When Thomas suggested that we do an epic trek around Mount Blanc earlier this year, I did not fully comprehend what I had agreed to do. Yes, I knew it was 170 km long. I did the math. A ten day trek would mean 17 km a day. I knew it was in the Alps. But it was not until the first day of our hike, when we walked the first of many 17 km routes to a height of over 2100 meters that I realized what the next week and a half would entail. Each day included a hike up, often steep, to the mountain pass as well as a hike back down to the valley. While we trained over the summer, the little hills we used for training seem piddly - considering it took us maybe five minutes to walk to the top as oppose to two hours on the real deal. I seriously considered throwing in the towel after day two. Was I strong enough? Was I ready? Thomas, who successfully climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and has made two attempts to summit Mt. Blanc, would not take no for an answer. For each of my pleas to turn back and give up, his reply was a steady - the only way out was forward.
