Learn how my approach to training for the Alps has changed over the last 5 years and how Stacey from Pique to Peak has designed a session to help hikers create their own plan.
2025 Training Diary: Preparing for the hiking season
This summer, The Hiking Club team will be completing over 1,200km / 750mi to hike the top 8 multi-day hikes in Europe. We’ll be doing this as part of our 2025 Trail Updates program, as well as launching new hikes onto The Hiking Club platform. Sounds exciting, right? But, if I’m honest, also a little daunting. When it’s not hiking season in the Alps, I live at sea level and don’t have mountains on my doorstep. Not the best environment to get my body mountain fit!
Like previous years, I will be using our 3-month training plan that was developed in collaboration with Stacey Hardin, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainer. This training plan helps people like me, build the endurance and strength to complete a multi-day hike in the Alps.
The aim of this training diary is to keep me accountable, share my progress and hopefully motivate you to start or continue training for your next epic hiking journey
If you’re interested which legendary hikes we’ll be doing, they are: Tour du Mont Blanc, Alta Via 1 Dolomites, Walker’s Haute Route, Tour des Combins, Bernese Oberland Traverse, Tour of Monte Rosa, West Highland Way, and a few we’ll keep on the downlow :P
susan’s WEEK 1: creating my training plan
(Monday 12th March > Sunday 16th March)
The first hike that I’ll be tackling in June is the Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites. The trail is 120km / 75mi, 7,400m / 24,00ft in elevation gain, and I’m aiming to complete it in 5 days.
One of the first pieces of information the training template needs to calculate how long it will take me to prepare for this trail distance is my current weekly step count. Luckily, I wear my Apple Watch everyday so I can easily check last week’s count - 77,000 steps.
Based on the above information, it shows it will take me 13 weeks to work my step count to the hike distance of 120km / 75 mi. (See how the right column turns green at week 13 when my step gap to readiness goal is met). With my trip 12 weeks out, I need to get cracking to ensure I’m ready!
Based on last week’s step count and the trail stats for Alta Via 1 Dolomites, the training plan shows it will take me 13 weeks to build up the endurance to complete the trail in 5 days.
The next step is creating my week 1 training plan. This week is a little bit different from normal as I got a Peleton bike for my birthday (yes - best husband ever!) so I’ll start to incorporate indoor cycling into my weekly schedule.
My focus for the first 4 weeks is ramping up key elements:
Increasing to 3 x strength sessions per week, by the end of the month
Plan: Use the training videos as part of the 3 month training program and start with 1 session in week 1, increase to 2 sessions for week 2 and 3, end with 3 sessions in week 4. I will tune into how my body feels as I activate new muscle groups and adjust accordingly.
Add one big steps day per week, increasing by 10% per week
Plan: Schedule short hike / trail run on Friday mornings, starting with 1 hour.
Continue 4+ short cardio sessions per week
Plan: Mixing up running, swimming and cycling
Gradually increasing total weekly step count (+5% per week, to minimise chance of injury)
Plan: Last month average was 77,000 steps per week. Aim to increase to 90,000 steps by week 4.
Here’s what my week 1 plan looks like:
My week 1 training plan using the training template from the 3 Month Training Program.
I’ll report back on progress over the next few weeks. Wish me luck!
Real-time accommodation availability in our app
Updated 6th March 2025 for new properties.
As part of our acquisition of TMB Planner, we’ve integrated technology into our app to check bed availability for mountain huts. At time of launch, we focused on incorporating the existing TMB Planner accommodation scope for the Tour du Mont Blanc trail, however, we’ve now extended the same technology to other popular trails where accommodation is challenging for DIY planners to find, such as Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites and the newest trail we are working on, the West Highland Way in Scotland.
What type of accommodation can we provide availability data for?
The scope of mountain huts is limited to those which list their availability online. We can not provide availability data for mountain huts that do not list their availability online, for example, those properties requiring bookings to be made via phone, email, or submitting an online form.
