Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025
- Start: La Flégère, France
- End: Les Houches, France
- Distance hiked: 18.6 km (11.4 miles)
- Elevation gain/loss: 13,277 vertical feet
- Today’s high point: Col de Balme – 7,241′ elevation
My final day on the Tour du Mont Blanc began with a ride back up to the trail on the Flégère-Les Praz gondola. It was pouring rain, so I briefly delayed the start of my hike to grab a coffee to fortify myself at the gondola’s upper station. The next hour of the day was spent hiking in moderately heavy rain with no views of Mont Blanc. As the rain tapered off, the mountain played peek-a-boo with me. I stopped for lunch near a hut (where two dogs came over to see if I had anything good to share), and then I began the hike up to Col du Brèvent. The segment between Col du Brevent and the upper Brevent gondola station was the best part of the day. I had great views of the Aiguilles Rouges to the west, spotted an ibex, and got another dose of ladders. Then it was down, down, down to Les Houches and the end of the TMB.
Highlights
- Riding the gondola back up from Les Praz to Flégère to resume the TMB. What a unique experience that I haven’t had on any other thru-hike.
- Seeing an ibex grazing in the rock section between Col du Brévent and Le Brèvent (today’s highest point summit).
- The rock scramble and short section of ladders near Brévent were much more enjoyable today, and the views of the lakes just beyond the summit were just stunning
Challenges
- The first hour of hiking today was in the heavy rain, and it was pretty cold up above 6,000 feet elevation. Thank goodness for a coffee at the cafe at the gondola’s upper station.
- Mont Blanc was hidden much of the day due to the storms moving through the area. This mountain and I played peek-a-boo all day long. The early September weather is fickle.
- The long 5,000-foot descent from Brévent to Les Houches left the balls of my feet feeling quite sore when I ended the TMB. I toyed with walking back to the train station on the edge of Les Houches, but was so tired that I just waited for the local bus to Chamonix instead.
TONIGHT’S LODGING
Langley Hotel Gustavia. Once I finished the TMB, I rode the local bus to Chamonix to relax for two nights. This historic hotel is located right in the center of Chamonix’s sights, and it was admittedly a bit of a splurge to celebrate the end of the TMB. I booked my reservation for this hotel on booking.com (cost: €278 for two nights), which included a private room and shower, tea/coffee pot, TV, wifi, shuttle service to the mountain, and access to the restaurant. Breakfast at the hotel was an additional €15 (served 07:30 to 10:00).
