TMB Day 2: Les Houches to Contamines

• Distance: 11 miles

• Ascent: 2,000 ft

• Descent: 3600 ft

• Calories burned: 1700

It’s nearly 10pm on Day 2 and I’m not going to lie. This will be a short entry. I’m exhausted. Every fiber in my body is begging for sleep. 

It’s been yet another beautiful day. So different from yesterday. We started once again with a cable car ride. This time from the Village of Les Houches to the trailhead. For many people this is Day 1 of the TMB, which honestly I don’t understand. Yesterday being as utterly mind-boggling as it was, why would you cut it off?

Today was gorgeous, but in a different way. A lot more natural, so to speak. Much less rugged. This was a day spent in and out of the forest, walking on open meadows, past rural homes…but always accompanied by the Mont Blanc Massif itself. And yet, while it would be easy think by the pictures that this was an easy day, it was anything but. A very steep descent in particular in the first half of the day had my calf muscles screaming in pain from the very first step. Probably due in part to muscle soreness from the day before. There are already some aches and pains in the group, and we did end the day with a lovely dip in the hotel pool. It may not be an ice bath, but it sure helped to relax us all, as well as our tired bodies.

Onto day 3. By all accounts, it’s going to be a toughie. It will also be the beginning of at least 24 hours without cell service. So if you don’t hear from me for a couple of days, no, I haven’t fallen off a cliff. I’ll be back…in time. Good night y’all.