Alternatively Titled: Why I’m Breaking Up with Rick Steves

In 2023, shortly after we got back from Iceland, we started talking about our next trip. My in-laws, who were visiting from out of town, had been inspired by Rick Steves’ Alps escapade, and thus, a seed was planted – the Tour du Mont Blanc. They showed us a video, and we all said “Okay, yeah, let’s do it!”

What began as sort of a joke, or maybe even wishful thinking, became reality. Pretty soon, planning our Tour du Mont Blanc trip was in full swing. We watched every YouTube video, read every blog, joined Facebook groups, and, obviously, watched more Rick Steves. It was a whirlwind of excitement and preparation as we geared up for this epic journey. We decided to do half of the full TMB which would allow us some time to explore Europe, as well. There were 7 of us planning to go on the trip, and we were learning everything we thought we needed to know for a long-distance hike. We were ready to crush some miles! (Or, so we thought.)

Expectation vs. Reality:

Our expectations were, to put it lightly, a tad off-course. Everything we saw, read, and watched portrayed this hike as more of a “nature walk” with some areas of moderate difficulty. Even doing only half the hike, all 7 of us agreed it was much more difficult than we anticipated. Clearly, we’re not Olympic athletes, but we are in decent shape and we did prepare and train for this. Still, we were all surprised by how challenging it actually was.

Despite our best efforts to prep and prime ourselves for the challenge, the reality hit us like a ton of bricks – this was no casual “walk in the park.” Rick, that one hurt.

Now, don’t get me wrong, this hike was AMAZING. We hiked for 6 days, starting in Les Houches, France and ending the hike in Courmayer, Italy. It was worth all the challenges we faced, and it was such a rewarding experience. But even as much as we enjoyed it, while on the trail, we all made jokes about how “no one posts about this.”

With all that said, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. I’m here to tell you all the things we learned the hard way— all the things they don’t tell you about the TMB.

Uphill Battles:

Forget your average inclines, the TMB throws steep, calf-burning mountains in your path that give even the stair-master a run for its money. We all trained for months, and we’ve all done hikes with similar elevation gain, but the difference in grade is what really got to us.

For some perspective: On most days, the average incline grade was around 30%, including portions where the grade was up to 50% and portions where there was little incline at all (meanwhile the average treadmill can only go up to 15% maximum incline grade). For more perspective, the average elevation gain each day was between 1,500 and 2,000 feet, which is the equivalent of climbing 150 to 200 flights of stairs. And believe it or not, we did the “easier” version of this hike.

Treacherous Terrain:

While the postcard-perfect views are real, so are the moments on the edge of cliffs and slippery, snow-covered stretches that scream ‘proceed with caution.’ While most of the trail is well-maintained, there are many areas that are.. well, sketchy. On the first day, my brother-in-law did actually fall off the side of the mountain. I’m talking the “action-movie style, falling off the cliff, grabbing onto a tree branch to save his life” type of fall.

This hike throws a mix of terrain your way, including rocks, grass, dirt, river crossings and snow (even in the summer months). It’s an obstacle course that demands your unwavering attention, as there are a lot of areas where one misstep would send you tumbling thousands of feet down the mountain side. Even seasoned hikers will find themselves challenged by certain sections of this hike.

Weather Woes:

Drastic changes in weather can be expected, but until you’re actually there, the threat doesn’t feel so real. Rain or shine (or in our case, torrential downpours), the weather can absolutely make or break your hiking days. On our first day, which was nothing short of a nightmare, it rained on and off all day. It rained so much even our rain gear failed to keep us completely dry. And while rain was something we knew to expect, we didn’t plan for all the impacts it would have.

The trail transformed into a muddy labyrinth, which made the already steep terrain nearly impassable at times. Beyond the physical toll, it required immense mental strength to navigate drenched paths and unforgiving ascents.

With rain gracing 3 out of our 6 hiking days, it definitely added an extra layer of challenge to our already grueling trek.

Mental Grit:

The battle of mind over mountain is real. Conquering not just the physical peaks but also the mental hurdles of self-doubt and sheer exhaustion is a feat in itself. It’s a constant push to keep climbing, even when every fiber of your being screams for a break.

While much of what we saw about the TMB portrayed people smiling and laughing and enjoying the views, the mental fortitude it takes to do this hike should not be overlooked. Observing the challenges that lay ahead and feeling completely overwhelmed by them was like experiencing a metaphorical representation of the journey ahead.

The big deal for us was just mentally gearing up and saying, “I’m gonna tackle this mountain.” But, I’ll be the first to tell you, that’s a lot tougher to do when the mountains are staring right back at you, looking huge and intimidating. There were also moments when we felt like kings of the mountain, only to crest a hill and find another monster incline waiting for us.

Safety in Numbers:

Being Europe’s most popular hike, encountering other hikers along the trail came as no surprise. While many images and videos of the TMB depict sprawling nature devoid of human presence, the reality was much different. The trail wasn’t crowded, but there were definitely plenty of people along the TMB.

Personally, I found the presence of fellow hikers reassuring as it ensured safety in numbers, and it also let me know we were on the right path. It was such a fun and unique experience to talk with so many different people from different places, knowing we were all there for the same reason.

Unanticipated Scenery:

Much like the photos and videos that make the trail look solitary, there’s also a misconception that the trail is just all around mountain views the whole way. We were surprised just how much of the trail seemed to include main roads through towns and even neighborhoods. Of course, it’s self-explanatory why no one posts pictures of that part of the hike— people come to get those epic mountain shots!

The blend of civilization and nature adds a unique charm to the trail, even if it’s not the rugged nature you may imagine. Truthfully, I enjoyed seeing local architecture and the towns along the trail.

Conclusion:

Like anything else, social media paints a specific picture and the real thing can vary from that. It doesn’t make the real thing any less wonderful, but these are all the things I wish I had known before we went. Even so, I wouldn’t change a thing about our TMB voyage (except maybe some things on the first day, but that’s a different story).

All in all, it was a test of endurance, a lesson in resilience, and above all, an adventure that will forever be etched in my memory. If you’re planning to do this trail, my advice would be: Embrace the unexpected, conquer the challenges, and let the TMB weave its magic on your soul.