6th stage of the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB)

6th stage of the Mont Blanc tour: from the Relais d'Arpette to the Forclaz Pass via la Fenêtre d'Arpette.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: TMB 2011

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.47 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 1,418 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 1,391 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,660 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,501 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: Relais d'Arpette

(S) Starting from the Relais d'Arpette, take the path on the right-hand side. Go past Arpette village (after the bridge) then leave the large path taking the trail heading to the right in a bend.

(1) Go along a small stream in a rural setting, leaving it behind a bit further along. The track gradually rises, you'll get to a ledge after having crossed the stream. You'll reach Arpette's scree (approximately 2000 m). Always follow the waymarks. The track keeps rising until the path divides in two.

(2) Take a right, following the direction indicated on the rock 'Fenêtre d'Arpette'.
The slope gets slightly steeper, but without difficulty along the mountainside. You then reach a huge scree. There's no particular issue with orientation, just keep following the paint markings on the rocks. However, put your hiking pole aside, you're better off using your hands at this point. Cross over the firn reaching the final climb: you're facing a vertical grassed over wall, you get to the top using the trail/trails that wind along the wall. That's when you reach Fenêtre d'Arpette.

(3) Once you're at Fenêtre d'Arpette, you'll be overlooking Trient glacier and its superb view.
Start a long trip downhill taking the path to the right, a rocky path at first.
Not a dangerous track but challenging due to its length, the fairly steep slope goes down towards Trient stream which you can spot a bit further down.
Pass by Vésevey (a building undergoing restoration in 2011).

(4) The descent finally comes to an end when you reach the stream, following it on the right bank. You then go through a coniferous forest leading to the Prise de Bisse building (refreshment bar).

(5) From there, follow the track along the irrigation canal (bisse) that remains at the same altitude (don't cross the Trient stream), stay on this track (ignore the trails that head down to the valley). After an hour or so, you'll reach the Forclaz Pass (Col de la Forclaz) and a camp site. (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 1,501 m - Relais d'Arpette
  2. 1 : km 1.3 - alt. 1,636 m - Relais d'Arpette
  3. 2 : km 4.39 - alt. 2,181 m - Crossroads towards Fenêtre d'Arpette
  4. 3 : km 5.91 - alt. 2,626 m - Arpette window
  5. 4 : km 7.33 - alt. 2,096 m - Vesevey
  6. 5 : km 9.26 - alt. 1,587 m - Prise de la Bisse
  7. E : km 12.47 - alt. 1,531 m - Campsite - Col de la Forclaz (Valais)

Practical information

Start: Relais d'Arpette

Accommodation: Col de la Forclaz camp site (shower included) and a small grocery for supplies.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Clarity of route map
4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Sophatgenf
Sophatgenf

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

I did this hike in slightly less time than indicated.
But I found it very technical and very difficult!
There are rocks that move and you can hurt yourself.
I have alpine feet but I wasn't always reassured.
I'd classify it as very difficult (black).

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Jerame
Jerame

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Hiking in the opposite direction to the map (i.e. Trient-Champex). The information sheet is also very useful in these conditions. It is regrettable that the markings are so light towards the top of the Fenêtre; a few more lines of paint would be welcome.
All in all, a very fine hike.

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francisrohmer@sfr.fr
francisrohmer@sfr.fr
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 27, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb alpine hike, starting from Champex-Lac. 1200 metres of ascent from the lake and almost as much descent to reach the Col de la Forclaz, and we were delighted to arrive under a beautiful, unseasonably warm sun. Between the bisse inlet and the pass, a few fun panels explain how these irrigation channels work between the glacier and the valley.

Enjoy the walk
Francis

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christophe85
christophe85

Hello and sorry

When I did the TMB, I didn't have a GPS yet, so I did the route by hand, hence the mistakes.

christophe85

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Cypripedium
Cypripedium
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 22, 2013
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A good part of the GPS route is wrong when you reach the Trient snack bar. The path descends towards the Drance de Trient and the upper part of the path on the Trient side is made up of switchbacks.
I've done the Tour du Mont Blanc 55 times as a guide and mountain leader.

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MORLAIN
MORLAIN

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 22, 2013
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Good morning,

superb stage, but difficult, especially in the blazing sun, but you soon forget how difficult it is when you see the view at the finish,

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