In our accommodation database, we also have many more accommodation types along the trail, such as hotels, campgrounds and bivouac locations. Where an accommodation location lists their availability online, such as hotels, we plan to integrate this information into our app over the next year.
what type of accommodation can’t we provide availability data for?
If the accommodation location is one of the following, there is no availability data that we can provide you;
Bivouac or wild camping locations
Campgrounds that don’t accept/need bookings
Accommodation that don’t list their availability online
A general accommodation location rather than being for a specific property
The following Tour du Mont Blanc properties are now live. From March 7th 2025, you will also be able to see real-time availability and set alerts for the following properties on our other trails. More are planned to be added by the end of March!
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Chalet Les Meandres (ex Tupilak)
Gite Michel Fagot
Refuge du Fioux
Auberge du Truc
Chalet CAF des Contamines
La Ferme a Piron
Gite Les Melezes
Gite le Pontet
Refuge Nant Borrant
Refuge des Pres
Refuge de la Balme
Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme
Refuge de la Nova
Les Chambres du Soleil
Refuge des Mottets
Robert Blanc
Cabane Combal
Rifugio Monte Bianco
Rifugio Maison Vieille
Gite le Randonneur du Mont Blanc
Rifugio Bertone
Hotel Funivia
Hotel Lavachey
Hotel Chalet Val Ferret
Gite Alpage de La Peule
Hotel du Col de Fenetre
Gite de La Lechere
Chalet Le Dolent
Auberge de Maya-Joie
Auberge des Glaciers
Gite de la Fouly
Hotel Edelweiss La Fouly
Pension en Plein Air
Gite Bon Abri
Chalet La Grange
Relais d'Arpette
Hotel Col de la Forclaz
Auberge la Grande Ourse
Auberge du Mont-Blanc
Refuge Le Peuty
Refuge du Col de Balme
Gite Mermoud
Gite d'Alpage Les Ecuries de Charamillon
Albert Premier Hut
Chalet CAF du Tour
Gite Le Moulin
Auberge la Boerne
Refuge Lac Blanc
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Refuge Lac Blanc
Auberge la Boerne
Gite Le Moulin
Chalet CAF du Tour
Gite d'Alpage Les Ecuries de Charamillon
Gite Mermoud
Albert Premier Hut
Refuge du Col de Balme
Refuge Le Peuty
Auberge du Mont-Blanc
Auberge la Grande Ourse
Hotel Col de la Forclaz
Relais d'Arpette
Gite Bon Abri
Chalet La Grange
Pension en Plein Air
Cabane de Mille
Cabane Brunet
Cabane FXB Panossiere
Cabane de Louvie
Cabane de Prafleuri
Cabane de la Barmaz
Cabane des Dix
Cabane de Moiry
Turtmannhutte
Topalihutte
Taschhutte
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Rifugio Biella
Rifugio Scotoni
Rifugio Lagazuoi
Rifugio Col Gallina
Rifugio Scoiattoli
Rifugio Averau
Rifugio Nuvolau
Rifugio Croda da Lago
Rifugio Passo Staulanza
Rifugio Adolfo Sonino Al Coldai
Rifugio Attilio Tissi
Rifugio Mario Vazzoler
Rifugio Bruto Carestiato
Rifugio Passo Duran
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Brochhuette SAC
Berghaus Alpiglen
Rotstockhuette
Gspaltenhornhuette SAC
Bluemlisalphuette SAC
Winteregghuette SAC
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Cabane de Mille
Cabane Brunet
Cabane de Louvie
Cabane FXB Panossiere
Cabane de Chanrion
Rifugio Champillon
Rifugio Frassati
Mont-Joux Auberge
Great St. Bernard hospice
Hotel du Col de Fenetre
Gite de La Lechere
Chalet Le Dolent
Auberge de Maya-Joie
Gite de la Fouly
Auberge des Glaciers
Hotel Edelweiss La Fouly
La Tsissette Hut
Pension en Plein Air
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Britannia Hut
Albergo Ristoro Sitten
Topalihutte
Taschhutte
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Rifugio Puez (CAI)
Via Ferrata Gear List
Essential gear for Via Ferrata: your complete gear list. Via Ferrata is an exhilarating way to experience the mountains, combining hiking with the thrill of climbing. To make sure you're well-prepared, having the right gear is crucial for safety and enjoyment. Here’s a short list of essentials you’ll need for a successful Via Ferrata adventure:
The Hiking Club acquires TMB Planner to make the accommodation booking process easier for self-guided hikers
We’re excited to announce that The Hiking Club has acquired TMB Planner. Their innovative data processing and notification technology gives Do It Yourself (DIY) planners a powerful tool to assist them in booking their accommodation, and end up with the best itinerary possible for popular multi-day hikes.
