Rick Steves, the American travel writer better known for European guidebooks than mountain treks, hiked the Tour du Mont Blanc this autumn at age 66 — and came back with a field-tested list of advice for anyone eyeing the famous 170km circuit around Western Europe's highest peak.
His first point is encouraging: the TMB is achievable for any reasonably fit hiker. He met plenty of people on the trail older than him, so age is no barrier if you prepare sensibly.
Gear matters more than glamour. Steves recommends proper hiking boots, liner socks, moleskin for hot spots, and merino wool everything — socks, underwear, shirts. He also swears by a wool cap at altitude, a sturdy Osprey day bag, and, surprisingly, a $40 metal water bottle he initially balked at but came to consider money well spent. A daily baggie of trail mix earned its place too.
Weather is the real variable. In dry conditions the trail is pleasant; in heavy rain, parts of it become genuinely dangerous. Trekking poles are non-negotiable — even in perfect weather, Steves doubts he'd have felt secure without them. His health routine is equally practical: eat a breakfast with protein (the one day they skipped it, the climbing hurt), wear sunscreen even under grey skies, stretch religiously — he ran through a six-stretch routine several times a day — and don't be a hero. Wrap sore skin before it becomes a blister. The result: he finished the entire multi-day hike blister-free, only picking one up in the final two hours when he let his guard down.
Why it matters: the Tour du Mont Blanc crosses France, Italy and Switzerland on one of the world's great walks, and most guides focus on routes and refuges rather than the day-to-day habits that make or break a trek. Steves' takeaway list is useful precisely because it comes from a first-timer — proof that novice hikers can do this comfortably with a bit of discipline and the right kit. If you're considering the TMB, the barrier is preparation, not youth. And if you want a preview before committing, Steves is presenting photos and stories from the hike in a free online Monday Night Travel event on 29 November.
Full credit to Rick Steves for the original tips.