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Chamonix Mountain Adventures

Summer routes for a multi-activity holiday in the shadow of Mont Blanc

ISBN

9781852846633

Availability

Published

17 May 2012

Reprinted

21 Nov 2022

Edition

First

Pages

288

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.35cm

Weight

310g

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A guidebook to mountain activities in and near Chamonix in the French Alps. Walking, trekking, mountaineering including Cosmiques Arete and Mont Blanc, mountain biking, road cycling, via ferratas, rock climbing and bouldering routes, with clear advice for novices, and suggested levels of expertise required. Ideal for multi-activity holidays.

Seasons

it is possible to hike, climb and ride in the Chamonix Mont Blanc region any time outside winter; many of the activities here rely on lifts and other facilities that are generally open from mid-to-late June to mid-September

Centres

Chamonix Mont Blanc, Argentière, Vallorcine, Les Houches, Servoz, St Gervais, Passy, Les Contamines, Sixt, Sallanches

Difficulty

ranges from very easy strolls for all the family, to moderate rock climbs and glacier hikes which require either technical skills or the presence of a professional guide; climbing and mountain biking require some specialist gear

Must See

Mont Joly, Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles Rouges; Bossons and Mer de Glace glaciers; MTBing the Petit Balcon Nord; cycling down the Col de la Forclaz; climbing on Les Gaillands; tackling the VF beside Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval

ISBN

9781852846633

Availability

Published

17 May 2012

Reprinted

21 Nov 2022

Edition

First

Pages

288

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.35cm

Weight

310g

Overview

This guidebook shows the vast range of activities available in the mountains surrounding Chamonix. With routes for several different pursuits including walking, trail running, mountain biking, road cycling, via ferratas, rock climbing, mountaineering and bouldering, it is a comprehensive collection of everything this popular region has to offer.

All the routes and activities range in difficulty, from easy strolls for all abilities to moderate rock climbs and glacier hikes, which require either technical skills or a professional guide. Families, groups of friends and mountaineers looking for a 'rest day' or a change to what they're used to will all find something to whet their appetites here.

Chamonix has long been a dream destination for mountain adventures and its environment is ideal for such a varied list of activities. This guide allows you to enjoy its spectacular views and renowned summits in many different ways or by mixing and matching your favourites.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Location of walking and mountaineering routes

