Tour du Mont Blanc Day 2: Over the Col de Balme and Into Switzerland!
/Tour du Mont Blanc Day 2: Over the Col de Balme and Into Switzerland!
Sunday, July 13th, marked our second day on the trail, and it was a day of big climbs, border crossings, and our official entry into Switzerland. [3 minute reel recap]
A Baguette in a Backpack
Our morning started at the bus stop in Argentière, where we had a nice chat with a friendly couple from Minnesota. The most quintessentially French moment had to be spotting someone with a fresh baguette sticking out of their backpack on the bus—a perfect send-off as we made our way to the village of Le Tour to begin our hike.
From Le Tour, the climb began immediately. We ascended through a beautiful, quiet forest filled with wildflowers, and the higher we climbed, the more spectacular the views became. Looking back, we could see the entire Chamonix Valley stretching out below us. We were grateful for a bit of cloud cover, which kept the temperature pleasant as we pushed upward, with the magnificent Glacier du Tour watching over us.
A Ridgeline Detour
Along the trail, we struck up a conversation with two fellow hikers (one also from Minnesota, the other from Houston). I asked the Houstonian how he trained for the mountains in a city that's so flat. He sighed deeply and said, "I didn’t—and I am struggling!" Our pause to chat with them gave us time to check the map. We realized that if we backtracked a little and climbed a bit more, we could likely get some stunning views. We decided to go for it, and the reward was breathtaking. From the ridge, we had stunning 360-degree views into two different valleys. It was one of those moments that makes all the effort worth it.
Hello, Switzerland!
The relentless climb eventually brought us to our next major destination: the Col de Balme, which sits right on the border between France and Switzerland. We hustled over to the Refuge de Balme for a quick break and to soak in the achievement. We couldn't resist having some fun with the border line—Nina in Switzerland, me in France, in the same photo!
From there, we began our descent. The views into Switzerland were gorgeous, a whole new landscape opening up before us. But, much like the day before, the descent was unrelenting and tough on the feet. We found the perfect remedy along the way: a crystal-clear, freezing-cold mountain stream. Taking off our shoes and soaking our tired feet in that icy water was pure bliss.
Looking down into the small town of Trient, Switzerland
Refreshed, we continued down into the tiny Swiss hamlet of Trient. We were welcomed by a brief and gentle shower and the iconic view of the village's pink church. We made our way across town and checked into our hotel for the evening, the LA GRANDE OURSE, ready for a well-earned meal and rest.
Day 2 by the Numbers
Miraculously, we hiked the exact same distance as Day 1, but with significantly more climbing. A tough, beautiful, and incredibly rewarding day.
Route: Argentière -> Le Tour -> Col de Balme -> Trient, Switzerland
Distance: 10.7 miles / 17.2 km
Elevation Gain: 3,310 ft / 1,009 m
Elevation Loss: 2,956 ft / 901 m
Total Time: 7 hours, 58 minutes
Moving Time: 4 hours, 57 minutes
Shoes: Topo Ultraventure
Tracker: Garmin Instinct 3
