Day 9 Trekking
Argentiere to Chamonix
6 Miles, 2300 ft Ascending, 850 ft Descending

We are cracking ourselves up as we make the final climb on this final trekking day. And by final climb I mean final – we can see the cable car that will whisk us back down to Chamonix from the top of this rise. In our best Phil-of-the-Amazing-Race imitations, we simultaneously announce “Gina and Dena … (hesitation) … you are the last team to arrive. I’m sorry, you’ve both been eliminated from the race.”

Okay, so maybe Phil isn’t standing at the top of this climb but instead is every other member of our fabulous tour, waiting to congratulate us on completing the final ascent of the trip. It’s true we are the last to arrive, but luckily this is a non-elimination round, meaning we get to race on for one more day.

For this final day of trekking, Jen and Erica have served up a heap of steep. I had been forewarned of this last night by Bad News Buscarello, who, after returning from the evening’s meal that I had skipped due to my inability to move from where I had landed on my bed hours earlier, informed me that not only were we going to have to leave earlier than usual in the morning, but that the day’s hike would consist of nothing but steep ascents, no shade, no water, no toilets, and worst of all, no cappuccinos. So nice to have something to look forward to.

But actually, the day served up not just a heap of steep but also a heap of stunning scenery (once more) and a heap of good laughs with our fellow trekkers, as we shared one last day together on the trail. It’s hard to believe but we have actually done what days ago we could only imagine (and hope) to do – successfully circumnavigate the Mont Blanc massif. Bravo Team Tour du Mont Blanc. Well done!