Westweg Day 5: Ruhestein – Hark

It was another day of pleasant walking, mix of forest and ridge lines with views. Similar scenery we saw during previews days on the trail but the terrain around us was now progressively… Continue reading

Westweg Day 3: Dobel – Wegscheid Hütte

The forest was fragrant today. As the moisture of yesterday’s rain evaporated, it lifted the scent of dump wood which mixed with the scent of freshly cut logs, piled neatly along the path… Continue reading

Westweg Day 4: Wegscheid Hut – Ruhestein

Today we walked several ridges. Not all of them had a view but every single one offered us a narrow path lined by blooming heather and it was like walking on a beautiful… Continue reading

Westweg Day 2: Birkenfeld – Dobel

After a lazy morning, we enjoyed a lazy day of trekking. The terrain wasn’t challenging and so we had plenty of opportunities to notice small things in our surroundings. First of all we… Continue reading

Westweg Day 1: Pforzheim – Birkenfeld

It can be said that the Westweg trail through Schwartzwald (Black Forest) is the origin of all German long-distance hiking trails, becoming the first designated path of its kind back in 1900. Since… Continue reading

HR – Day 1: Champex-Lac to Le Châble

“You really live up to your trail name,” Dave said as we packed today. We have just finished Tour du Mont Blanc yesterday afternoon and he was hoping for a rest day while… Continue reading

TMB – Day 10: Refuge Elena – Champex

The wind we thought would blow forever. There was no relief whatsoever during the night or in the morning. A thought occurred to me when we were packing the tent, carefully holding onto… Continue reading

TMB – Day 9: Refuge Le Randonneur – Refuge Elena

Courmayeur was a very nice town, clean with lovely houses spread through the valley. We stopped at a grocery store to pick up more bread and sausage, and in the pharmacy to get… Continue reading

TMB – Day 8: Refuge des Mottets – Refuge Le Randonneur

“Should be take the ski lift down to town?” Dave asked. We were just about an hour of walking away from Italian town called Courmayeur which we though would be our final destination… Continue reading

TMB – Day 7: Les Contamines-Montjoie – Refuge des Mottets

The feeling of guilt for taking a day off melted away as soon as I looked up and saw beautiful peaks perched against perfectly blue sky. The moody feel of yesterday would have… Continue reading