Guys, DYOR, I think you need to accept responsibility for your own actions and spend a lot of time doing research on current conditions, and you are walking in trainers, not hiking boots.

Fukuoka is a great city. I see you made it to Hyotan Zushi, Tenjin. I instantly recognized it by the stairwell. I have spent some time waiting in that stairwell for a seat in that restaurant. A very popular place. From your description, unfortunately, I didn't recognize the other restaurant you referred to. It's a place I haven't been to yet. Too bad, I would go there when I visit Fukuoka next.

Thanks for the laugh describing that swiss fondue guy. The pictures are just the best.

Love that you are keeping it real. Many of us, especially us older folks are watching these videos to see if it’s something we can actually do. A friend wants me to do it with her in 2 years, I’ll be 61 then and am more of a flat ground walker than up mountains. The honest reporting is really helpful.

What date did you guys start the walk? A lot of snow about 😮

Thanks for continutin to film over the Col des Fours. It is very sketchy. We did the TMB in 2016 and again in 2022 and have just last month completed the Walkers Haute Route. We became addicted after the TMB - it is just such an adventure. Hope you are all recovered now and are planning for your next hike !

Thank you for such and honest and inspiring set of videos. It's so good to get the "warts and all" depiction that you don't often see. Thanks for learning all of these lessons, so I don't have to when I attempt this next year with my young son. There was a good chance that I would have underdone the prep/training, but after your vids I will ensure that won't be happening. I'm going to take this as seriously as the hike demands. Definitely won't be doing sketchy variants in bad weather/with snow and am being very realistic about taking every available short cut transport option/if needed! It's not a torture competition, there's no prizes for walking every step and I want to make sure we both enjoy it as much as we can. Thanks again, have liked/subscribed and can't wait to see how you get on in the rest of the stages.

Dad gives off very negative vibes for such a beautiful experience. Difficult is what makes it special.

I’ve binge watched this whole series! You all did amazing…where’s the next adventure going to take you?! And when? I’m going to be rewatching the series with my hubs. Best TMB account so far, well done.

I’m loving watching your honest reviews and experiences of this challenging hike. We are (husband and I) going to be hiking the TMB in 2026 - my 50th gift to me 😂 and have watched quite a few channels but yours is by far the most real and I’ve already gained much information from these so far. Nice work! Thank you for taking the time to put this channel together with great content

Loved your series of videos. Very informative and helpful.

Well, I'm finally back to rewatching your videos as I begin my preps for 2025 TMB. I love how you explain things, give lots of details, and keep it real. I did have to pause though when you talked about not planning on taking any variants on the TMB. LOL, I do believe you've already taken your first variant of the TMB on this day. I hope to do this variant (Refuge de Miage) when we are there. It looks stunning.

"If you don't like people... forget it..." LOL ! Reality Check Channel

Thank you so much! I've been binge-watching TMB series as I'm planning for 2026. I truly appreciate how honest you were and not glossing over some of the hardships and places you maybe didn't like as much. I loved the realness and you have a lovely family. What a wonderful experience to have shared with your daughter. Wonderful editing and great storytelling. I don't think you need to add the stabilizing to the filming -- I really enjoyed the reality of how it was. Question: Do you think the refugios food might be an issue for somebody that can't eat gluten or dairy? I see sooooooo much cheese on everybody's videos and lots of pasta. I wish I could eat that but it wouldn't end well for me. Did you ever need to go off trail to go to the bathroom? If so, was that ever an issue? Did you make all your own arrangements or did you use a company and if so, who? Given the opportunity to do it again would you change your route/stops or do anything differently?

Wondrous vid series. Brought back so Many memories. THANKS. The ladders scared me - but only the first 1-2 runs. The rest was non-scary. Just Strenuous. Stayed at Lac Blanc, overnight, in Thunder/rain [2012 - before the (Temporary) hiatus in the quality of the Refugio]. Then s****y hard rain, all next day, which made us descend to Chamonix, 1 day short. But overall, a life-memory. Thanks for sharing YOURS, so vividly ! (and kudos for scoring) <3

So Beautiful, and such a reminder. My Photos from 2012 pale in comparison. Thank You for this vivid remembrance. As you approach the Col, into Switzerland, you STILL see the Glacial Striations in the bedrock - a Glacier that FILLED this valley, just 18,000 yrs ago !

