Hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc - Everything You Need To Know! Aug. 29 - Sept. 6

My buddy Chris and I hiked the Tour du Mont Blanc with a tour group and had the experience of a lifetime! In this video, I tried to capture the beauty of Mont Blanc and her massif as best as I could and offered helpful hints to help you prepare for this amazing trek. I showed you what to wear, how much to pack, what medical supplies to bring, how to prevent and manage blisters, etc.
We stayed in Chamonix, France and started the hike from Les Houches. We then went counter clockwise from France to Italy then to Switzerland, and back to Chamonix.
My gear to make this:
Panasonic G85 -
www.amazon.com...
Drone - DJI Mavic Air 2
www.bhphotovid...
GoPro Hero 8 Black -
www.amazon.com...
DaVinci Resolve 17 editing software:
www.blackmagic...
#tourdumontblanc #frenchalps #chamonixmontblanc

[@KirstenQuickFit]

This is amazing! All of it!! The beautiful sights, the edits...the adventure!! I had to wait til I could watch all of it at the same time!! It's like a movie!!! Looks like everyone was having a great time! Did you specifically train for the altitude? So cool hiking from France to Italy! The glaciers-unbelievable! Derek- what a great job capturing your video! Wow!! You're a great producer! Those drone shots! How did you think of everything on an adventure like this? Impressive! Switzerland! Heat exhaustion-that's scary!! Yikes to the hot and hornets!! Breathtaking views! Was that the best ice cream of all time? The pink church!!! Love it! I see everyone has walking sticks! Ladders! Oh wow! Gorgeous! I can't imagine how tired you are! Cheers!! Well done everyone!!! This was so great Derek!!!

[@StretchYourself]

THANKS Quick!!! Pinned your comment, you’re def the best! Thanks for your support!♥️

[@brianardon1370]

Great video!!what tour company did you use?

[@pamczachor1633]

Thank you for sharing! It looks absolutely beautiful! My daughter, grandson and I are contemplating doing this tour. We have completed the French Way of the Camino de Santiago, which was about 800 km by the time we finished, and we are doing the Portuguese Way in September/October. And now in a couple of years we're thinking of The Tour du Mount Blanc! Enjoyed your video very much, thanks again!

[@StretchYourself]

@@pamczachor1633 thanks so much for watching!🙏 sounds like the TMB will be a piece of cake for you. Great job!💪💪

[@jeremyedmondson4111]

So much fun to watch! Amazing. Glad to see all the beauty as well as the trials and tribulations. You had a good mix of both to show why it is type A fun. You sure know how to make your followers jealous!

[@StretchYourself]

Thanks bro!! Really appreciate it. 🙏I’d love to document our Lost Coast hike if you’d like!

[@IggysQuest]

Really great film, ive watched a lot of these, some with with a lot more subscribers, yet not even a 10th of the quality of your video, keep it up!Me and my friend are doing the TMB at the start of August this year, doing it in 11, maybe 10 days with 4 nights in refuges and the other night going to camp in our tents, to say im looking forwards to it is an understatement!

[@StretchYourself]

Hey thanks so much! 🙏 appreciate the props. Took me about 64 editing hours to complete this. You’re going to have a blast! Love the tent/refuge idea. And you picked the perfect time of year as well. Have a great time! It’s a whole new level of imagery in person.

[@harrysroom]

It ended with some breathtaking views! Great video Derek! Love the drone shots.

[@StretchYourself]

Thanks so much! Really appreciate the comment and feedback ♥️

[@benalba7192]

Thank you for posting this. What an incredible journey. Sure will be a lot of help as we are doing this 3rd week of Aug this year.

[@StretchYourself]

Yes, and thank you so much for watching! I forgot to mention in the video that we hiked from August 27 - September 6.👍

[@rupaghosh6251]

Amazing..just heaven..I did my last trek 10yrs back...I wish I can go again..I miss Himalaya so much

[@StretchYourself]

Yes it is! 2 dimensional video just doesn’t capture how amazing it truly is there. Thanks so much for the comment and for watching!🙏

[@MihaiGoRunning]

What an epic adventure! Your detailed account of hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc is truly inspiring. From the breathtaking scenery to the challenges faced along the way, it's evident that this journey was both physically demanding and emotionally rewarding. Your video captures the essence of the experience, and I'm sure it will inspire many others to embark on their own adventures. Cheers to you and your fellow hikers for conquering such a monumental challenge! I did all of it in 42 hours at the UTMB in 2013 and it was great to see some of the places. I definitely have to make it in hiking to "taste" it as you did, because starting the race at 6PM, I ran 2 nights and missed a lot of beautiful places!

