Day 1: Planning to Reality

After months of planning, booking, researching and tinkering with kit lists, departure day is finally approaching.

The packs are mostly packed, although there will no doubt be a few last-minute changes as I attempt to save another 50 grams while simultaneously adding another item "just in case".

The plan is to walk the Tour du Mont Blanc over the coming weeks, following the classic circuit through France, Italy and Switzerland. We will be camping most nights, backup transport arrangements are in place and the route has been studied often enough that I can almost convince myself I know where I'm going.

As always, the weather remains the great unknown. Forecasts are being checked despite knowing that mountain weather will do whatever it wants regardless.

The Tour du Mont Blanc has been on the list only since January 2026. The combination of mountain scenery, well-established trails and the opportunity to walk through three countries on a single route makes it one of Europe's classic long-distance treks.

The next update should come from the trail itself. Hopefully with a few spreadsheets and more mountains.

For now, there is little left to do except finish packing, make sure nothing important has been left behind and head for the start.