La Jonction via Montagne de la Côte

Start: Chamonix, leave the RN 205 at the Bossons interchange and head South-East up the road towards Mont. Car park before the village (beyond, access reserved for local residents).

(S/E) Take the path heading South-East towards La Jonction. It climbs up through the forest with a few switchbacks and crossings until it reaches a carriage track which leads on the left to the top of the chairlift, at the foot of the Chalet du Glacier des Bossons.

(1) Take the good path that rises through the forest on pleasant switchbacks to a ridge top overlooking the terminal tongue of the Glacier des Bossons.

(2) A landslide cuts off the old passage: continue up a few hairpin bends, then the path drops down onto the slope of the Bossons glacier, down several wooden steps to head back down the slope towards the Chalet des Pyramides.

(3) Pass under the chalet-buvette and climb tightly upwards, first a damp, deep valley, then more open grassy slopes, to a sill (former concrete base) under the last projections of the Bec du Corbeau.

(4) Switch to the Taconnaz side and descend some 50 m downhill to a trail junction (the trail down to the bottom of the Taconnaz glacier is marked "dead end").

(5) Turn sharp left up a fairly steep grassy slope which leads to a new threshold on the ridge behind the Bec du Corbeau.

(6) Switch to the Glacier des Bossons side and, after a short descent, cross level with the hillside towards the Glacier to skirt a rocky bar. Beyond this bar, turn right to climb up a rockier area to a new grassy pass on the ridge behind Mont Corbeau.

(7) Switch to the Taconnaz side for a wide yaw, then climb up the now rockier ridge, following the yellow dots. The route quickly twists and turns up to a characteristic rock that served as shelter for the first Mont Blanc climbers.

(8) The ridge at the top of the terrain below the Jonction is now clearly visible, and the track quickly leads up to it.

(9) From the summit, after taking in the views, the descent is made by the same route. Once back in the forest, a number of trail variants are possible, all leading more or less directly back to Mont (S/E).

Start: Chamonix, leave the RN 205 at the Bossons interchange and head South-East up the road towards Mont. Car park before the village (beyond, access reserved for local residents).

Terrain: No particular technical difficulty, apart from the length and height difference, which require a good level of fitness.

Gears: An ice axe may be useful at the start of the season to get over snow still present.

Waymarkers: No orientation difficulties: directional signs at every junction, then yellow dots on the rockier final section.

Alternative start: You can park further down at the foot of the ski jump and take the Bossons chairlift, which takes you directly to (1) . On the way back, the chairlift stops quite early, so you'll have to walk down.

Refreshments: Two chalets along the way serve as refreshment stands.

Immerse yourself in the heart of the glaciers descending from Mont Blanc without having to put on crampons.

The views across the Mont Blanc Massif are extensive.