Bonhomme and Elizabetta were beautiful, but Bonatti is the Gold Standard of TmB Refugios. From the southern bunk room, the end window had a no-edit view of morning "alpenglow" on the Mont Blanc massif. Plus, pack mules, tethered outside, the grazing cattle, and the fascinating farm "ruins", along the trail.

1) SO SAD to read about that poor woman !! As if she fell into a glacial crevasse (which don't exist in snowfields, but same outcome) ! 2) At 8:05: That huge "tongue" is a magnificent glacial moraine/kame feature. Being a geologist, it caught my continued attention. From the pitted surface texture (not so visible in this video), it looks like a thick mantle of rocky debris formed on top of the (former) glacier, and then settled/collapsed as (some/all of) the glacial ice melted from underneath. The Mont Blanc massif (range) is oriented southwest-northeast, so the glaciers on the northwest side (France) were more active, and carved FAR more deeply into the range, than the ones here. 3) Gondola down to Courmayeur/Dolonne would have been best option: WE instead wound up doing a LONG (knee-busting) stair-step trail, at about 30-degree pitch. Hope you didn't do same (vertiginous, at times) 4) First place we saw in Courmayeur, we also ordered pizza slices. First time (the employee didn't speak English , and I don't speak Italian) that I had to just POINT ("Gratzi !"). XD 5) For those planning this trek: Courmayeur is GREAT place to pre-plan a "zero-miles" day off, early-mid-trip. I wish we had. Relax and let your "trail-legs" recover (and, to fit in: In Italy, grown men customarily wear LONG pants around town, esp during the evening) :D

Great, as always ! I did this variante in Fall, when the only snow had just recently accumulated from an early snowstorm maybe a week before. Spring snowmelt is something that obviously makes a difference (but yeah, we decided based on what we were told at Bonhomme, the night before) !

I did the TmB back in Sept 2012, at age 52, with 2 male friends (from NC). Since then, I hear, it has gotten SO popular that you really have to plan every lodging several months in advance. I spent a LOT of time on the Bonhomme porch, taking in the scenery, esp at twilight.

I remember Auberge la Boerne for its unique interior. It was the only time the dinner menu included fish (I don't eat pork or beef, and there were surprisingly few refuges offering chicken, either). I am pretty sure we three had that very same tiny room. But it was about 78 degrees indoors that night, no moving air, and not long after I went out and TRIED to sleep in the corridor instead. Big mistake, due to creaky floors and other people going to and from the bathroom all night ! XD

I just watched the whole series. Awesome trip. Finally a TMB youtube that shows the real deal. I love your honesty about how difficult it was. You have a lovely family. Thanks for sharing

8/12/24 - just wanted to thank you for the entire TMB series including this video. You guys kept it real and gave us valuable info. We’re starting our TMB next weekend and can’t wait! More power to you!

8/12/24 - just wanted to thank you for the entire TMB series including this video. You guys kept it real and gave us valuable info. We’re starting our TMB next weekend and can’t wait! More power to you!

the worst snoring in history of man LOL really enjoying the in depth footage per day!!

Hey. I live in AVL also! And I'm leaving on Sept. 29 to head to the Alta Via 1

Is this the main trail or the variant?

You da' man Angelo! You did a great job on these videos. They were very entertaining. You have a great sense of humor and a great family. Keep the family adventures going as long as you can. If you like this kind of hut to hut hiking, consider the W trek in Patagonia and Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites. Thanks for sharing these videos and for all the editing you must have put in.