[@shanemedbery8199]

Awesome! What a journey!

[@StretchYourself]

Thanks neighbor! ♥️

[@davidelias8569]

Great video about this trek! My wife an I are planning the tour in summer 2025. I appreciate you including the difficulties you encountered in the video. It gives anyone who wants to do the hike a more realistic expectation.

[@StretchYourself]

Hey thanks so much for watching! Will you camp or stay at refuges?

[@davidelias8569]

@@StretchYourselfWe are looking into a guided hike with Macs Adventures. The tour is 12 days and includes hotel and hut with private room stays. Being this is our first time on the TMB, we opted for comfort (relative term here I guess 🤣) . You mentioned a guide on your tour. What company did you go with?

[@StretchYourself]

@@davidelias8569 that sounds like a great way to go! You’ll have an enjoyable experience and can take in the whole trail and scenery. We went through G Adventures. Do you know if you hike by Lac Blanc? We didn’t see it and I wish we had.

[@davidelias8569]

@@StretchYourself Yes Lac Blanc is on the route 👍

[@kayaker9912]

Thank you for the video! My daughter, (24), me, her mom, (64) will be hiking this in early Sept of this year (2024, first timers). You had spectacular weather and I am envious of you for that, but hoping we have at least dry weather. I absolutely love the cow bells, always enchanted when in Switzerland and recording that sound. Helpful tips and thank you for some inside hut video on what to expect. Thanks again!

[@StretchYourself]

Thanks so much for watching! You’re going to have a blast. Yeah you may get snowed on a little but maybe not. We went from August 27-Sept 6. Yeah I had to capture the cowbells but sheep, it was so peaceful. Are you starting out of Chamonix or?

[@kayaker9912]

@@StretchYourself, We are hiking Sept 3-13, from Les Houches, the counter clockwise and ladder hike. Yes, the cow bells are my favorite, but love sheep as well, a female sheep came up to us I believe in Switzerland a fews years ago and we thought she had lost her baby as we heard cries....but the jokes on us, she took us down the road (of course we followed) and there was a shop selling all sorts of items.

[@StretchYourself]

@@kayaker9912 haha that’s funny. Yeah you may get rained or snowed on at that time, possibly. Definitely have lightweight waterproof jacket and pants. I wore them in the cold mornings and having that extra layer was really helpful.

[@kayaker9912]

@@StretchYourself, thank you! Yes, I will definitely get a good waterproof rain jacket/pants, don't have that yet. I make notes daily.

[@michaelcrawford9425]

Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed your video! I can't wait to do this next year.

[@StretchYourself]

You’re welcome, thanks so much for watching!! You’ll have a blast. It’s a level up in 3 dimensions for sure. Are you going with a group or solo camping?

[@michaelcrawford9425]

@StretchYourself As of now, I will doing a solo trip with a mix of wild camping, refuges, and a couple hotels.

[@StretchYourself]

@@michaelcrawford9425 good for you! You’re tougher than I am.

[@michaelcrawford9425]

@@StretchYourself I don't know about that now! 😅

[@Leo-rj5ie]

Wow this deserves more attention! Such a great experience!

[@StretchYourself]

Hey thank you so so much! 🙏I would love it if you shared it with others?! But honestly this video doesn’t capture the essence of that trail and all there is to see and hear. It’s truly next level in person.

[@Leo-rj5ie]

@@StretchYourself I absolutely will do that. I know, seeing it in person is always more stunning. But your video definetly gives a good taste of what it's like!

[@StretchYourself]

@@Leo-rj5ie thanks so much! Are you planning to go?

[@Leo-rj5ie]

@@StretchYourself not yet but I have plans to do a crossing of the alps someday 😍

[@lidystoro8316]

Awesome experience! I will be going on the TMB Adventure this July (in about 2 weeks). Would love to join your tramily if you'll be hiking in July as mentioned in your video.

