Moments on the Mountain

"Why don’t seagulls fly by the bay? Because then they’d be bagels."

Taken with a Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2 lens.

Day 7 of the TMB - Champex-Lac to Trient.

On day 7, you have a choice. You can either take the chilled way but heading up north and approaching from Trient from the east or you can take the more direct route by heading west out of Champex-Lac allowing you to summit Le Génépi.

Be warn, taking the more direct and tougher route is not for the faint hearted. The forecast was for storms who the group I was with opted for the more mellow option.

"I like to take magazines along when my family camps, but it creates too many issues."

Taken with a Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2 lens.

Day 6 of the TMB - La Fouly to Champex-Lac

A more chilled day with relatively little elevation gain. We took this opportunity to recover, relax and just take in the scenery. And the good news is that by this time, the trail legs have fully set in and everyone was feeling stronger than ever.

"I overheard the forest's concern, "Are you oak-ay?" I replied, "Yes, I am pine. Why woodn't I be?""

Taken with a Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2 lens.

Day 5 of the TMB - Camping Grandes Jorasse to La
Fouly.

This shot was taken after passing over Tête de Ferret and being adopted by another great group of fellow hikers :)

"Why did the science teacher take his class on a field trip to the mountains? … They needed higher grades."

Taken with a Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2 lens.

Day 5 of the TMB - Camping Grandes Jorasse to La Fouly.

Rifugio Walter Bonatti or more commonly known as Bonatti is one of the most popular rifugio on the trail. And you can see why huh. If you do want to stay here, definitely book early. Although I didn't stay there, everyone who I met who did said it was absolutely amazing.

"How did the egg get up the mountain?… It scrambled up!"

Taken with a Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2 lens.

Day 5 of the TMB - Camping Grandes Jorasse to La
Fouly.

Upon reaching this section of the TMB, the bad memories just came flooding back. A few years ago, I completed this section with Much Better Adventures and I can confirm that the hike up to Grand Col Ferret was every bit as tough as I remembered.

"Why don’t mountains get cold in the winter?… They wear snowcaps."

Taken with a Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2 lens.

Day 5 of the TMB - Camping Grandes Jorasse to La Fouly.

After a great night at Camping Grandes Jorasses, I set off quite early in the morning as it was a very big leg to Camping des Glaciers in La Fouly. This is a quick photo of the section of valley that you have to cover. Not too shabby.

"How do fleas travel from place to place?… By itch-hiking!"

Taken with a Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2 lens.

Day 4 of the TMB - Rifugio Elisabetta to Camping
Grandes Jorasse.

It is hard to take a bad shot when on the TMB. This is a stunning shot of Rifugio Combal which can be found on the way to Courmayeur. Not a bad place to stay I reckon.

"IWhat did the snow say to the Rocky Mountains?… I’ve got you covered."

Taken with a Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2 lens.

Day 4 of the TMB - Rifugio Elisabetta to Camping
Grandes Jorasse.

It's a cow, contemplating life on top of a mountain. That's normal right?

"What do you do when it rains? I get wet."

Taken with a Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2 lens.

Day 4 of the TMB - Rifugio Elisabetta to Camping Grandes Jorasse.

Just a stunning shot on the high route just after Val Veny. A few choose to skip this section and instead, opt for the low route which is technically the traditional way. However, if you have the legs, I do highly recommend taking the higher route as the views are just amazing.

"What do you do when it rains? I get wet."

Taken with a Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2 lens.

Day 3 of the TMB - Les Chapieux to Rifugio Elisabetta.

The last few photos of day 3. One of the descent from Col de la Seigne and the other, the beautiful views from Rifugio Elisabetta. We were planning on hiking further on to a few campsites but as luck would have it, there were a few last minute cancellations. Who are we to say no 🤣

"The guide told me the best place to have lunch is when we find a fork in the path."

Taken with a Pixel 6.

Day 3 of the TMB - Les Chapieux to Rifugio Elisabetta.

Who doesn't like a good selfie with some good company at the top of Col de la Seigne where we cross from France over to Italy.

"Throwing the rock back on the ground was easy for my father because he wasn’t sedimental."

Taken with a Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2 lens.

Day 3 of the TMB - Les Chapieux to Rifugio Elisabetta.

For those who took the variant on day 2, they would end up at Refuge des Mottes. But be warned, everyone who I met said that the descent was just nasty.

"When my favorite song came on while hiking, I felt like I was ready for a trail remix."

Taken with a Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2 lens.

Day 2 of the TMB - Camping le Pontet to Les
Chapieux.

A quick photo taken Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme. Just a stunning shot of the mountains.

"My fearless friend said, “This mountain isn’t big enough for the both of us.” Being less boulder than he, I retreated back down. "

Taken with a Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2 lens.

Day 2 of the TMB - Camping le Pontet to Les Chapieux.

Definitely a tougher day compared to the first. Waking up early, I knew I had my work cut out for me. Although, it wasn't very long in distance the temperature was high! I was sweating buckets!

The picture was taken just after Refuge De La Balme. Little did I know that this was also the first photo of Chiara, someone who I would walk many days with later on on the trail 😊

"After lunch was over, my father told me he was ready to get back on the trail, so I told him to go take a hike."

Taken with a Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2 lens.

Day 1 of the TMB. Starting at Les Houche, I set of Camping le Pontet in Les Contamines. A relatively easy day (especially if you catch the lift at the start to skip about 1.5 hrs of uphill walking :P). My excuse though is that I will be camping the majority of the trip.

The picture was taken of a small little house at Le Champel quite early on in the day. It was just too nice too pass up 😀

"What’s a supreme ruler who enjoys hiking called? A Roamin’ Emperor"

Selfie taken with a Pixel 6.