Should have had a beer with lunch, it's good carbs/energy 🍻

I spotted your “Some Guy Rides” sticker on the door going into Rifugio Maison Vielle about a week ago! I took a pic - wish I could share it here. It still holds and undisturbed location in the lower left corner. I went in and got a very nice piece of apple pie (with caramel sauce & whipped cream) and a cafe au lait before stomping our way down to Courmayeur.

I am trying to get an understanding about how the refuges are set up. Are there seperate changing areas to get dressed since I understand there are often limited bathrooms? May seem like a weird ? But my wife has been wondering about this for a bit. Your videos are the best we have watches. Thanks for posting them

Great videos thank you. We are looking to do the TMB next July. Did you have a guide book you used on the hike?

Good job on the trail and top quality edit. I hiked standard route 2022 and high variant route 2023. My only recommendation is to celebrate with food and have drinks like coffee and beer when hike is done. Or almost done. And electrolytes will help.

Can never go wrong with a Yurt. That music U altered to avoid copyright would probably sound awesome to someone on mescaline (I'm guessing). Thanks!

This has been absolutely bonkers series, so big thank to you! We did the hike with my friend in 2023 mid July and this is just nostalgic to remember all the great views and people we met, and on the other hand those struggles, occasional whinings and constant aches accumulating on to go. We were camping all the way, so backpacks were pretty heavy. But it was all worth it! Our mantra on hard uphills was that there are people who run this hole route in 19h, so what are we complaining about :D

It's comforting to know that Future Ang is going to impart his wisdom on this channel as well. Thanks!

I really enjoyed your honesty about the trail as you are so correct most other videos seem to show TMB as easy as. And like the humour behind the comments..so so funny.

I did the TMB in Sept 2012. Col de la Seigne to Elizabetta Soldini was gorgeous. And beyond (past the HUGE glacial moraine/kame, below). But Ref Bonatti remains as the Gold Standard.

You need to try cruise

What time of the year is this hike? Headed there next week - very excited!

Wow, you guys are the best and the narrative throughtout was funny, sad, full of life and fantastic. So, great travels and congratulations on the completion of it all. What a family. Great stuff. I am heading out in 50 days for my own trek of TMB and at 72 want to hurt and enjoy and love it as much as you all did.

A great learning experience for us all! Or at least, those of us who don't have experience crossing snow-bound passes. I was wondering if you had a map on your phone, showing were the water would be/supposed to be in theory? But in any event, I'm heading over there in July, and will now check my maps for flowing sources of water near the trail up and down every pass, in case they, too, are covered in snow. Because from skiing, I do have a deep fear of falling through snow into water.

I’ve watched the whole series through twice now, and have referred it to the other 22 hikers of the group I’ll be going with in July. It’s loaded with tips, insights, humor and gorgeous views throughout. Thank you for providing a polished yet unvarnished take on the TMB. It’s a real treasure! I’m also wondering where you exited the Grand Balcon Sud on the last day, and had you considered taking the Tram/Gondola down like you’d wanted to do approaching Courmayeur?

Ha Ha love this honest video of the TMB with people nearer to my age! Will be doing it this summer with my husband both age 60-am afraid my one gammy knee will let me down!

Any type of insurance you recommend? Like being airlifted out due to emergency.

Absolutely loved hiking the trail again with you! We have done it twice July 2018 and July 2023 but never did the ladders! I would try them next time after your great video! Thank you !!!!

Aha! Your opening to this video in front of the hotel appears to show that the two lower case L’s in the Relais d’Arpelle sign look like they have the tiniest of all possible crosses on them. Those fargin’ sneaky bastiges!

Strange how your hotel is clearly signed as “Relais d’Arpelle” and your video dutifully notes it as such … yet it’s on Chemin d’AArpette on the route to Fenetre d’Arpette, and all maps and listings I see show it as Relais d’Arpette?

These videos have made feel so much more prepared for our hike in Aug. We absolutely love the honest approach in these videos. No glossing over the challenges you faced. Instead of creating worry this honesty just made us feel... ok, now we know and we can prepare. Looking forward to any future videos you put out.

You sound like an American trying to pronounce Spanish. Badly. Amazing trip!!