[@StretchYourself]

Hey thanks for watching! Glad you liked it. Good luck to you! You’ll have a great time. Are you going with a tour or solo? Camping or refuges?

[@christinaharmsen9287]

Thanks for this helpful content! I am mad keen on doing this but am now reconsidering as I am not that fit haha! I might need to do some conditioning for awhile and then reassess!

[@StretchYourself]

You got this! What kind of hiking are you doing now? I did a long hike once a week of about 10-13 miles, ideally with some up and downhill and that really helped. Wore a weighted pack too. Also a couple strength training sessions per week in the gym. What’s your current condition? BTW the elevation was not a concern at all.

[@ahrianegarcia8773]

This is awesome video! Thank you for sharing. Which tour company did you use?

[@StretchYourself]

@@ahrianegarcia8773 thanks so much for watching!! Gadventures. They did a fantastic job. Are you planning to do the hike?

[@tradewindstravelllc6801]

This looks great! Did you hike with your drone and all your gear or did you have things sent ahead? The showers at that one refuge looked nice. Are all the bathrooms that nice?

[@StretchYourself]

Thanks! I hiked with all my gear. Wrapped my drone and controller in a jacket or pants, used a GoPro with small tripod and my big camera strapped to my backpack. Showers and bathrooms vary a little bit but most were great to use and clean. I would say Nant Borrant had the smallest and hardest to use. Bonatti was the only one with tokens. Thanks for watching! Are you going this summer?

[@tradewindstravelllc6801]

@@StretchYourself Not this year. I'm thinking about 2025, but I'll be 68 then. We'll see!

[@StretchYourself]

@@tradewindstravelllc6801 good luck to you! Very impressive age, good for you. You could join one of those groups that has a mule carry your pack for you! I saw that and thought that was a great idea.

[@me-lg1yw]

Thanks for sharing this. I will be starting my 2024 TMB about a week earlier than you did. You mentioned that the weather was perfect but earlier in the video you mentioned that it got pretty cold at times. What was the lowest temperature you experienced? Thanks again.

[@StretchYourself]

Happy to help! Yeah a few of the mornings were pretty cold. I’d say probably mid 30s Fahrenheit? I had four thin layers on top and just my hiking pants on bottom. Once we started hiking though, the layers started coming off. Have a wonderful hike!!

[@me-lg1yw]

@@StretchYourself That’s too cold for my toes especially since I will be wearing trail runners. I’ll probably bring battery heated socks just in case. Thanks again.

[@k-9ramm0delilah86]

Great video. Do you mind me asking which tour company you used?

[@aventuresdedavis]

I guess it wasn't this month! It's also very pretty without the snow👌!

[@StretchYourself]

Yeah we hiked it last August 27-September 6. It was a great time, thanks for watching!

[@danettemohr1733]

Thank you for sharing your video! Researching for a future trip. I've taken G Adventures for other sightseeing trips, but never thought of taking them for this. One bonus would be not worrying about booking each night's accommodations. If you had to do it again, would you take them, or go on your own? Just curious!

[@StretchYourself]

Hey thanks for watching! Wouldn’t have changed a thing actually. But I’m a very social person so the group thing caters to my type. Our group leader was a total stud as well. Cool that you already know G adventures! I’d def use them for this. To your point, I loved how I didn’t have to think about anything except for hiking and video production. That was really nice. You thinking 2024 or 25?

[@danettemohr1733]

Not until next year, I’m currently recovering from foot surgery!

[@StretchYourself]

@@danettemohr1733 oh no! But good for you for already looking into the future. You got this 💪

[@calvinkirkland1]

Hey there! Love this! What tour company/guide company did you go with?

[@StretchYourself]

Oh thanks so much! 🙏 only took me about 64 editing hours to complete 😅 G adventures tour group. Everything about it was perfect, they have it dialed. Are you planning for this year or next?

[@calvinkirkland1]

@@StretchYourself hey there, did your G adventure tour start and end in charmonix?

[@StretchYourself]

@@calvinkirkland1 thanks! yes sir, sure did. We stayed at Hotel Isabella in Chamonix.