Location of road biking and mountain biking routes

Location of rock climbing, bouldering and via ferrata routes

Chamonix town map

Map key

Introduction

The region

Glaciers

Flowers and animals

How it all started

Mountain adventures

Other activities

When to go

Getting there and getting around

Accommodation

Tourist information

Language

Health and safety

Using this guide

1 Walks

Classic Walks

Route 1 Mont Joly

Route 2 Le Prarion

Route 3 Aiguillette des Houches

Route 4 Montagne de la Côte

Route 5 Lac Cornu and Lacs Noirs

Route 6 Plan de l’Aiguille to Montenvers

Route 7 Grand Balcon Sud: La Flégère to Planpraz

Route 8 Aiguillette des Posettes

Route 9 Lac Blanc from the Col des Montets

Route 10 Mont Buet by the Normal Route

Family Walks

Route 1 Lac des Ilettes

Route 2 Lacs Jovet

Route 3 Chalets Miage and Truc

Route 4 Charousse

Route 5 Lac du Brévent

Route 6 Argentière via the Paradis des Praz

Route 7 Le Chapeau

Route 8 Montroc–Col des Montets–Vallorcine

Route 9 Bérard valley and Sur le Rocher

Route 10 Dinosaur tracks

Hut Walks

Route 1 Refuge de Platé

Route 2 Refuge de Tré-la-Tête

Route 3 Refuge Moëde d’Anterne

Route 4 Refuge Bel Lachat

Route 5 Refuge du Lac Blanc

Route 6 Refuge Albert Premier

Route 7 Refuge de la Pierre à Bérard

Route 8 Refuge de Loriaz

Adventure Walks

Route 1 Pointe Percée

Route 2 The Dérochoir and Désert de Platé

Route 3 Aiguille du Belvédère

Route 4 Mer de Glace Balcony Trail

Route 5 Tré-les-Eaux Circuit

Route 6 Loriaz to Emosson

Route 7 Mont Buet by the North Ridge

Route 8 Cheval Blanc

2 Alpine Mountaineering

Route 1 Champex to Le Tour

Route 2 Grand Montets to Lognan

Route 3 Aiguille du Midi to Helbronner

Route 4 Petite Aiguille Verte

Route 5 Aiguille Crochues

Route 6 Aiguille du Tour

Route 7 The Cosmiques Arête

Route 8 Mont Blanc

3 Mountain Biking

Route 1 Les Contamines: Truc Miage circuit

Route 2 Saint-Gervais-les-Bains: Prarion circuit

Route 3 Pipeline descent: Saint-Gervais to Le Fayet

Route 4 Tour des Ayères

Route 5 Promenade de l’Arve

Route 6 Petit Balcon Nord: Chamonix to Le Tour

Route 7 Montroc to Chamonix along the Arve

Route 8 Col des Montets to the chocolate shops

Route 9 Vallorcine–Col des Posettes–Le Tour–Montroc

Route 10 Vallorcine to Martigny

4 Road Biking

Route 1 Chamonix to Sallanches

Route 2 Col des Montets

Route 3 Emosson Lake

Route 4 Col de la Forclaz

5 Rock Climbing and Bouldering

Area 1 Les Gaillands

Area 2 The Index

Area 3 La Joux

Area 4 Les Chéserys

Area 5 Aiguillette d’Argentière

Area 6 Vallorcine Slab (Rocher de la Saix)

Area 7 Barberine

Bouldering

Area 1 Col des Montets

Area 2 Pierre d’Orthaz

Area 3 Les Bossons

Area 4 Le Coupeau

Area 5 Le Médonnet

6 Via Ferratas

Route 1 Le Mont, Sixt Fer à Cheval

Route 2 La Curalla, Passy

Route 3 La Yves Pollet Villard, La Clusaz

Route 4 La Roche à l’Agathe, Thônes

Appendix A Useful contacts

Appendix B Useful French words and phrases

Appendix C Further reading

Appendix D Glacier travel and rescue techniques

Maps

The French Institut Géographique National Top 25 series maps are the best for the activities described here. The ones needed are:

3630 OT Chamonix Mont Blanc
3531 ET Saint-Gervais-les-Bains
3530 ET Samoëns
3531 OT Megève
3530 OT Cluses Sallanches

A 1:50,000 map is useful to get an overview of the region, and for the road biking routes. The whole area is covered by the IGN Rando Editions map A1 Alpes Pays du Mont Blanc.
If you use a GPS, programme it to datum WGS84 and grid system UTM/UPS otherwise all grid references will be inaccurate.

Referred to as cable cars, chairlifts or gondolas, lifts are written in French as téléphérique, télésiège and télécabine and shown with a symbol on the maps.

Updates

July 2024

Route 4 Mer de Glace Balcony Trail

Since the first edition of this book (2012) both the glacier and access to it have changed completely. The glacier has undergone an unimaginable retreat and volume reduction, and the original accesses to it (the télécabine and steps to the grotte de glace and the 'alpinist's' ladders) have been either removed and/or decommissioned.

A new (and quite controversial) télécabine has been built and instead of heading straight down to the mer de glace, its route is more diagonal and its lower terminal is a few hundred meters further up the glacier, and therefore nearer to the ladder system on the far side of the glacier. There is an equipped route down for alpinists and climbers which requires technical equipment, however, walkers are strongly advised to take the télécabine to access the glacier.

September 2022

Rockfall at Cosmiques Arête

There has been a rockfall at Cosmiques Arête (Alpine mountaineering Route 7), so this route may not be practical at the moment.

September 2022

2022 reprint route updates

663 Reprint 2022 (1.354 MB)

August 2022

The Grands Montets cable car

The Grands Montets cable car is under reconstruction. As of summer 2022 the only lift open in this area is the Plan Joran télécabine, which runs during July and August. More information from the Chamonix website www.chamonix.com/informations-remontees-mecaniques-en-temps-reel

July 2020

Route updates

1 The Cosmiques Arête itinerary has changed due to a 2018 rockfall where there is a section of abseil. Now the abseil is on the north face and is 8m long. This website shows what has changed...it's in French but the topo is quite clear.

2 The Mer de Glace Balcony Route has changed in several places and at the moment seems to be unmaintained in parts and therefore is not recommended. I had already reported that it is no longer possible to traverse beneath the Charpoua Refuge and that the Echelets ladders were no longer in use. Now it seems the ladders for the Leschaux Refuge have been moved and the Egralets ladders are not being maintained; there is loose moraine on the ledges between them. All in all it would not be wise to undertake this hike.

