7th stage of the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB)

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7th stage of the TMB: from Forclaz pass to Montroc

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

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.88 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,461 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 4,012 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 7,244 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,268 ft
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Description of the walk

Start: Col de la Forclaz

(S) From the Col de la Forclaz, follow the path in the opposite direction to the one you took the day before. Take a narrow path that descends to the right towards Trient. Cross the Nationale and continue along the path.

(1) Once in Trient, cross the Nationale again and take a small parallel road towards the Trient glacier. Cross the Nant Noir and take the path to the Col de Balme.

(2) The path twists and turns, and as you emerge from the forest, you can see the Col de Balme. The path overlooks the Nant Noir and leads to Les Herbagères. After the last few hairpin bends, you reach the Franco-Swiss border and the Col de Balme and its refuge.
Beautiful view of the Mont-Blanc chain and the Chamonix valley.

(3) Take the path behind the refuge to the right towards the Col de Balme.

(4) Pass this pass and arrive at the source of the Arve.

(5) Continue down to the Col des Posettes and the Chalets de Balme, clearly visible from the Col de Balme.

(6) Once at the Col des Posettes, take the path overlooking the Chalets de Balme, which departs to the left of the official TMB. Stay on this balcony path, which twists and turns downhill. You'll come across a number of footpaths: keep heading approximately south-west (towards Tré-le-Champ).

(7) You find the TMB again. Turn left. The path descends. At La Chaleigne, continue on the TMB (do not take the left-hand path). After a few hairpin bends, leave the TMB.

(8) Take the left-hand path towards Montroc (altitude approx. 1500m). You'll come to a fenced-in building (water catchment?).
A little further down, fork right. You then reach the first chalets (Tré le Champ le Haut), turn left, then left again onto via des Cutes. Just after passing over the railroad, turn right: you'll arrive at the Montroc station, with the bus stop just around the bend, direction Chamonix (E).

End of the TMB, with a few regrets due to lack of time: not having done the Val Ferret via the crests and the French part via the Brévent.

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 5,023 ft - Col de la Forclaz (Valais)
  2. 1 : mi 0.82 - alt. 4,334 ft - National in Trient - Refuge de la Boerne
  3. 2 : mi 2.17 - alt. 4,797 ft - Laces before the Col de la Balme
  4. 3 : mi 4.43 - alt. 7,231 ft - Refuge du Col de Balme (2190m)
  5. 4 : mi 4.53 - alt. 7,192 ft - Col de Balme
  6. 5 : mi 4.76 - alt. 7,215 ft - Sources of - Arve (rivière) - Affluent de l'Arve
  7. 6 : mi 5.94 - alt. 6,552 ft - Col des Posettes (1997m)
  8. 7 : mi 7.77 - alt. 5,774 ft - Carrefour TMB
  9. 8 : mi 8.28 - alt. 5,082 ft - Carrefour Montroc
  10. E : mi 8.88 - alt. 4,478 ft - Montroc station, bus stop nearby

Notes

Start: Col de la Forclaz

Transport: Bus or train from Montroc to Chamonix.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Reviews and comments

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