Tour du Mont Blanc Sept. 2017
Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:49 pm
Hi
I'll be hiking the Mont Blanc circuit in September and have a few questions. For those of you with knowledge, any beta is appreciated.
Note I will not be attempting the summit itself. This is simply a circuit hike around Mont Blanc. If you have links to your trip reports, that would be great.
1. What type of cold weather gear do you recommend bringing? (850 down parka, expedition gloves/mitts, etc.) Or can I leave those at home and just bring a fleece/hat/and lightweight gloves?)
2. Do the huts and refuges accept Credit Cards? I'm getting conflicting information on this. If they do not, how would Bogleheads recommend getting Euros and Swiss Francs? I do have a Capital One Venture Card with no foreign transaction fees, but it does not help if the lodging places do not accept CC. (I'll be flying into Geneva and taking a bus to Chamonix/Les Houches). Should I get euros at the airport in Geneva? Or in Chamonix?
3. I am a vegetarian and mostly stay away from dairy. I had trouble with food during the Torres del Paine trek in Chile this past December. Can anyone comment on the quality of the food in the towns/huts along the way? French food is big on dairy, correct?
4. All lodging is booked except the last two nights. My co-worker recommended Annecy, France. Anyone been there? Is it worth it for 36 hours after the trek? I would plan to take the bus from Annecy to Geneva and then fly from Geneva back to the States on 09/18. Any experience with the bus system (Chamonix to Annecy and Annecy to Geneva)?
Sorry if the formatting is problematic.
Friday 9/1 DEN to RFV (Iceland) to GVA (GVA)
Saturday 9/2 Bus from Geneva to Les Houches
Sunday 9/3 Les Houches
Monday 9/4 Les Contamines
Tuesday 9/5 Les Chapieux
Wednesday 9/6 Rifugio Elisabetta
Thursday 9/7 Courmayeur
Friday 9/8 Rifugio Bonatti
Saturday 9/9 La Fouly
Sunday 9/10 Champex
Monday 9/11 Trient
Tuesday 9/12 Tre le Champ
Wednesday 9/13 Lac Blanc
Thursday 9/14 Chamonix
Friday 9/15 Chamonix
Saturday 9/16 Annecy, France
Sunday 9/17 Annecy, France
Monday 9/18 Fly to DENVER
Thank you in advance.
I'll be hiking the Mont Blanc circuit in September and have a few questions. For those of you with knowledge, any beta is appreciated.
Note I will not be attempting the summit itself. This is simply a circuit hike around Mont Blanc. If you have links to your trip reports, that would be great.
1. What type of cold weather gear do you recommend bringing? (850 down parka, expedition gloves/mitts, etc.) Or can I leave those at home and just bring a fleece/hat/and lightweight gloves?)
2. Do the huts and refuges accept Credit Cards? I'm getting conflicting information on this. If they do not, how would Bogleheads recommend getting Euros and Swiss Francs? I do have a Capital One Venture Card with no foreign transaction fees, but it does not help if the lodging places do not accept CC. (I'll be flying into Geneva and taking a bus to Chamonix/Les Houches). Should I get euros at the airport in Geneva? Or in Chamonix?
3. I am a vegetarian and mostly stay away from dairy. I had trouble with food during the Torres del Paine trek in Chile this past December. Can anyone comment on the quality of the food in the towns/huts along the way? French food is big on dairy, correct?
4. All lodging is booked except the last two nights. My co-worker recommended Annecy, France. Anyone been there? Is it worth it for 36 hours after the trek? I would plan to take the bus from Annecy to Geneva and then fly from Geneva back to the States on 09/18. Any experience with the bus system (Chamonix to Annecy and Annecy to Geneva)?
Sorry if the formatting is problematic.
Friday 9/1 DEN to RFV (Iceland) to GVA (GVA)
Saturday 9/2 Bus from Geneva to Les Houches
Sunday 9/3 Les Houches
Monday 9/4 Les Contamines
Tuesday 9/5 Les Chapieux
Wednesday 9/6 Rifugio Elisabetta
Thursday 9/7 Courmayeur
Friday 9/8 Rifugio Bonatti
Saturday 9/9 La Fouly
Sunday 9/10 Champex
Monday 9/11 Trient
Tuesday 9/12 Tre le Champ
Wednesday 9/13 Lac Blanc
Thursday 9/14 Chamonix
Friday 9/15 Chamonix
Saturday 9/16 Annecy, France
Sunday 9/17 Annecy, France
Monday 9/18 Fly to DENVER
Thank you in advance.