in a message. “It was fun and different. We don’t see stuff like that in the U.S.” 

Things were going smoothly until, at one point, they were faced with a group that was going the wrong way. “The ladders are supposed to be a one-way loop going ‘up’ but there was a group of Americans going down, which was frustrating and dangerous,” Patrick said. 

There is a big sign informing everyone that it was a one-way path. Just look at the photos and you can see why this is a safety issue. 

Mike wrote that even some of the Ultimate Trek runners were trying to get past them while they were clambering up ladders and ropes. “They were trying to keep a fast pace and push through. It was surreal that they would pick that route!” he said. 

Patrick’s sister Beth said she wasn’t too freaked out by the ladders. “Just like the rest of the hike, my mind was on slow and steady,” she wrote me.  

She also mentioned the people who were pushing past them to get to the ladders. “Aside from the potential safety issues their behavior could have caused, we all made it and were thankful to have done them,” she said.

Finally we were all together at La Flégère and it was time for the last push to a place called Plan Praz and then a tram ride down to Chamonix.

But here’s the other part of the story: Neil made a point of saying that we had to be at the tram by 4:30 p.m. because that was the last trip down. If we missed it, we’d be walking down to Chamonix. So now I had all this pressure to make sure we got there in time. Remember – I’m usually the slow one in the group. Now it was imperative for me to get there in time, to keep up with the group. (Read: don’t stop every ten feet and take photos.) 

So we were off! And that was the fastest I’d hiked all week! 

This was a really different kind of trail. At one point we were just walking on a pile of rocks. Neil had to help me down some really steep and scary spots. “Hold the chain here, hold the rail there.”  But I was making great time.

When were about 40 minutes from the tram, Neil pointed to it in the distance and said, in a reference to the opera cliché, “The fat lady is on the train, but she hasn’t left yet.” We were close. 

To get to where we needed to be, we had to go up this big zig zag of a climb on the open hill. It looked close, but it most certainly was not. Then Neil looked at his watch, knowing how far we still have to go, and offered to carry my day pack so I get through that last part quicker. 

He takes it and then the look on his face cemented what I thought a few times: my pack was too heavy.  “What are you carrying in here?” he said, wide-eyed.

Too much stuff, apparently. (Lesson learned!) About 20 minutes later, he handed it back to me. We made it to the tram with an hour to spare. Why? Because the last ride was 5 p.m. Neil just wanted to make sure we got there in time. 

Smart move sir.

We still had to descend a bit to the tram station because of course we did. On the way down, we watched some people hook themselves up to a hang glider and take off into the valley.

We finally make it down to the tram and our wonderful trek came to an end. Stephanie, Joyce and Kareem, who did not do the last part, were at the station in Chamonix to meet us. We walked into town and the streets were full of people, both fans and runners alike, who were there for the Mont Blanc Trek run. It was kind of surreal, to come down to a city after spending the day so high up, amid so much nature.

We relaxed in the hotel bar for awhile and then I went out and about in Chamonix, talking to the locals for a writing assignment. We met for dinner later and just reminisced about the past six days.

After dinner, Jenny, Michael and I walked around and posted ourselves at the finish line where those crazy runners were coming in, with head lamps on and all. We cheered with everyone else. I think we also deserved a few cheers. 😉

CHAMONIX

Thinking back now, this trip has just stuck with me. Everyone asks me how was your vacation. “Outstanding,” is my standard answer.

I felt this way after my first time hiking in the Dolomites in 2015. (It was actually my first time hiking anywhere!) When you accomplish something that goes beyond what you ever imagined you could do, it’s a rush, it’s euphoric and you are ready to do it again, and do it bigger!

I’m so glad I decided to take this trip. It’s kind of been on that back burner for awhile. I can’t say enough good things about Mont Blanc Treks, the touring company. https://montblanctreks.com/ The hotels and the itineraries were top notch. But there is also a mountain of information on the Web site to prep you for the trip. And Neil is a five-star guide. What a pro. And very personable.

This is the third vacation I’ve taken with a group of strangers and the third time everyone clicked. Thank you Joyce, Stephanie, Kareem, Tammy, Michael, Jenny, Beth, Patrick and Laetitia for your patience, your guidance, your friendship. And most importantly, thanks for sharing your photos for this blog. Patrick’s group photos are the best. They are moments in time that I will always remember. I told him I was going to do a gallery of the “groupies.” Here they are, plus some others.

The very cold, very rainy second day.

I look forward to another big hiking trip, maybe next year, maybe Mont Blanc again, on the westerly side. And for the love of God, I’ll get a pair of rain pants!