I have been going to Seattle regularly for work for over seven years, however I had still not taken the chance to combine a work trip with a trip to Olympic National Park. Until now….I have to be in Seattle in the middle of July, the perfect time to extend my stay and make it out to the Olympic Peninsula for 3 days in magical Olympic. Olympic National Park has it all: a glacier, a rain forest, waterfalls, mountains, lakes and a beautiful rocky coastline.
Bruges where Beer and Chocolate awaits
Bruges is one of Europe’s historical gems and only a 2 ½ hours drive from where I grew up and yet I had never been. I read a lot about it; I watched several movies that were filmed there, but somehow, I never made it there. But finally, this year, the stars align when my friend Michelle has to go to Europe for work around the same time I am visiting mom in the Netherlands for her birthday. The perfect occasion to plan a weekend to explore this city together. So, on Friday at the end of May, Michelle is taking the train from Luxembourg, and I am driving to Bruges, where beer and chocolate awaits.
Chasing Waterfalls in Yosemite
Hiking for Wine: Mendocino
Seema and I decided at the spur of the moment to go on a little road trip. We wanted to hike, go winetasting and have good food. After some research, we picked Mendocino as our destination. Only a couple of hours up the coast from the Bay area, we had both not been there. It was also an opportunity to visit the wineries of the Anderson Valley. So, on a sunny Monday morning in February, we were on our way for a hiking for wine Mendocino Road Trip.
Hiking TMB: Flegere to Chamonix
In January, six of us decided to hike the famous Tour de Mont Blanc trail in the Alpes. After research and discussions with Alpine Exploratory, our travel agent, we decided to only hike the northern section. Seven days, around seventy miles, from Courmayeur in Italy to Chamonix in France. August 5 was our seventh day of hiking TMB: Flegere to Chamonix. 11 miles, 2,362 feet elevation.
Hiking TMB: Trient to Argentiere
In January, six of us decided to hike the famous Tour de Mont Blanc trail in the Alpes. After research and discussions with Alpine Exploratory, our travel agent, we decided to only hike the northern section. Seven days, around seventy miles, from Courmayeur in Italy to Chamonix in France. August 3 was our fifth day of hiking TMB: Trient to Argentiere. 9.9 miles, 3,740 feet elevation.
Hiking TMB: La Fouly to Champex
In January, six of us decided to hike the famous Tour de Mont Blanc trail in the Alpes. After research and discussions with Alpine Exploratory, our travel agent, we decided to only hike the northern section. Seven days, around seventy miles, from Courmayeur in Italy to Chamonix in France. August 1 was our third day of hiking TMB: La Fouly to Champex. 9 miles, 1,940 feet elevation.
After a good night sleep and breakfast buffet, we decide to leave as soon as possible as there is rain in the forecast that afternoon. Ideally, we want to try to get to our hotel before the rain starts. When we leave the hotel, rain clouds are already hanging low over the mountains, and it threatens to rain. In order not to get caught, we decide to put on rain gear and cover our packs with the rain protectors.
La Fouly to La Kabana
We walk through the still quiet village until we reach the little TMB sign. We cross a bridge over the river and make a turn onto a broad gravel lane that follows the river. The sky is getting lighter and so far, the rain stays away. Soon we enter a trail that leads into the woods. We pass meadows, bridges and a rocky gully with chains to guide us, before we reach La Kabana, a little coffee and snack shack. Tammy and Seema decide to stop for coffee. Although tempted, the rest of us decide to continue, in anticipation of the rain. However, we do stop for a picture of our backpacks, taken by a friendly fellow hiker. Later, when we look at the picture, we realize he took a selfie of him and his friend as well. We have to admit, it’s funny.
La Kabana to Issert
We pass through the village of Praz de Fort. Across the river, we walk past more houses and several, what looks like deserted barns. When looking it up, we learn that those will be filled with wood in the winter. On the first day we had determined that Maureen’s mountain animal is an ibex. I take a picture of a little pony, brown with blond mane and tail and decide that that is my mountain animal. We cross another bridge and enter the town of Issert. We are hungry. So, we stop at Cafe du chatelet and order ham and cheese sandwiches to go. We eat them sitting on the side of the road, and all agree, these are the best ham and cheese baguettes ever. And guess who walk by when we are eating: our cheeky photographer and his friend. We tell them it was kind of genius.
Issert to Champex
Energized from the delicious sandwich, we start the final stretch to Champex. This is also the part with the most incline, 1,500 feet in roughly 3 miles. The weather has turned nice, so rain jackets no longer needed. To distract us, the route card tells us to look for delightful sculptures along the way. The trail starts steep and turns into a number of zig-zags. We find several sculptures and it does help. We take a break at a picnic area with views over the valley below.
