TMB Day 1 & 2
Day 1: Les Houches -> Les Contamines (13.19 mi - 3753 ft gain - 10 hrs)
We arrived in Les Houches around 8:30 am and snapped a few pictures at the iconic arch before taking the first few steps on our 102 mile trek. I was quickly reminded why I love trekking and why I keep doing it. The long hard days, the unbelievable views, the satisfaction you feel at the end of it. The hours are long but the days are short and all you remember are the beautiful places, people, and memories.
We met Fatema the first time by coincidence in downtown Chamonix almost 24 hours earlier. The three of us were stuck like glue for the rest of the day: eating all three meals together, taking an impromptu “hike” on our rest day, grocery shopping, getting caught in the rain, and eventually booking to spend the next night together. It also became an interesting conversation starter when someone asked where we were from: we’d go down the line and say “Sydney”, “Bahrain”, and “California”. The expression of the asker obvious as they try to piece together how we could all possibly know each other: I never know how best to explain it but the hijabi, Muslims, and Arab connection runs deep. Just as strong as that, was our shared love for the mountains, hiking, and endurance sports. Sabrina and I had only met once in person in Aug 2023, and we planned this entire trek exactly one year later over the course of the month leading up to the trip. We lived halfway across the world and exactly 16 hours apart, our convos often starting with good morning/good night and our excitement spending ten days in the mountains overshadowing any sort of thought that this was a crazy idea.
It wasn’t an ideal start to the trek, most of Day 1 was dreary and rainy. Even though the weather was rough our spirits were high. Our conversations and matching energy was so refreshing. We know Islamically that the three ways you get to know someone’s true self is if you live with them, travel with them, or do business with them. We got to know each other very very quickly, I found my mountain soul sisters and everything truly aligned for us to meet in this moment.
Day 2: Les Contamines -> Le Chapeux (12.58 miles - 4606 ft gain - 9 hrs)
After Day 1, Sabrina and I were to continue for 9 more days but Fatema had a flight back home to catch and left around 10 am on Day 2. One of the last conversations I had with her was about the infatuation people from our region have in being “the first” and the ways it corrupts and ruins intentions and relationships. We lamented over the sensationalist obsession the media has in representing people’s accomplishments. I’ve come to realize the people that truly have the grit, talent, and love for the game are never the loudest. It wasn’t until the last hour we were together that Fatema mentions she was likely the first hijabi to compete UTMB, the entire 102 mile route running in 47 hours. It wasn’t a title she claims or cares much about and her humility teaches a lesson so many of us could learn from. Everything started making sense, when we first met the day prior her friend Abeer pulled out a pouch that Fatema had gifted her that said “don’t climb mountains so the world can see you, climb mountains so you can see the world.”
It was one of the most meaningful and relevant conversations I’ve had lately, Allah SWT bringing me to a trail of France to continue to reflect on a concept I’ve been thinking about this past year. The risk of visibility, publicity, and attention tainting the original reasons why you pursue something. I believe deeply in inspiration and representation: I began running because I met hijabi runners - I started mountaineering because I met Arab mountaineers. I share my pursuits because it’s not a part of my life I want to hide from the world but because someone out there may find the same inspiration or role model I wished I had five years ago and that feels like enough of a reason for me.
I’d spent 48 hours with a stranger and left with my heart full but also feeling very bittersweet. I’ve done a few solo trips and the new friends I’d make that I instantly connected with have always been the other Muslim women regardless of where in the world they’re from. I came to the realization at the end of Day 2 that starting Ma’wa may have been an unconscious way of attempting to replicate this. I’ve experienced first-hand so many moments where I’ve met someone that has changed my life: hearing their life journey, advice, or even crossing paths and their duas for you altering the trajectory of your life too. It reaches a completely different level when it’s someone with the same faith, identity, and culture. I still never know how best to explain why we have dozens of Muslim women every trip wanting to fly from all over the world to spend 48+ hours with strangers. We’re all craving something more, and those answers I’ll hopefully come to piece together more with my wandering thoughts on trail inshaAllah.