The Hiking Club route planning app for the Tour du Mont Blanc now has real-time availability for mountain huts and the ability to set email alerts for room types thanks to TMB Planner joining the family :)
TMB Planner was developed by Leon Lan, a Mathematics PhD candidate focused on supply chain optimization. The idea came from a personal need he had when friends asked to join his planned Tour du Mont Blanc (aka TMB) trip only a few months out from the hiking season. As the Tour du Mont Blanc is one of Europe’s most popular multi-day hiking trails, most of the places Leon had booked no longer had any availability. Leon created a tool that tracked real-time availability and alerted him if new availability became available. As the hiking season approached, he received notifications and booked all the extra accommodation his friends needed to join him - what a good hiking buddy!
As part of this project, Leon found that most accommodation providers list new availability in the lead up to the hiking season, due to cancellations and tour operators giving up beds they don’t need. Based on data collected between December 2023 and the 2024 hiking season, over 2,000 beds were added back to online booking platforms for the mountain huts. Having already built the technology, Leon thought others in the hiking community would benefit from what he’d created, and so the availability calendar and alerts tool was born.
TMB Planner displays real-time availability for mountain huts that list their availability online, and notifies users via email when new beds become available to book for their target properties/dates. It helps:
early season hikers be the ‘first to know’ when accommodation providers list their availability for next season, and
gives later planners an opportunity to be notified when new beds (or private rooms) become available, so they can cancel off-trail accommodation and rebook their preferred property.
See real-time availability and set email alerts in The Hiking Club route planning app to be notified when new beds/room types become available
“We are thrilled to welcome Leon into The Hiking Club family. His innovative tools will support our mission to help self-guided hikers confidently plan, book and navigate their epic adventures. Booking your own accommodation on a multi-day hike, is one of the most difficult parts of planning your own hike. By combining TMB Planner’s technology with our own, we’ll provide The Hiking Club customers an easier booking experience, and the best chance to secure high-demand beds for their ideal itinerary”
Tour du Mont Blanc availability calendar is now available on The Hiking Club website
“I’m delighted that the technology I’ve created has found a home in The Hiking Club platform. The collaboration with Brendan and Nick from The Hiking Club has been excellent over the past few months, and I’m excited to continue working with The Hiking Club to extend the technology to other trails and maximise its benefit to the community.”
With the integration of TMB Planner into The Hiking Club platform, the availability calendar will now be accessible free on The Hiking Club website, without the need for any sign-up. The accommodation alerts have been integrated into our popular web-based planning app and available for Tour du Mont Blanc customers.
In the coming months, we’ll be working to extend the functionality to other popular trails such as Alta Via 1 Dolomites, West Highland Way, Walker’s Haute Route and more. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting integration!
About TMB Planner: Planning tools to make your Tour du Mont Blanc hike easier, including real-time hut availability and email alerts when huts begin accepting bookings for next season.
About The Hiking Club: With the first purpose-built app for multi-day hikes, up-to-date trail information, expert consultations, online events, a training program, and an active ambassador community, The Hiking Club has everything a self-guided hiker needs to confidently plan and navigate their epic adventure.
Short multi-day hikes in Dolomites
How to get to/from the Tour des Combins trail
Introducing Jonas de Jong, trail expert for Tour des Combins
We are excited to share that Jonas de Jong has joined The Hiking Club team as “Trail Expert, Tour des Combins”.
