PCT Day 156: Canada, But For Real 

June 26, 2025 Campsite at mile 2647.3 to northern terminus at the Canadian border (Nobo mi 2655.8; Sobo mi 0), then back to Hopkins Lake (Nobo mi 2649.4; Sobo mi 6.4) 14.9 miles  It’s a pretty morning when I wake just before 6. Mixed clouds and sunlight again. I lay down after my routine early …

Continue reading PCT Day 156: Canada, But For Real 

PCT Day 155: Ground Squirrels, Pikas, and Marmots, Oh My! 

June 25, 2025 Windy Pass to campsite at mile 2647.3  16.9 miles  This morning feels nice. Chilly but not frigidly cold. I slept just okay last night; it could have been worse, but my hips and back still hurt. But no matter. I have my hot coffee and breakfast wraps. The stream rising from the …

Continue reading PCT Day 155: Ground Squirrels, Pikas, and Marmots, Oh My! 

PCT Day 154: High Quality Ridges

June 24, 2025 Glacier Pass to Windy Pass  15.1 miles  I’m awake long before my alarm again. Either I’m still on east coast time or the light wakes me up or both, but either way I don’t mind much today because I actually slept really well. Of course, there were still the obligatory moments when …

Continue reading PCT Day 154: High Quality Ridges

TMB Day 11: Full Circle

August 3, 2024 Auberge La Flégère to Les Houches  10.6 miles There’s something nice about doing a circular hike. It’s like completing a ring, making it back to the beginning. I do love a full-circle ending, me. Tie up all those loose ends, make it all connect. Bring us back to where it started.  You …

Continue reading TMB Day 11: Full Circle

TMB Day 10: Lakes and Ladders 

August 2, 2024 Auberge la Boerne in Tré-le-Champ to Refuge La Flégère  ~5.1 miles hiked (~2.9 miles on Lac Blanc alternate)  Despite the storm, I wake refreshed. The campsite is next to a flowing stream, and boy do I love camping next to a flowing stream. It’s so soothing and almost guaranteed to make me …

Continue reading TMB Day 10: Lakes and Ladders 

TMB Day 9: When it Rains, it Pours

August 1, 2024 Auberge Mont Blanc in Trient to Auberge la Boerne in Tré-le-Champ  8.6 miles  I’m impressed with Auberge Mont Blanc. It’s enormous, but they still manage to provide hikers with everything they need. Enough showers with hot water and good water pressure? Check. Friendly employees and a nice bar? Check. A buffet breakfast …

Continue reading TMB Day 9: When it Rains, it Pours

TMB Day 8: Berries, Blooms, and Bovines

July 31, 2024 Chalet la Grange, Champex-lac to Auberge Mont Blanc, Trient  10 miles  Another morning, another half-awake scramble to get moving followed by another delicious breakfast. More of that tangy, thick alpine yogurt that I love! Melissa has provided us with little tureens of it, along with jam, cereal, and of course, freshly baked …

Continue reading TMB Day 8: Berries, Blooms, and Bovines

TMB Day 4: Am I in Heaven? 

July 27, 2024 Rifugio Elisabetta to Courmayeur  9.8 miles  Rifugio Elisabetta may have been hell, but everything else has been heaven. This morning is especially so—after we escape, that is.  I didn’t end up going rogue last night; I dilly-dallied as long as I could in the restroom and then accepted my fate and climbed …

Continue reading TMB Day 4: Am I in Heaven? 

TMB Day 3: We Zoom for Marmots

July 26, 2024 Les Chapieux to Rifugio Elisabetta 8.6 miles When I poke my head out of my tent this morning, Grace’s first question is “Coffee?” Man, it’s nice hiking with a fellow caffeine addict in a country with copious coffee. We start with some camp coffee though—to be followed by coffee at the store …

Continue reading TMB Day 3: We Zoom for Marmots