This information has come directly from La Chamoniarde (formerly known as the Office de Haute Montagne).

August 2013

Updates

Update to Family Walk 9

The author writes:

"There is now a new walkway which goes where the old one did decades ago. It's all brand new this summer, and consists of a metal bridge which takes you round to look at the waterfall. Very good, impressive views and accessible to all except dogs which might not like the lattice work metal structure. It's just a detour off the main trail described in the walk, so it's an extra. A stairway then goes up to join the normal path at the bridge by the café."

August 2012

The wrong map appears on pg 11. The correct map below.

663 CMA revisedmap (46.333 KB)

Reviews

Chamonix Mountain Adventures is an excellent collection of physical and fun challenges in and around the Chamonix valley, under the slopes of Western Europe’s highest mountain; Mont Blanc.

It is the most comprehensive and concise collection of a variety of activities to do on the slopes valleys and rock faces of this stunning region loved by so many people. Covering the things we all love to do, the descriptions, maps and information allows any adventurous individual or group too utilise their time to the maximum, whether traveling through or having an extended stay in the region.

Hilary a qualified International Mountain Leader, author of guides on mountain hiking and snowshoeing, running and participating in her own business, Trekking in the Alps, is eminently qualified to put together and execute such an enterprise as this adventure guide.

Chamonix Mountain Adventures is the book to have in your collection to plan and take along for the numerous,varied, challenging and fun adventures to be had in the region. A must for those not stuck in the mono sport rut.

Mark Charlton, IFMGA mountain (rock and ice climbing) and ski guide based in Chamonix

This is truly a "something for everyone" guidebook to the Chamonix valley. The newcomer will find much helpful advice and the person who thinks that they know the valley well will find new ideas and many "I didn't know that was there!" moments. I first went to Chamonix in the early 1970s - it's changed a lot over the years (mostly more crowded) but is still a great destination, as long as the weather co-operates.

Chamonix is "the extreme sports capital of the world", justly so. Fabulous scenery, never too far away from creature comforts. There's a comprehensive network of mountain huts, an excellent weather service and the visitor can indulge in anything from bucolic nature walks to paragliding among the remarkably steep mountains.

This guidebook, written by a resident of the area who has had her own guiding business (trekking in the alps) based in the valley for over 20 years, focuses on ground-based summer activities.

Thus: walks, from the short (around 2 hours) to those taking a very full day; a section on trail runs (the author has completed the unbelievably grueling ultra-trail du mont blanc several times) a bit of alpinism, mountain and road biking; valley-based rock climbing and 2 via ferratas. Many of the walks are not immediately obvious from studying a map, and I found several walks that I would like to try on a next visit. For those walks that I have done, I found the advice to be exactly right.

I didn't have a clue as to how the mountain biking is segregated from the walking - this is discussed; clearly the local population don't want any bike coming down narrow path and encountering a walker moments!

There is also much good general advice, including the important issue of hut etiquette. And, speaking of huts, a list of hut (and other) phone numbers - vital if overnight stays are contemplated. To round things off, there's a brief glossary of useful French words. While most people will speak English, it's always polite to attempt to start in the local language!

Some of the itineraries would be best conducted in the low season as they get very busy in the height of summer - indeed a piece of advice is to avoid the first 2 weeks of August, when it may seem that the whole of France has descended on the valley.

Throughout, there are maps and pictures that whet the appetite, as well as side comments on the history, culture and flora and fauna of the region, all written in a light engaging style that bubbles with enthusiasm. I certainly wish I had had this guidebook last time I was there - it's accurate and stimulating. It would suit either the solo traveller or a family (dogs are also considered!)

Peter Neame

By Hilary Sharp

Hilary Sharp is British, a qualified Accompagnatrice en Montagne (International Mountain Leader), and is based permanently in France. After 23 years living in the Alps she now lives in northern Provence, within easy driving distance of the southern French Alps. She runs her own trekking business, Trekking in the Alps and Provence, guiding walks in winter, spring and summer (hilaryalp@gmail.com; www.trekkinginthealps.com; www.trekkinginprovence.com). Her love of walking and climbing has taken her to many parts of Europe and further afield. Hilary occasionally contributes to British walking magazines and is author of Trekking and Climbing in the Western Alps (New Holland, 2002).

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