Having a quick breaky with a few fellow Londoners before heading off on day 1 of the Tour du Mont Blanc. Stay tuned for a day by day account of amazing trip.

"On a hike today the mosquitoes were relentless. They were really out for blood."

Taken with the Fujifilm X-T4 with a 23mm f/2.0 lens.

It is always important to stretch before and after a long hike ☃🥰

Extract from the "outdooractive" website.

The Husedalen Waterfall Walk

Tveitafossen – The first of the series of 4 magnificent waterfalls, located at 200m and 103m tall. Located next to the Kinsarvik Power Station. A sightseeing platform is just in front of the cascading falls.

Nyastolsfossen– at 400m and 115m tall.

Nykkesfossen - at 600m and 60m tall. In a large clearing. Not quite as dramatic as previous two waterfalls but just as beautiful.

Sotefossen – at 900m. A twin fall which plunges down over 246m over two steps.

Hardangervidda Mountain Plateau – the largest mountain plateau in northern Europe. Characterised by numerous pools, lakes, rivers and streams the terrain on the Hardangervidda is the remnants of mountains worn down by glaciers during the ice age.








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"If my friends ask my plans for today’s hike, I’ll summit up nicely."

Want to know the secret to looking young for longer? Sun protection 😎







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"I came across two talking stones while I was out hiking. One was big but shy. The other was a little boulder."

Got to have a photos of the boys at Trolltunga.







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"Finishing the hike was such a re-leaf"

Taken with the FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens.

Trolltunga...but a little early in the season.







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"What’s a flock of sheep that tumbles down a mountain called? A lamb-slide."

Taken with the FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens.

From the UK to Norway. Just being boys at the Skjervsfossen. Our main objective though is Trolltunga. Pictures of the trip will be up soon.






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"Why does the science teacher take her class to the mountains on the field trip? Because they need higher grades."

Taken with the Pixel 5.

3 Snowdon summits in 4 days. Various weather conditions, 100% fun.

"Mountains are so funny because they are always so high."

Taken with the Pixel 5.

Before I show you what it looks like at the summit of Snowdon, I thought I share a few silly photos of me changing campsites. Just a few shots near Glanrafon Slate Quarries as I moved from "Camping in Llanberis" to National Trust's "Hafod y Llan".

"Mountains wear snow caps so that they don’t catch cold."

Taken with a FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens.

You guessed it, it is another trail to Snowdon. People say this is one of the hardest and I must say, it wasn't a walk in the park. I start from National Trust campsite, Hafod y Llan and slowly made my way up. Amazing views left right and center but it wasn't until I got near the top did I find out why people called it tough. The last section is STEEP, has lots of loose rocks and is not really well marked.

Taken with a FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens.

Another day, another trail up to Snowdon.This time it's the Rhyd Ddu path. A lot quieter than the others and a tad more difficult closer to the tail end of the track. Still worth it if you want something different from the standard.

"These mountain jokes are awful. But at least they’re not cliff hangers."

FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens

"There’s nothing but a fine line between ‘hell’ and ‘hill’."

FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens

"Did you hear that story about the biggest mountain in the world? I couldn’t get over it."

FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens

"Mountain walks are the ideal first date: steep and cheerful."

FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens

"You might be at the summit now, but it’s all downhill from there."

FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens.

"You should dress up warm in the Andes. That place is Chile."

FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens

"What’s funnier: mountain ranges or forests? Mountains, of course- they’re hill areas."

FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens

"What do you call an amazing day up a mountain? A ‘peak’ experience."

FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens

"What do you call a giant hill made of kittens? A meow-tain."

FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens

"Solving problems in the mountains is easy. It really Alps to clear your head."

Pixel 5.

"Lighting a campfire on a mountain? Don’t burn your ridges."

FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens.

Back Tor is a moderate 1hr walk from Edale.

"Why can’t you play hide and seek with mountains? They always peak!"

FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens

Lose Hill is a moderate 1hr walk from Edale.

"Why do pirates avoid mountain roads? ‘Scurvy."

FujiFilm X-T4 with 23mm f/2.0 lens

Back Tor is a moderate 1hr walk from Edale.

"Never forget how beautiful the mountains are. You don’t want to take them for granite."

Tour du Mont Blanc 🗻⛺️- 170km/105m with 10km of ascent over 3 different countries.

It has been a little over a week since I returned from completing one of toughest yet rewarding treks I ever attempted. From scorching heat to non-stop rain and even battling a case of food poisoning, all while nursing my poor slipped disc. But it was all worth it. The amazing sights and sounds, dramatic landscape and last but not least, the food...I mean people 😀

To all those who I met on the trail, you guys and girls made it very special. For some it was just a brief moment and others, you were stuck with me for days on end. Thanks to all the teachers, models, baristas, ice skaters, doctors, bankers, cartographers, veterinarians, software developers, camp mentors, trail runners, beer managers, students and laywers for sharing your stories. I might have started the trip alone but finished it with life long memories and new friends who also call the mountains home.

If any of you are ever in London, please do not hesitate to shoot me a message. I can even offer my well tested tent for accomodation 😁.

Until the next trail!

ciao!

Disclaimer...yes I did use a few buses and lifts and gondolas 😅

"Which is the laziest mountain? Mount Ever rest."

Mam Tor is a 517 m hill near Castleton in the High Peak of Derbyshire, England. Its name means "mother hill", so called because frequent landslips on its eastern face have resulted in a multitude of "mini-hills" beneath it. -Wikipedia

Location: Mam Tor, Castleton, Peak District
Duration: About 1hr from Edale train station.




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