Advice on cooking equipment for 7-night Tour Mont Blanc summer hike

First, have a great time on your hike; sounds amazing.

When I backpack with a group that size for a week I carry a Jetboil Ti and let the others carry fuel canisters. The Jetboil is so fast at boiling water that it can keep up with five folks. I don't cook, but insist on freeze dried meals or other items needing only water.

That having been said, there are plenty of places on the TMB to buy prepared meals, so you can increase variety and reduce cooking further by bringing cash.

One stove will be enough; bring matches in case the igniter switch has a problem.

When are you doing yours ? I'm doing it end of june but in less than 7 days. I'm not organizing it however I can ask for some info.

Technically (legally) you are not meant to camp on the TMB at all. You are meant to stay in the Refuges each night. So you eat in the Refuges as well – mostly good meals too. There is some logic here, as the numbers of people doing the TMB are extremely high, and everyone camping will cause damage.

That said … people do camp, especially high up and out of sight. Personally, I suggest you would need 2 stoves and pots for 5 people. Cooking for 2 on a stove is easy; cooking for 3 can be done. But the pot size needed for 5 is just too big.

Cheers

David – our TMB hike is early July …

Roger – you are correct that camping on the TMB is not allowed, but there are a number of allowed camping spots, for example, near Chapieux, Refugio Elisabetta, at Champex, etc. (at least that's what the Cicerone TMB Book says, I guess we'll find out!). Also, my understanding is that some refuges will allow camping on their grounds if the beds are full.

I think you're right, we will probably need to go with two stoves and two pots.

Hi David

Oh sure, there are plenty of 'known' camp sites, not all of them legal. :-)
Dinner at Les Mottets was truly excellent, and huge.
Col de Balme was … was not good when we were there (twice). Very very stingy old woman. But she may be gone by now?
Elena was very tourist and the dinner was a bit light. We were left a little dissatisfied.
Courmayeur – ski city. Use the TIC to find somewhere suitable.
Col de Croix du Bonhomme – great. It was covered in snow both times – in summer!

Cheers

Thanks Roger for the tips on the refuges …. your comment about there being snow at the Col de Bonhomme got me thinking that my lightweight sleeping bag rated 40F wont be warm enough and I'll have to suck it up and buy a warmer bag …. do you think a 20F is whats needed?

Hi David

We crossed the Col twice – we were actually doing the GR5 and decided a quick loop arounf the TMB would be fun. Snow both times.

What SB is needed will depend on whether you intend to sleep in Refuges or not. If you do, there are usually very good blankets provided, and most people do not carry an SB at all – just the mandatory SB liner. But if you intend to camp at altitude, then a 40 F bag may not be enough. Unless you have some really warm bed clothing as well.

Cheers