Hiking above Courmayeur, Italy
In August, I drove 90 minutes over to Courmayeur, the swanky ski village on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc, or Monte Bianco, as they call it in Italy. Courmayeur is about 25 minutes from Chamonix, France, through an 11.6 km (or 7.2-mile) long tunnel. This hike started at the church in town, then travelled up from the village through some nearby neighborhoods before hopping off the road and onto a trail. Eventually, it connects with the TMB (Tour du Mont Blanc) Trail. In all, it was 25 kms (15 miles) and 1,646 meters (5,400 feet) in elevation. It took just over six hours. The pasta and beer at the end was well-earned.