Refuge du Lac Blanc – Chamonix

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Stage9 of the Tour du Mont Blanc, from the Refuge du Lac Blanc to Chamonix.

⚠️ This route passes through the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve. Please respect the regulations in force. See practical information.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Tour du Mont Blanc

Details

n°11345
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.51 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,224 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 5,594 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 7,736 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,366 ft
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Photos

Tour of Mont Blanc day 8
Tour of Mont Blanc day 8
Tour of Mont Blanc day 9

Description of the walk

(S) From the Chalet du Lac Blanc. Head directly to La Flégère (cable car) via the GRP®®.

(2) Pass below the mountain hut, the cable car and chairlift stations, and turn right onto the level path known as ‘le Grand Balcon Sud’, leaving the path that descends to Chamonix. Climb up a short, secured chimney, cross a wide scree-filled valley and reach the forest overlooking the former Charlanon mountain pastures (1,812 m).

(3) Continue along theGR®®/GRP®® to Planpraz (chairlift, ski lift).

(4) Head generally south along the winding paths offthe GR®® to reach Chamonix (E).
Take the shuttle bus from Chamonix to Les Houches to get back to your car.

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 7,736 ft - Chalet du Lac Blanc
  2. 1 : mi 0.06 - alt. 7,720 ft - Lac Blanc
  3. 2 : mi 2.2 - alt. 6,099 ft - Refuge la Flégère (1807m)
  4. 3 : mi 3.92 - alt. 6,066 ft - Charlanon Forest
  5. 4 : mi 5.34 - alt. 6,798 ft - Planpraz
  6. E : mi 8.51 - alt. 3,366 ft - Chamonix

Notes

This route passes through multiple protected areas, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

Admire Mont Blanc throughout the balcony section of the hike and take a stroll around Chamonix.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
tdeleu@aol.com
tdeleu@aol.com

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We went there and back, which meant longer journey times. The scenery was superb, but we regretted not taking the Flégere cable car. The ascent (2h40) is pointless!

Machine-translated

touboul
touboul

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2013
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We did this hike from the Flégère cable car via the south balcony to the Lacs de Chéserys, before reaching the Lac Blanc via the ladders. The ascent to the Lacs de Cheserys, through fields of flowering rhododendrons, is pleasant. The descent from Lac Blanc to the cable car was long because of the large number of hikers on the route that day.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

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Association / Club / Walk leader
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Visorando Member
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↔8.92 mi ↗+3,734 ft ↘-4,337 ft ◔7h 20 ▲Difficult
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Visorando Member
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↔11.24 mi ↗+3,527 ft ↘-5,331 ft ◔8 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
A lovely hike passing through the Col de Salenton, descend to take the balcony path through the mountain pastures of the Vallée de la Diosaz. Continue on to the Refuge de Moede-Anterne, then the Col d'Anterne and descend to the magnificent Lac d'Anterne. Then reach the Refuge des Fonts via a pretty path passing through the Petit Col d'Anterne. ⚠️ This route crosses the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve. Please respect the regulations in force. See practical information.

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