Les Chapieux to Lex Blanche - Tour Mont Blanc

This 3rd stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) follows the Torrent des Glaciers up 900m to the Col de la Seigne. Climbing gently, at first, for just over 10km before dropping down 300m to Lex Blanche. Let's do it!
The TMB is a classic long-distance footpath that goes around Mont Blanc, passing from France into Italy and through Switzerland before returning to France.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Tour Mont Blanc in 11 stages

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.56 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 1,069 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 429 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,512 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,549 m

Description of the walk

Start : Les Chambres du Soleil in Les Chapieux, on the Route de la Ville des Glaciers.

(S) From Les Chambres du Soleil in Les Chapieux, heading North-East, with the peaks looming all around you, the tarmacked road leads up the valley following the Torrent des Glaciers. Where the stream Ruisseau des Favergettes rushes down the slopes to our right and crashes into the Torrent des Glaciers (about 2 Km up the road).

(1) Take the track leading diagonally (North-East) down to the river. The path stays close to the road for about 300m then drops down to cross the river on a footbridge. The path continues to follow the Torrent des Glaciers, now west of the river. After another km the route arrives at a dam blocking the Torrent des Glaciers for a hydroelectric project.

(2) Here the path climbs to the right (North-East), above the pine forest, gaining some distance and height from the river. The route weaves between pine forests and crosses a few streams climbing steadily whilst keeping the Torrents des Glaciers in sight down to the left. The route finally drops gently to reach the Torrents des Glaciers on a tarmacked road leading out of La Ville des Glaciers.

(3) Don't cross the river but stay on the west side to climb slowly up to the Refuge des Mottets.

(4) From here the path climbs more steeply, leaving the river and heading up towards Pointe Léchaud. However, our route only climbs a little over 200m before leveling out slightly. Now the route becomes a climb of over 500m to reach the Col de la Seigne at 2,515m

(5) Having taken time to celebrate reaching this high point of the route, continue to follow the TMB signs down the other side, dropping quite quickly to Taz de la Blanche at 2,280m. Ignore the paths leading off and up to the left but continue to descend slowly but surely to Lex Blanche (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 1,549 m - Les Chapieux
  2. 1 : km 1.5 - alt. 1,640 m - Torrent des Glaciers
  3. 2 : km 2.74 - alt. 1,666 m - Torrent des Glaciers hydroelectric dam
  4. 3 : km 4.68 - alt. 1,774 m - La Ville des Glaciers
  5. 4 : km 6.09 - alt. 1,867 m - Refuge des Mottets
  6. 5 : km 10.19 - alt. 2,512 m - Col de la Seigne
  7. E : km 13.56 - alt. 2,189 m - Lex Blanche

Practical information

Start : Les Chambres du Soleil in Les Chapieux

Facilities : Food and drink is available along the route but make sure you have enough water, especially in summer.

Note : Wear a hat and use suncream. If it's winter, make sure you have strong boots and check the weather before venturing out on the mountains.

In the nearby area

Enjoy the views and take your time. Take care of yourself and look out for wildlife along the way. Just enjoy the journey and make the most of the moment.

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