Les Houches - Refuge Nant Borrant

Departure from Les Houches via the Bellevue cable car (1,801 m).

(S) At the arrival station, follow the^GR® du TMB. Cross the railway line, leave the wide path and head right into a mountain pasture to find a path on the mountainside. At the^first gate, continue straight ahead, pass a^second gate and arrive at a fork under the chalets of L'Are (1,794m). Take the path on the right. It crosses a wet area, then descends in short switchbacks towards the terminal tongue of the Bionnassay glacier. Cross the suspension bridge over the torrent at 1700m. Climb up the opposite moraine and reach a fork in the paths. Take the path on the left and climb up to the flat area where the ruins of the Chalets du Tricot are located. Continue climbing in a large valley, surrounded by rhododendrons, until you reach the Col du Tricot (2,120 m). The view of the north face of the Miage domes is exceptional.

(1) Descend the scree slope to the south-east and follow the numerous switchbacks to the Miage chalets at the foot of the Aiguille de Bionnassay and the Miage domes.

(2) Cross the Miage torrent via two bridges and join the path that winds its way up to a depression providing access to a plateau where the Truc chalets are located (1,720m).

(3) Follow the forest track to^{the first} hairpin bend. Leave it for a path that enters the forest and descends to Les Granges de la Frasse. Leave the path on the left and head for La Frasse (1,263m).

(4) Cut across the hairpin bends in the road, descend between the farms and reach Les Contamines Montjoie (1164m). Take the main road on the left immediately below the church and rejoin the normal route at the Pont des Loyers (1150m). Leave the Pont des Loyers on your right.

(5) Cross the Bon Nant stream on the footbridge 50m upstream and climb up the left bank to Lay.

(6) Cross the bridge and follow the Rd902 on the right bank. Opposite the cross-country ski centre, cross the road. Continue along the old stony road. Continue straight ahead, passing the St Antoine oratory, until you reach the Notre Dame de la Gorge church (1210m).

(7) Continue on the right bank of the Bon Nant, taking the paved path. Carved into the rock, it climbs steeply alongside the steep-sided gorges of the torrent. Cross the Bon Nant on the "Roman" bridge of La Téna (1,392 m), shortly after it joins the Tré-la-Tête torrent. A path between barns leads to the Nant Borrant refuge (1,460 m) (E).

Several water points along the hike.
Bellevue cable car: £11.50 for a single ticket (2012 price)
Nant Borrant refuge:
Chemin du Col du Bonhomme
74170 Les Contamines-Montjoie
Tel
Reception: Italian, French, English
Amenities: Hot showers
Facilities: Terrace, Shared toilets
Services: Catering, Hiking bivouac
Half-board rate: 37 euros

Visit Chamonix: the capital of mountaineering.
(3) Chalets du Truc: The view of the glacier, the pass and the five peaks of the Miage is magnificent.