My next adventure starts tomorrow! I’m hiking the Tour de Mont Blanc (the red loop above). Most people start the TMB in Chamonix or Les Houches but my original plan was to walk thru Switzerland on a Camino (the other red line) and hop on the TMB in Trient as it was the closest access point. Knee issues forced me to cancel my Camino but I kept my reservations for the TMB so with fingers crossed and knee supports in hand I’ll give it a go!

It took a few days to get here with nights spent in Vancouver, Paris, and Martigny; then a bus today to this little village high up in the mountains. The peaks surrounding Trient are like walls choking in on this tiny place. It’s a fair claustrophobic introduction to the Alps but one I’m sure I’ll relish as the epic views reveal themselves.

Tonight I’m staying in a hotel/hostel called Auberge de Mont Blanc. They have everything from private rooms to full-on bunk rooms, all with shared bathroom facilities. Meals are included and served at large communal tables. Tonight was a 4-courser featuring spaghetti as the main. Good carbohydrate-heavy filling food served to 116 hungry hikers in 3 crowded dining rooms.

Bedtime called after the meal. Breakfast is at 6:15a tomorrow so it’ll be an early start for Day 1.