Tour du Mont Blanc Day 10: 5,000 feet of elevation for the grand finale
/Tour du Mont Blanc Day 10: The Final 5,000-Foot Climb
On Monday, July 21st, we woke up to our tenth and final day on the Tour du Mont Blanc. It was a day that promised one last, massive climb and a spectacular finish high above the Chamonix valley. [3 minute recap video]
A Foggy Start and a Mammoth Climb
The day started with low fog blanketing the valley after a rainy night, obscuring the mountains that had become our constant companions. After a little backtracking to get on the trail, we began the day's main event: a relentless 5,000-foot climb. We headed up through the forest of the Merlet Animal Park, and as we gained elevation, the fog began to burn off, revealing the stunning upper elevations of the mountains across the valley, dusted with fresh snow from the previous night's rain.
The higher we climbed, the sunnier it got, and the views just became more and more spectacular. At one point, I looked up at a line of switchbacks and realized the tiny specks on the trail far above weren't ants—they were people. It was a humbling and motivating view of how much climbing we still had left.
Lunch with a View and a Final Push
As we arrived at the Refuge de Bellachat, The views of the Aiguille du Midi were absolutely amazing. The refuge itself was very quiet, and we enjoyed a delicious goat cheese and vegetable quiche for lunch while soaking in the scenery. I set up my camera for a time-lapse and just watched the dramatic spire appear and disappear in the swirling clouds.
After lunch, we still had another 1,200 feet of elevation to gain to reach our final summit, Le Brévent. But honestly, with the incredible weather and scenery, it felt like the very best farewell the TMB could give us. The final push was tough, but the panoramic views of Mont Blanc were more than worth it.
A Hailing Finish and a Sweet Celebration
Just as we reached the top of Le Brévent and spied the cable car that would take us down to Chamonix, the clouds rolled in with a vengeance. We hustled to the station just as it started hailing hard, with serious gusts of wind. People started trying to cut in line to escape the storm, but the operators didn't flinch, and soon we were safely inside, descending back into the sunny and warm Chamonix valley.
Ten days of hiking. We had done it. A short walk across town brought our incredible journey to an end. The only thing left to do was celebrate with a well-deserved mango gelato.
Day 10 by the Numbers
A short but steep final day with the biggest climb of the entire trip. What a way to finish!
Route: Les Houches -> Parc Merlet -> Refuge de Bellachat -> Le Brévent -> Chamonix
Distance: 7.1 miles / 11.4 km
Elevation Gain: 5,089 ft / 1,551 m
Elevation Loss: 459 ft / 140 m (not including the gondola ride down)
Moving Time: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Shoes: Topo Ultraventure
Tracker: Garmin Instinct 3
Accommodation: Hotel La Verticale Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