Originally from the Netherlands, Jonas moved to Switzerland in 2016 and his love for the mountains blossomed. He’s hiked and run through forests, hills, and mountains, completing multi-day tours like the Tour du Mont Blanc, Tour des Combins and Tour du Monte Rosa. Jonas has also ventured into high-altitude mountaineering, having conquered over 10 of the Alps' 4,000-meter peaks. In trail running, he’s become one of the fastest from his low-altitude homeland, participating in races like Sierre-Zinal and OCC of the famed UTMB circuit.
Jonas is training to become an International Mountain Leader and has become an expert in the Pennine Alps region. He has experience during all seasons - summer, winter and shoulder - and offers guiding services for those that are interested in tackling more technical routes or to support a private group. He has guided groups all across the alps and beyond in hiking, trail running and snowshoeing.
As the “Trail Expert, Tour des Combins”, Jonas will be the key point person on The Hiking Club team for this trail. Our planning app will not only include necessary data and information for hiking the main trail, but also the inclusion of alternative routes and highlights that provide a unique experience. He will also provide consulting services via our Expert Access and Expert Consultation packages, present workshops and webinars, answer customer support questions and lead marketing activities.
With Jonas’ expertise, we aim to bring the most comprehensive planning tool for the Tour des Combins to The Hiking Club community.
Where to park my car when hiking the Tour des Combins
If you’re planning to drive to the Tour des Combins with either your own or a rental car, parking can be an important consideration, as the trail spans both Switzerland and Italy, passing through several towns and remote areas. Here’s a breakdown of parking options for hikers embarking on the Tour des Combins, covering key starting points and access points for the trail.
When is the best time to hike the Tour des Combins
The best time to hike the Tour des Combins is typically from late June to early September, when the weather is most favorable, the trail is clear of snow, and mountain huts are open. The choice between early or late summer depends on your preferences for weather and crowds, but both options offer stunning alpine landscapes and a challenging yet rewarding experience. Read our detailed blog to learn more about when is the best time to hike the Tour des Combins.
When is the best time to hike the Alta Via 2 Dolomites?
How much does it cost to hike the Alta Via 2 Dolomites?
Introducing Nick Janzen, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer
Brendan, Susan and Nick, Co-Founders of The Hiking Club
We are excited to announce Nick Janzen, has officially joined The Hiking Club team as Co-Founder and Chief Technical Office (CTO).
Nick brings 12+ years GIS (Geographic Information System) experience from IBM, GSI, Tensing and Merkator, which is extremely valuable to mapping the complex, integrated trail networks of legendary multi-day trails. More importantly, he brings his passion of innovation to the hiking community.
Nick’s involvement with The Hiking Club began two and a half years ago when he reached out with an email subject ‘Can I Help?’. He shared our vision for how technology could improve the planning and preparation process, and knew that he had the skills to make a significant impact to the hiking community. Since then, Nick has been working nights and weekends with Brendan and Susan to build our planning app, the first purpose-built app for planning multi-day hikes.
Nick has been a fundamental part of The Hiking Club journey and our growth. We are excited that with the popularity of our planning app, we are able to bring Nick on full-time to deliver more innovation to the multi-day hiking space, accelerate our speed to launch new trails, and continue to provide a delightful customer experience.
We know that Nick is the right person for the role not only for his dedication and technical expertise, but also because he’s survived a ‘break the trail’ experience, brings his family on our crazy offsite trips, and shows resilience and enthusiasm in wild Scottish weather. We are inspired by his dedication to his work, his family and his outdoor endeavours, and can’t wait to see what we will do together on The Hiking Club.
- Brendan & Susan
Nick joining the 2022 Break The Trail hike on Tour du Mont Blanc
The Hiking Club first offsite in Switzerland
Bear crawling over Munros in strong winds along the West Highland Way
Families who hike together, stay together :)
5 Top Tips for hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc Solo
Meg completed the Tour du Mont Blanc in 2024 as a trail ambassador. This was her first solo thru hike. Read her top tips for hiking the TMB solo.
