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: 17.61 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 8h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,319 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,034 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,656 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,470 m
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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 : km 0 - alt. 2,204 m - Balme Pass Refuge
  2. 1 : km 0.06 - alt. 2,206 m - Col de Balme
  3. 2 : km 3.92 - alt. 2,109 m - Les Grands mountain pasture
  4. 3 : km 6.36 - alt. 1,591 m - La Buvette du Glacier
  5. 4 : km 10.03 - alt. 2,655 m - Fenêtre d'Arpette
  6. 5 : km 13.21 - alt. 1,827 m - Trail
  7. 6 : km 14.91 - alt. 1,635 m - Relais de l'Arpette
  8. 7 : km 16.23 - alt. 1,504 m - La Petite Breya ski lift
  9. E : km 17.61 - alt. 1,483 m - 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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