[@bibianhuynh]

There were a lot of beautiful flowers, what month did you hike?

[@StretchYourself]

Totally! I had to capture the large variety. Late August to early September. Thanks for watching! Are you going to hike the TMB someday?

[@waltercox77]

Thank you so much!! I'm going end of July with a group of 8 or 10. Question...do you really need the poles? I have never hiked with them, they seem like a burden! I know I'm probably crazy, but I want to pack as light as possible. Should I carry Euros, or do they have credit card services everywhere? Did you tip the guides? I am planning on it, but I wasn't sure what the proper amount should be. I am also using G Adventures! What a great video! Thank you again!!

[@matthewcollis6259]

You need poles, there is over 1000m of ascent/descent daily and poles will reduce the impact on your knees hugely. If you don't take any then buy some when you get there. Far less chance of injury

[@KhurshidsChannel]

Amazing! Fantastic video. Thanks for sharing. Sub & 👍171

[@StretchYourself]

Thanks so much! Really appreciate the comment. Have you or are you going to hike the TMB?

[@KhurshidsChannel]

@@StretchYourself Not yet, it's on my bucket list.

[@mtmankowski9114]

Amazing, which tour company did you use?

[@StretchYourself]

Thanks so much! G Adventures and they were great. Our leader Denis was a stud, I’d follow him anywhere!

[@KeithDuhaime]

When did you hike it? We are looking at doing it this September.

[@StretchYourself]

August 27-September 6. I’m an idiot, I didn’t mention that in the video 🙄 Thanks for watching! Will you go early September? Most of the refuges close during that month..

[@lunaalvaro]

Thank you for the great video. In which month of the year you walked there?

[@StretchYourself]

Thanks so much for watching! I should’ve said the dates in the video. August 29- September 6. Are you going this year or next?

[@lunaalvaro]

@@StretchYourself thank you!! I’m planning to go this year. Also in september. Thank you!!!

[@lunaalvaro]

@@StretchYourself how long before do you need to book for the accommodations in september?? Thanks so much!!

[@StretchYourself]

@@lunaalvaro excellent, have an awesome time!

[@StretchYourself]

@@lunaalvaro I booked through Gadventures tour and they took care of everything. Much easier that way!

[@martigutwein7753]

I must have missed this part: "I showed you what to wear, how much to pack, what medical supplies to bring, how to prevent and manage blisters, etc. "

[@StretchYourself]

Sorry I didn’t include everything you were hoping for. I strive for a mix of entertainment and value and I wanted to point out the trials and tribulations we faced along the way. Regardless, thanks so much for watching! Are you planning to hike the TMB this year or next or?

[@ajya462]

If someone doesn’t know how to check weather and pack appropriately/have the right gear then this trip is better off 100% guided. A video isn’t going to make up for basic backpacking skills.

[@user-so8if5pt6m]

I may have missed it, but what time of year did you hike this?

[@StretchYourself]

No you’re right, I forgot to include that in the vid! 🙄 It was August 27-September 4.

[@cherylgoins-oe6fb]

Thank you! My husband and I are planning this hike this year around the same dates. This was very helpful!

[@StretchYourself]

@@cherylgoins-oe6fb ok great to hear! You’ll have a blast

[@TheNNguyener96]

How heavy was your bag?

[@StretchYourself]

I think I was around 27 pounds and that included about 5 pounds of camera equipment, drone, batteries, etc. thanks for watching! Are you planning a hike?

[@TheNNguyener96]

@@StretchYourself Yes, I went last year and my bag was a little heavy. Trying to be better prepare this year!

[@StretchYourself]

@@TheNNguyener96 oh wow good for you! Yeah I didn’t need to pack hardly any snacks. The only food I carried was a lunch on the same day if we were having a picnic that day. Did you recognize some of the refuges and trails?

[@TheNNguyener96]

@@StretchYourself Oh yeah! It was the most memorable hike ever! I camp and only stayed at Rifugio Elisabetta. I went counterclockwise from Chamonix to France and made it to Orsieres. I'm hoping to finish all of the hike this time.

[@StretchYourself]

@@TheNNguyener96 very cool! Have a great time