Me and wor lass are all booked up to do this next August and have been deep in the research phase the last few weeks and you are not the first person I've seen regret making this mistake of taking an alternative route. I normally like to go a little off piste on my long distance hikes but I will 100% be staying on trail this time around. We've just finished the Cumbria way and now waiting for this August can not come quick enough! Love your vids bro ✌🏻
A good rule is to never trust a path which is not showing on up to date official maps if you are not with someone which already experienced it. Also, always think about turning back if you feel that the situation is getting out of hand, even if it is ruining your trip. That's probably the hardest call to make for any hiker but often the right one !
David, thanks for sharing this. I've seen another video from a couple who took the wrong turning and also met someone who had just followed someone else, thinking they were doing the TMB - but weren't. My recommendation for everyone is to navigate carefully. Know how to read a map and even to use a compass if necessary. Best of luck, Mark
Thank you very much for making this video. Mont Blanc is on the bucket list and thanks to your advice you are helping people (including me) to avoid danger. Because we may well have made the same routing mistake as you. Thank you
Even if you take a variant, you should nevertheless stay on the variant trail. Going off trail can get you the Darwin award. A very informative video for future TMBers
It's frightening how easy it can be to go wrong and get yourself into a nasty situation like that. A really important lesson for any hiker or mountaineer to learn is realising that you've gone wrong and when to turn back, retrace your steps and get onto the right path - although it is sometimes easier said than done, especially if you're worried that the "right" path may not be a whole lot better than the one you're on.
Some sound advice there David. Question, for each day do you provide a route and give it to someone as a safety measure? I'm just thinking if you were off piste and injured/missing, then at what point would they have come for you? I did watch it at the time but I trust you had an Inreach? Great self reflection. Thanks for sharing.
Sounds like an awesome experience! Love the story! Reminds me of my own similar lessons of ...oh fuck. Anonther thing people should heed is to bring hiking poles. Saves your knees, makes both ascends and steep descends pleasurable and they can provide so much stability in the crazy territory you went, which would've made it hella fun! And learn to navigate well...
What do you think about taking drone? I have dji mini 2 but controler is heavy. Should I just make couple shots from car and add to my movie? Nice video btw
I'm going in July for 10 days staying in huts. I have good fitness do a lot of marathon running. But never hiked before in my life, I'm scared now watching this to accidentally go off trail. Any advice? Are the official trails easy to follow?
You will be just fine. But do stay on the trail, whether it's the main trail or a variant. The main thing is to stay in the trail. I've done the route twice and the second time i did variants that are not even TMB variants - e.g. i stayed in Refuge de Plan Glacier, and I also crossed Col d'Enclave. You'll be fine 👍
Learn from our experience!! Stick to the trail guys💪
Great advice. I once left the trail in the Balkan mountains and it got quite messy ;)
Me and wor lass are all booked up to do this next August and have been deep in the research phase the last few weeks and you are not the first person I've seen regret making this mistake of taking an alternative route. I normally like to go a little off piste on my long distance hikes but I will 100% be staying on trail this time around. We've just finished the Cumbria way and now waiting for this August can not come quick enough!
Love your vids bro ✌🏻
There are variants which offer a choice between easier and more difficult routes. Both are official routes and well marked.
A good rule is to never trust a path which is not showing on up to date official maps if you are not with someone which already experienced it.
Also, always think about turning back if you feel that the situation is getting out of hand, even if it is ruining your trip. That's probably the hardest call to make for any hiker but often the right one !
100%!! Sometimes it’s best to just turn around 👊
David, thanks for sharing this. I've seen another video from a couple who took the wrong turning and also met someone who had just followed someone else, thinking they were doing the TMB - but weren't. My recommendation for everyone is to navigate carefully. Know how to read a map and even to use a compass if necessary. Best of luck, Mark
Thank you very much for making this video. Mont Blanc is on the bucket list and thanks to your advice you are helping people (including me) to avoid danger. Because we may well have made the same routing mistake as you. Thank you
Wow - thanks for that awesome tip!!!
Even if you take a variant, you should nevertheless stay on the variant trail. Going off trail can get you the Darwin award. A very informative video for future TMBers
Nice video! I will indeed learn from your experience, hiking many trails next year and don't want to injure myself by going of trail
It's frightening how easy it can be to go wrong and get yourself into a nasty situation like that. A really important lesson for any hiker or mountaineer to learn is realising that you've gone wrong and when to turn back, retrace your steps and get onto the right path - although it is sometimes easier said than done, especially if you're worried that the "right" path may not be a whole lot better than the one you're on.
Jeez. Yeah as you say stick to the trail but also don’t be afraid to change your mind and retreat ;)
Some sound advice there David. Question, for each day do you provide a route and give it to someone as a safety measure? I'm just thinking if you were off piste and injured/missing, then at what point would they have come for you? I did watch it at the time but I trust you had an Inreach? Great self reflection. Thanks for sharing.
Oof. Advice noted! Glad you made it around safely.
Sounds like an awesome experience! Love the story! Reminds me of my own similar lessons of ...oh fuck.
Anonther thing people should heed is to bring hiking poles. Saves your knees, makes both ascends and steep descends pleasurable and they can provide so much stability in the crazy territory you went, which would've made it hella fun! And learn to navigate well...
Good effort for sharing. Bless you.🩵
That's what I call a proper adventure, lol 👣👍
Hahahaha
Omg 😩better sore knees and slower walk 😂 glad all turned out ok 🙏
rule of thumb: don't trust Alltrails. The routes are user generated
When did you do your hike? We are going in August towards the end I wondering about the rainfall and fog then? 🤷🏼♀️ I’m sticking to the trail. 😮
We went in September 😁 best of luck!!
What do you think about taking drone? I have dji mini 2 but controler is heavy. Should I just make couple shots from car and add to my movie? Nice video btw
Not worth it!!! There’s signs everywhere out there, I wouldn’t bother!
Terrifying!
Maps are useful
I'm going in July for 10 days staying in huts. I have good fitness do a lot of marathon running. But never hiked before in my life, I'm scared now watching this to accidentally go off trail. Any advice? Are the official trails easy to follow?
You will be just fine. But do stay on the trail, whether it's the main trail or a variant. The main thing is to stay in the trail. I've done the route twice and the second time i did variants that are not even TMB variants - e.g. i stayed in Refuge de Plan Glacier, and I also crossed Col d'Enclave. You'll be fine 👍