After a bit of hesitation about our one-year-anniversary trip, my boyfriend and I finally decided to do the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB)—a 9-11 day hike around Mont Blanc, that takes you through the beautiful landscapes of France, Italy, and Switzerland. We had only two weeks left to prepare, which is to say: we didn’t really prepare at all. Most of our hiking gear came from our parents: 80s backpacks, old K-ways, some used hiking poles, and my brother-in-law’s festival tent. Without really knowing what we were signing up for, we just held hands and went for it. Starting from Chamonix in France, we embarked on our journey.

Looking back, I think our hesitation came from two sources of fear. The first one was simply the fear of the unknown. Our entire knowledge of the TMB came from a few TikTok videos—none of which really prepare you for what 170 km and 10,000 meters of elevation gain actually mean. The second fear was the fear of not belonging. Not belonging to the world of sports, which always felt like a space designed for straight people. Growing up, we were both perceived as not masculine enough, and because sports were for “tough boys,” we distanced ourselves from that world long before giving it a real chance.

And yet, one of the biggest lessons this trip taught us is that sports—and especially hiking —do not belong to any specific group of people. They belong to everyone. Regardless of nationality, age, or gender. On the trail, we met people from all over the world, of all ages, and of all gender identities. Somehow, without us even saying it out loud, deciding to do this trip was our way of reclaiming an identity we had lost somewhere in that binary world we grew up in. It felt like stepping out of a box we never belonged in.

As beautiful and enjoyable as this trip was, it was also harsh—physically and mentally. It pushed us both to our limits. It’s moments like these when a couple is truly tested. Being able to communicate while exhausted, thirsty, hungry sounds dramatic, but it’s the most honest proof of whether you can actually live together. Before starting the trip, my boyfriend and I joked that if we survived this, we could survive anything life throws at us afterward. And honestly, it wasn’t far from the truth.

On the first day, I lost my wallet. Everything was in it: my documents, my bank card, 350 euros. I panicked immediately, while my boyfriend stayed calm. He took my hand and walked back three kilometers uphill, at high altitude, to search for it with me. At that moment, I forgot about the wallet entirely and just kept looking at him, thinking, this is the man of my life. There were other moments where I supported him in the same way. It was a very balanced rhythm—just two gay boys in the mountains encouraging each other to keep walking.

This trip was also a step back from society as we know it. A breath of fresh air in every sense. We barely used our phones. We took no transportation for almost 2 weeks. We had no appointments, no obligations, no pressure to be anywhere except the next stop on the map. You wake up, you eat breakfast, you start walking, and you keep walking until you reach the next camp. There is something magical about having such a simple purpose. Reaching the next station becomes the only thing you think about, and somehow that small goal feels like the biggest satisfaction. It’s hard but freeing.

Despite the hardness, it was the most memorable vacation of my life. We had so much fun. We ate an unreasonable amount of cheese. We met so many friendly people. We even made a few friendships that I genuinely hope will last. The little things became the pure joys of the day: taking a shower, pitching our tent before sunset, or finding a tiny bakery in a remote mountain village. When life becomes that simple, your whole body relaxes into it.
Walking the Tour du Mont Blanc with my boyfriend was more than just a hike. It was a reminder of who we are, and who we want to be together. It was about reclaiming space, reconnecting with our bodies, challenging the fears we carried since childhood, and finding comfort in each other with every new mountain pass.

photos Ahmad H.A.