The Tullmann Travels The Tullmann Travels

France · Italy · Switzerland

2016

Tour du Mont Blanc

110 miles · hut to hut — Summer 2016

The great loop around Mont Blanc — 110 miles through three countries, walked hut to hut by Bob, Dorothy and Hans.

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The trip in brief

Around Mont Blanc, the three of us

Summer 2016 · 23 entries

Where we went

The Tour du Mont Blanc — 110 miles, hut to hut, a great loop through France, Italy and Switzerland: Les Houches, Courmayeur, La Fouly, Champex, and back to Chamonix.

Why it mattered

Hans with his parents, Bob and Dorothy — a slower, harder kind of family trip, measured in passes climbed and mountain refuges shared.

Favorite moment

The final climb to Le Brévent, the whole Mont Blanc massif laid out across the valley. (Hans: confirm.)

On the trail together

Bob, Dorothy and Hans, one stage at a time — dormitories, dark early starts, and breakfasts eaten in the mountains.

The reward

Reuniting in Chamonix at the end of the loop, boots off, the circle closed.

The photo essay

Hiking the Alps 2016, in pictures

Into the Alps
Into the Alps
Col du Bonhomme
Col du Bonhomme
Into Italy
Into Italy
Val Ferret
Val Ferret
La Fouly
La Fouly
Towards Trient
Towards Trient
Back to France
Back to France
Mont Blanc massif
Mont Blanc massif
Le Brévent — the end
Le Brévent — the end

The journal

Every day of the trip

23 entries · oldest first

Two Weeks and counting... Our Big Alpine Adventure Is 2 Weeks Away
Entry 1
Two Weeks and counting... Our Big Alpine Adventure Is 2 Weeks Away
June 17
Introduction to Hiking the Alps 2016: Reflecting on the Past & Considering the Future
Entry 2
Introduction to Hiking the Alps 2016: Reflecting on the Past & Considering the Future
June 18

Reflecting on the Past... In the Summer of 2013, my dad, Bob Tullmann, and I, Hans Tullmann, went hiking in the European Alps for 34 days covering 152…

Preparing for Hiking the Alps 2016
Entry 3
Preparing for Hiking the Alps 2016
June 20

WHO: Bob, Dorothy, and Hans WHAT: Hiking the Alps 2016 - Tour Du Mont Blanc & Alpine Pass Route WHEN: June 28, 2016 WHERE: France, Switzerland, Italy HOW:…

Hiking Cards Ready to Go
Entry 4
Hiking Cards Ready to Go
June 24

Hiking cards with our contact and blog information are helping to have on the trail. We put them in stuff sacks and valuable items-- in case they get…

Hiking Training with Francsico
Entry 5
Hiking Training with Francsico
June 26

My friend Francisco and I were able to train together to get ready for hiking. Here's a few of our hikes.

Departing America for Geneva, Switzerland
Entry 6
Departing America for Geneva, Switzerland
June 28

On June 28, 2016, Hans will be departing from LA, California, while Bob and Dorothy depart from Charlottesville, Virginia to meet in Geneva, Switzerland! Once we arrive, we'll…

Arriving in Switzerland and France
Entry 7
Arriving in Switzerland and France
June 29

After a mostly sleepless 14 hours (8 hours for Bob and Dorothy) of travel with an hour delay, my mom and dad arrived at the Geneva Airport in…

TMB Stage 1: Les Houches to Les Contamines
Entry 8
TMB Stage 1: Les Houches to Les Contamines
July 3

On Thursday, June 30,2016, Bob, Dorothy, and Hans Tullmann set out for our first stage in the TMB (Tour du Mont Blanc) from Les Houches to Les Contamine,…

TMB Stage 2: Les Contamines to Refuge De La Croix Du Bonhomme
Entry 9
TMB Stage 2: Les Contamines to Refuge De La Croix Du Bonhomme
July 5

On Friday, July 1, 2016, 6:30am, we set off for stage 2 of the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB). We started at a chilly walk through a forested…

TMB Stage 3: Refuge De La Croix Du Bonhomme to Refuge Cabane Du Combal
Entry 10
TMB Stage 3: Refuge De La Croix Du Bonhomme to Refuge Cabane Du Combal
July 6