The path continues back up, before we finally arrive in Champex Lac. It is still early, and the weather has turned nice, so we agree we deserve a drink at the lake side Mimi’s lounge. Sipping on Aperol Spritz with views of the lake, I realize, that life does not get much better than this.
Orsieres
When we booked our trip, hotels in Champex and Champex Lac were booked, so we have a hotel in Orsieres and we have to take the bus down. Hotel Terminus is good and the location, next to the bus station is great. However, next time I would definitely prefer to stay in Champex Lax. We do have a fantastic dinner in the hotel restaurant, Le Quai de L’ours. After the not great dinner in Elena, the better buffet in La Fouly last night, this is a step up. After this meal, we are in a food coma and ready for a good night sleep as the trail is waiting for us again tomorrow.
All photo credit: Liane Aihara, Mariel van Tatenhove, Mauren O'Gorman, Seema O'Dwyer, Tammy Bacca, Vanessa O'Keeffe
Hiking TMB: Elena to La Fouly
In January, six of us decided to hike the famous Tour de Mont Blanc trail in the Alpes. After research and discussions with Alpine Exploratory, our travel agent, we decided to only hike the northern section. Seven days, around seventy miles, from Courmayeur in Italy to Chamonix in France. July 31 was our second day of hiking TMB: Elena to La Fouly. 8.5 miles, 3,180 feet elevation.
Goodbye Rifugio Elena
After not much than an hour sleep, due to creaking beds and snoring people in our dorm room, I get up at 6. Grabbing a cup of tea, we go outside to soak in the views until breakfast is ready at 7. I am happy putting on my hiking boots and day pack and leave Rifugio Elena behind.
Rocky road to Grand Col Ferret
The path behind Elena starts with a steep uphill. 1.5 miles and 1,570 feet elevation is not an easy start of the day. Without any warm-up and heavy legs from yesterday’s 14 miles it is tough going. The path twists and turns its way to the top. It’s another clear day and the views over the valley and Glacier de Pre de Bar are stunning again. The path becomes rocky, and it feels more like bouldering than walking. A group of guys on bikes passes us, some biking, some walking. I climb the rocky part with one of them. We encourage each other that “we are almost there”. However, what we thought was the top, is not the top and we have one more steep part, before the path levels out. Finally, after another half mile along the slope, we reach Grand Col Ferret.
Grand Col Ferret to La Peule
On one side we can see all the way down the Aosta Valley, the other side has beautiful views over the Swiss Val Ferret valley. We say goodbye to our biker friends and start our descent. It is so cool; we just crossed the border between Italy and Switzerland and are walking into Switzerland. The trail weaves through a beautiful wide valley. After a while, we decide to take a break for a snack. Sitting down on the side of the trail, I take in the views and think how special it is to hike along these beautiful, majestic mountains. We continue on and we stumble upon a filed full of cows. We stop to watch and to listen to the fun sound of their bells.
Soon after we reach the farm and Refuge La Peule. We stop for refreshments, before continuing our way downhill.
La Peule to Chalet – Restaurant Col de Fenetre
The reason we did not stop long at La Peule, is because we plan to have lunch at Chalet Col de Fenetre, another 2.6 miles. One thing we realize, we did not need all the snacks we brought. There are places to eat with great food all along the trail. Our timing is great as after hiking for a little over an hour, we reach the Chalet just before 1PM, perfect for lunch. We find a table outside in the garden. As today is a short day and we only have just over a mile to go, almost flat, we decide it is time for a glass of wine. The food is typical Swiss, loads of Swiss cheese. I order a Croque Madame, one of my favorite dishes. However, even for me, it’s too much cheese and too heavy. After a leisurely lunch, we continue our route to La Fouly.
La Fouly
La Fouly is a small town and our hotel, Auberge des Glacier, is one of the first buildings we see. No more dorm room tonight, we have two rooms, one with two beds and one with four. After collecting our luggage, we decide to do some laundry in our room first. We are not the only one, as when we go down to hang our clothes, the lines are already pretty full. After a nice warm shower, we go down to the bar for pre-dinner drinks. Dinner is included with our reservation and it they have a nice buffet. One of the Israeli guys is also at dinner. We learn that his nephew was brought to the hospital in Courmayeur as the blisters were infected. He is not able to continue the hike. Shame, as Vanessa would say.
All photo credit: Liane Aihara, Mariel van Tatenhove, Mauren O'Gorman, Seema O'Dwyer, Tammy Bacca, Vanessa O'Keeffe
Hiking TMB: Courmayeur to Elena
In January, six of us decided to hike the famous Tour de Mont Blanc trail in the Alpes. After research and discussions with Alpine Exploratory, our travel agent, we decided to only hike the northern section. Seven days, around seventy miles, from Courmayeur in Italy to Chamonix in France. July 30 was our first day of hiking TMB: Courmayeur to Elena, 14 miles, 5,000 feet elevation.