Col de Balme - Champex-Lac

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This second stage begins with a pleasant trail towards the "Des Grands" mountain pasture. Once you reach this chalet, the trail descends to the torrent, which you must cross at the Chalet du Glacier (1583 m). The view of the nearby Trient Glacier is magnificent. The long climb to the Fenêtre d'Arpette begins just after the Chalet Buvette. The landscape is chaotic at the pass and in the Arpette valley. The landscape becomes greener again from the Arpette refuge. The path then follows a bisse (irrigation channel) to Champex.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Chamonix - Zermatt

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.94 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 8h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 4,327 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 6,673 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,714 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,823 ft
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Photos

Champex-Lac
Fenêtre d'Arpette
Fenêtre d'Arpette
Fenêtre d'Arpette

Description of the walk

The starting point for this stage is the Refuge du Col de Balme

(S) From the Refuge du Col de Balme, head south to reach the Col de Balme.

Markings: Chamonix Zermatt - Tour de la Vallée du Trient - White-Red-White markings

(1) From the pass, take the path on the left heading east towards Alpage des Grands.

(2) Descend into the Trient valley and return to the Buvette du Trient.

(3) Follow the Chamonix Zermatt trail to the right and begin the ascent of the Fenêtre de L'Arpette, the highest point of the stage.

(4) After a well-deserved break, begin the descent and arrive at a track.

(5) Turn left onto the track and return to the hamlet of Arpette, then the Relais d'Arpette.

Markings: TMB (Tour du Mont Blanc)

(6) Follow the Bisse to the Petite Breya ski lift station.

(7) Turn right, pass under the Breya1 chairlift and head for the Col de Champex. Head towards the Lac road and follow it to the south-eastern end to reach the Hôtel Mont-Lac, your accommodation for the night (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 7,231 ft - Balme Pass Refuge
  2. 1 : mi 0.03 - alt. 7,238 ft - Col de Balme
  3. 2 : mi 2.43 - alt. 6,919 ft - Les Grands mountain pasture
  4. 3 : mi 3.95 - alt. 5,220 ft - La Buvette du Glacier
  5. 4 : mi 6.23 - alt. 8,711 ft - Fenêtre d'Arpette
  6. 5 : mi 8.21 - alt. 5,994 ft - Trail
  7. 6 : mi 9.27 - alt. 5,364 ft - Relais de l'Arpette
  8. 7 : mi 10.08 - alt. 4,934 ft - La Petite Breya ski lift
  9. E : mi 10.94 - alt. 4,865 ft - Hôtel Mont-Lac - Champex

Notes

Worth a visit

  • Col de Balme
  • The Trient Glacier
  • La Fenêtre d'Arpette
  • Champex and its lake

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