On Saturday, July 2, 2016, we awoke in the dark surrounded by 20 sleeping strangers in a refuge on top of the snowy mountain miles from civilization. 5am…

TMB Stage 4: Cabane Du Combal to Courmayeur
Entry 11
TMB Stage 4: Cabane Du Combal to Courmayeur
July 9

Sunday, July 3, 2016, we awoke in Italy in a mountain cabin called "Cabane du Combal", close to Courmayeur. We got ready and enjoyed some breakfast with our…

TMB Stage 4.1: Rest Day in Courmayeur
Entry 12
TMB Stage 4.1: Rest Day in Courmayeur
July 10

After 4 days of intense hiking, we decided to take a day to rest on Monday, July 4, 2016 to celebration our Independence and exhaustion. We start our…

TMB Stage 5: Courmayeur to Hotel De Farrett
Entry 13
TMB Stage 5: Courmayeur to Hotel De Farrett
July 11

On Tuesday, July 5, 2016, we left Courmayeur, Italy for stage 5 on the TMB (Tour du Mont Blanc). We had an delicious breakfast and departed from Hotel…

TMB Stage 6: Hotel La Ferret to La Fouly
Entry 14
TMB Stage 6: Hotel La Ferret to La Fouly
July 13

On Wednesday, July 6, 2016, we enjoyed our last breakfast in Italy before heading out for stage 6 on the TMB (Tour du Mont Blanc) in the chilly…

TMB Stage 7: La Fouly to Champex
Entry 15
TMB Stage 7: La Fouly to Champex
July 14

In Orsieres, Switzerland, on Thursday, July 7, 2016, we prepared for a unique opportunity. We would stay in this same hotel for 2 nights, so we only needed…

TMB Stage 8: Champex to Trient
Entry 16
TMB Stage 8: Champex to Trient
July 15

Orsieres, Switzerland, on Friday, July 8, 2016 We enjoyed our last night and breakfast at Hotel l'Union. We walked quickly to the bus stop in fear of missed…

TMB Stage 9: Trient to Tre Le Champ
Entry 17
TMB Stage 9: Trient to Tre Le Champ
July 16

Trient, Switzerland, on Saturday, July 9, 2016. We awoke in our dormitory, got some breakfast and we're ready for our last TMB in Switzerland! Before departed, I got…

TMB Stage 10: Tre Le Champ to Refuge La Flégère
Entry 18
TMB Stage 10: Tre Le Champ to Refuge La Flégère
July 17

Tre Le Champ, France, on Sunday, July 10, 2016. As we woke in our cubicle of a sleeping space, every step on the wooden floor creaking loudly, threatening…

TMB Stage 11 Part 1: Refuge La Flégère to Le Brévent
Entry 19
TMB Stage 11 Part 1: Refuge La Flégère to Le Brévent
July 18

Refuge La Flégère, France, Monday, July 11, 2016. It was hard to believe we were waking up to the last day on the TMB (Tour du Mont Blanc).…

TMB Stage 11 Part 2: Refuge La Flégère to Le Brévent
Entry 20
TMB Stage 11 Part 2: Refuge La Flégère to Le Brévent
July 19

Le Brévent , France, Monday, July 11, 2016. I had waited for my parents for over an hour at the end of our TMB (Tour du Mont Blanc).…

Post TMB Rest Day #1
Entry 21
Post TMB Rest Day #1
July 20

Written by Dorothy Tullmann After reuniting in Chamonix, France, where we started out almost 2 weeks prior, we decided to end our day traveling by train to our…

Post TMB Rest Day #2
Entry 22
Post TMB Rest Day #2
July 21

Written by Dorothy Tullmann Engelberg, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 13, 2016 After a good sleep at the Jugendherberger (youth hostel) Berghaus Engelberg, we shared a buffet breakfast with the…

Hiking the Alps 2016: Summary
Entry 23
Hiking the Alps 2016: Summary
May 18

It's been awhile since Bob, Dorothy, and Hans Tullmann went on their adventure in 2016. To follow their journey, you can click on the month Archive on the…

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