A whistle-stop Grand Tour of Mont Blanc

The Tour du Mont Blanc
Is a grande randonée:
One-seven-five klicks,
Elevation 10-K

A circular path
That's popular to hike,
In eight to twelve stages,
Some do it by bike.

Take refuge in leisure
At a mountain hut,
Or carry a tent with,
And sleep where its put.

A holiday nightmare,
Or not to be missed?
Not for the faint-hearted,
With no bucket list.

Commonly starting
In the French town, Les Houches,
Hikers in droves set
Off alone, or in groups.

They climb to a col
Where the view of Mont Blanc
Is a sight to enjoy
Before moving on.

The main path continues
Through forest, 'cross streams,
And picks up the river
To Les Contamines.

If not resting up here,
One can carry on,
With several refuges
En route to Bonhomme.

A sharp descent follows
To Les Chapieux
With free camping marking
The end of Day Two.

A variant route
From the Col du Bonhomme
Maintains higher ground,
Meets up further on.

The long and slow climb to
The Col de la Seigne
Through river-run valleys
Is worth all the strain.

The border with Italy
Is crossed at the top,
Fresh views of Mont Blanc,
A good place to stop.

After photos its down,
Through valley to lake.
If not taking refuge,
A hard right you take

To Mont Favre Spur,
On balcony trail.
The views of the massif
Are wondrous, no fail.

Past Lac Chécrouit,
Where reflections are pure,
Around Mont Chetif,
Through Dolonne, Courmayeur.

The Italian town is
A good place to rest,
But not if you're camping,
You'll need to digress.

A forested path through
Villair takes you high,
To spectacular views
Of mountains and sky,

Of glaciers and rivers,
No words can define:
A beauteous freedom
Is what comes to mind.

Descend to the valley,
To start the last climb
To Italy's border,
Wait here, it's sublime.

Ahead in the distance
The Matterhorn stands,
A gentle reminder
You're at Switzerland.

One last look behind you,
To Mont Blanc, and where
You've trekked for the past days,
In clear mountain air.

Through pleasant green pastures,
On well-defined track,
Through Ferret, Le Fouly,
And Champex du Lac.

An overnight stop here
By lake or at camp,
Is restful and peaceful,
Worth post card and stamp.

With heart heavy next day,
You march to Trient,
A moderate climb will
Avoid variante.

Remote and sans commerce,
The village is calm.
Next day you go up to
Windswept Col de Balme.

The French border welcomes
The hiker to more
Vistas unparalelled
On any Grand Tour.

Descending, then rising,
To balcony trail,
The views of Mont Blanc
For days will prevail.

Back down to the hamlet
Of Tre-le-Champs go,
Then up ladders, bolted
To rock, we follow.

If not making detour
To Lac Blanc keep on,
Past ski lifts, La Flégère,
Plan Praz and Brévent.

A true mountain peak is
Le Brévent, its worth
A ten-minute detour,
Like heaven on Earth.

The last kilometres,
Are all in descent,
To Les Houches, it's tiring,
All forces are spent.

But now you've completed
This rigorous test
You'll savour the mem'ries
As some of the best.