TMB Day Five…Courmayeur to Rifugio Bonati *The Tour du Mont Blanc is the most famous and celebrated hike in Alpine Europe and is the fifth Bucket List Hike that Brian and Sylvia have completed together. It is also our first hike together of any kind in Europe.* It was with only the greatest sadness that we departed Courmayeur, Italy. It […]
Tour du Mont Blanc: The Hard Button
TMB Day 4: Rifugio Elisabetta to Courmayeur *The Tour du Mont Blanc is the most famous and celebrated hike in Alpine Europe and is the fifth Bucket List Hike that Brian and Sylvia have completed together. It is also our first hike together of any kind in Europe.* After a very satisfying breakfast we said goodbye to the friends we […]
Tour du Mont Blanc: An Improvised – But Full(y)-Ass(ess)ed – Plan!
TMB Day Three: Refuge du Bonhomme to Refugio Elisabetta *The Tour du Mont Blanc is the most famous and celebrated hike in Alpine Europe and is the fifth Bucket List Hike that Brian and Sylvia have completed together. It is also our first hike together of any kind in Europe.* Morning of Day 3 began with our Isreali roommate bursting […]
Tour du Mont Blanc: And We’re Just Getting Started(?!)
TMB Day Two: Refuge de Truc to Refuge du Bonhomme *The Tour du Mont Blanc is the most famous and celebrated hike in Alpine Europe and is the fifth Bucket List Hike that Brian and Sylvia have completed together. It is also our first hike together of any kind in Europe.* Day two got off to a gray and drizzly […]
Tour du Mont Blanc: Uphill Both Ways…or, the Circle Begins!
TMB Day One: Les Houches to Refuge de Truc *The Tour du Mont Blanc is the most famous and celebrated hike in Alpine Europe and is the fifth Bucket List Hike that Brian and Sylvia have completed together. It is also our first hike together of any kind in Europe.* Despite a long and difficult day of travel we were […]
My Buddy, Rainier!
*This post originally appeared on the blog in December 2017…We have re-posted for the enjoyment of all during our ‘Summer re-runs” while Brian and Sylvia are in search of new adventures. *We have added the Skyline Trail on Mt. Rainier to the list of Great Hikes in the USA and Canada! In my opinion there are seven natural wonders that […]
2016 Flashback: The Pacific Northwest
*This post originally appeared on the blog in December 2017…We have re-posted for the enjoyment of all during our ‘Summer re-runs” while Brian and Sylvia are in search of new adventures. The San Juan Islands / Mt. Constitution Located about halfway between Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia, The scenic San Juan Islands are a popular destination for boaters, sea […]
Time for Summer re-runs!
We’ll soon beheaded into Summer Vacation mode here in BecauseItzThere land, as Sylvia and Brian venture far afield to bring back more quality hiking adventures to you. We’ll be checking in as time, internet access and other events beyond our control allow. To fill the gaps until we get back, we’ll be posting some ‘re-runs’ of older posts than many […]
Bastille Day and an Update on the TMB
Today is the French Holiday of Bastille Day, when France Celebrates it’s independence. And tomorrow may be another special day in France. What better way to celebrate than with fu-fu coffee at a local French restaurant? But our special days in France are also coming shortly. Sylvia and I will soon be embarking on the adventure of a lifetime – […]
The Last Miles Before the Hundred
Our last conditioning hike of the pre-Tour Du Mont Blanc was completed Sunday. Seven miles out and back on the Falls Lake Trail with fully loaded packs…carrying exactly what we’d be carrying on a typical day of the TMB. The hiking days in the Alps will be longer with much more up and down, of course. The TMB is of […]