say hey – amanda palmer

hello@heyamanda.ca

Even after spending almost two weeks hiking in Eur

Even after spending almost two weeks hiking in Europe, when I got home, I couldn’t wait to get back out again.
After an afternoon & evening of back and forth about where to go, the morning of we finally settled on the Mount Habrich Loop.
And damn, I’m glad we did.
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This hike blew us away - the views, the autumn colours, and the access (thanks @seatoskygondola!) were incredible.
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Thanks @jennafranze_realestate for another beautiful day in the mountains!
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Mornings on the Tour du Mont Blanc never seemed to

Mornings on the Tour du Mont Blanc never seemed to come easy. No matter how early we’d gone to bed the night before, or how quiet the dorm had been, I still found myself fighting to open crusty eyes and get to the toilet as the entire refuge woke up and got moving.
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Often it was a splash of cold water to the face (not every place had warm water), and the application of sunscreen. If they were clean, sometimes I’d sleep in the clothes I was planning to hike in, which would save me a few minutes.
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Then, it was breakfast - at a set time, usually 7am - which could range from a piece of bread with cheese and cold cuts - to (in rare cases) eggs, apricots, and plums. Fruit was a luxury.
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Depending on how I was feeling, I’d have a tea (when I was sick), or coffee (when I was feeling good). Then, we’d fill our water, stuff it in our packs, and head to find our shoes and hiking poles. Refuges tend not to allow dirty hiking shoes and sharp poles inside, so there was often a boot room or shelves outdoors to store your things.
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There would be a steady stream of hikers buzzing around us, all at different parts of this routine.
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As we stepped outside, the fresh, cool air would hit us, reminding us where we were and what we were doing.
Then, we’d lift our packs onto our backs and step out.
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#TourduMontBlanc #RifugioElisabetta #ItalianAlps

When I showed a friend a photo of these sheep, she

When I showed a friend a photo of these sheep, she said they looked like shredded wheat! 🤣 And she’s not wrong!
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These sheep surprised us. We were hiking down from Col de Balme (a high alpine pass on the Swiss-French border), and as we rounded our way down the mountain, the entire herd materialized on the hill above us!
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Big sheep dogs were gently plodding them along, as their bells clattered around their necks. They blended in so beautifully with the golden grass.
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One of my favourite moments from the TMB ❤️
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After our incredible hike, I am back home. Still d

After our incredible hike, I am back home. Still dreaming of the epic landscapes and the interesting people.
(Lots of time to dream when you fall asleep at 4:30pm 🤣 #JetLag)
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Some TMB hiking stats, courtesy of Uncle Allan:
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Total distance: 170.7km
Total vertical ascent: 10,169m
Most ascent in one day: 1,344m (Segment 2)
Most descent on one day: 1,736m (Segment 11)
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The numbers are cool to see, cuz they prove to me that I can do big things. I hadn’t doubted that I could do this hike, but I’m also surprised that I did.
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Now, I’m dreaming about what comes next…
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Photo snapped by the lovely @calista.cb
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The landscapes we hiked through on the Tour du Mon

The landscapes we hiked through on the Tour du Mont Blanc were jagged, steep, and surprising.
We walked in the valley shadows and in the bright alpine meadows.
We hiked over streams and beside waterfalls.
We hiked past flocks of sheep and cattle, but never walked past a refuge without stopping for a treat 😉
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Cover image taken from Rifugio Elisabetta, looking northeast, as we got ready to start Segment 4.
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Today marks the end of our 7th day on the Tour du

Today marks the end of our 7th day on the Tour du Mont Blanc.
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One week of hiking through some of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen.
Uncle Allan and I have walked approximately 114km through alpine meadows, dusty shale mountainsides, cattle pastures and larch forests.
We have shared meals with new friends from The Netherlands, America, The UK and Hong Kong.
We have slept in small Swiss hotels, in a chaotic mountaintop refuge in France, and at the edge of a glacier in Italy (if you look closely at this photo, you can see Rifugio Elisabetta high on the hillside).
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We have four more days ahead of us - and most likely some rain.
I’m proud of what we’ve done so far, and am incredibly thankful for the opportunity.
It still doesn’t feel real.
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#TourduMontBlanc