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@@applestamer5924 great question! Thanks for asking! On this hike, I had a Garmin inReach mini which is a satellite communicator (subscription needed). It allows me to share a link to my contacts so they can track me in real time while I’m hiking. It also allows two-way communication via text even when there is no cell signal (especially useful in remote areas). I never go on hikes/runs (especially solo hikes) in the backwoods or remote places, without it. If you don’t have a device like this, make sure you’ve studied your route, be aware of bailout/exit points, have a map (lots of apps like Gaia and AllTrails), and let someone know your plans. I also would make sure to have sufficient water and calories, plus additional layers in case of an emergency (emergency bivvy would be an example). Especially in mountains and high altitudes where weather can turn quickly, have enough supplies on your person to help you survive an evening in the mountains.

Good to hear! Thank you!

@@mtmankowski9114 thank you for the feedback! We were definitely always slower than the posted signs. 😆 I think the number of stops you make (and how long they last), weather, and one’s physical fitness greatly impacted how long it took us to get to our destinations. In our case, unfortunately, descents took as long as ascents.

@@kieranstafford9718 thank you! My understanding is you could pre-arrange a taxi (but we had no idea what our ETA would be). That might have cost less. Better yet, make sure to arrive in Les Chapieux before the last shuttle leaves.

@@lifesapeach.runandgrow just curious did you carry a water filter on the tour?

@@kieranstafford9718 yes, we carried the Katadyn BeFree water filter bottle (collapsible) and used it a few times. We always started our hike with about 1.5 liters each.

@@kieranstafford9718 I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your feedback. We went with a tour company, MACS Adventures. We were very happy with them. It was a self-guided tour so they arranged all the accommodations and provided us maps and an app that were super helpful in guiding us during our hike. There are many signs along the TMB. On a clear day, I think paper maps and the signs should be fine for navigation. But on a foggy/cloudy day, I highly recommend having a map on your phone (AllTrails or Gaia likely have TMB routes on them.) We primarily used the app provided by MACS.

@@kieranstafford9718 for what it’s worth, I wrote this note about planning. Good luck and have a great time with your daughter! medium.com/@peachv/planning-our-2024-tour-du-mont-blanc-adventure-a8ca82f842cd

@@applestamer5924 yes, duly noted! Great suggestion. In Les Houches, Hôtel Chalet du Bois was very responsive when I emailed them before the trip; the room was spacious, had a wide balcony with a view of the mountains, and the bathroom was modern and had a tube. We ordered off a menu for dinner (delicious!) and we had many choices for breakfast - all very filling! Also, they agreed to hold our luggage for us while we hiked - free of charge. In Les Contamines-Montjoie, we called the Hôtel le Chemenaz before 7pm as we were running late. They happily extended our dinner time to 8pm so we could get showered before dinner. The room was again clean, spacious, and comfortable with a big balcony. For dinner, we had a delicious 3-course meal and for breakfast, there was a buffet. We ate heartily. I recommend both of these hotels!

Thanks for the visit!

Thank you for your feedback! Dare to dream and have the courage to try -- that's my mantra! :-) I've since run a few more ultras (and lots of shorter trail races) and I don't think I've reached the limit of what's possible. Good luck to you on your endeavors!

Ugh, my bad! I hope you went ahead with your 50K training. And in case you haven't, I would say to start building your base (run regularly and build up your mileage gradually). Then find a race you'd like to aim for then commit to training for it. Before this race, I trained for and ran a marathon 4 months before Way Too Cool. I took a 2-week break after the marathon then started training for my 50K. I just found a training plan on the internet. Good luck!

Thank you! I appreciate your kind words.

Thank you!

Being outdoors makes me happy! :-)

Thank you!