Mont Blanc Walks CICERONE

Mont Blanc Walks

50 Walks and 4 Short Treks by Hilary Sharp

This handy guidebook contains route descriptions for 50 day walks and outlines 4 multi-day treks around two sides of the Mont Blanc massif; Chamonix and Courmayeur. The day walks range from 2 to 12 miles and cover terrain such as boulders, scree and via ferratas. The routes are organised by base and include both high-level and easy valley walks.
 

The Mont Blanc massif is a 25km-long range that straddles the frontier of three countries – France, Italy and Switzerland. It is made up of around 400 summits with at least 40 glaciers that define the valleys, faces and rocky trails which satisfies all hikers.

Mont Blanc Walks contains detailed route descriptions for 50 day walks and outlines 4 short multi-day treks around the French side of Mont Blanc, Chamonix, and the Italian side around Courmayeur. The 50 day routes are organised according to the nearest town base and in each area there is a collection of walks of all difficulties. They range from 2 to 12 miles in length and cover a variety of terrain such as boulders, scree and via ferratas. In addition to the high-level walks there is often a valley walk that can be done whatever the weather, on ‘tired’ days, with children, by bike, or as a run.

The four multi-day treks that are briefly detailed all use parts of other walks already described in the guidebook and with a little imagination many more can be invented. The trek descriptions given are short, with just map information, daily altitude gain, distance and route details. These are not intended to be full guides to the routes, rather a basic outline to be used in conjunction with the appropriate maps and complimented by walkers’ previous experience of speed and fitness.

Several of the walks described feature via ferratas. All those encountered in this guidebook can be done without equipment and only those afflicted with true vertigo would find them unpleasant.
 

Introduction   

The Region    
How it all Started    
Glaciers    
Via Ferratas    
Animals and Birds    
Flowers and Trees    
Transhumance and Alpages    
When to Go    
Getting There    
Alpine Accommodation    
Language    
Currency    
Maps    
Safety    
Security and Rescue    
Guided Walking    
Walking with Dogs    
Mountain Biking    
Trail Running    
Things not to be Missed    
How to Use this Guide   

 

THE WALKS

Chapter 1 – St Gervais Les Bains and Les Contamines-Montjoie    
1    Mont Truc    
2    Mont Joly    
3    Lac d’Armancette    
4    Col de la Fenêtre    
5    Tête Nord des Fours    
6    Lacs and Monts Jovet     

Chapter 2 – Servoz and the Plateau d’Assy    
7    Lac Vert    
8    Pointe Noire de Pormenaz    
9    The Dérochoir and the Désert de Platé   

Chapter 3 – Les Houches    
10    Le Prarion    
11    Mont Vorassay    
12    Aiguillette des Houches    

Chapter 4 – Chamonix    
13    Chamonix Valley Walk    
14    La Chapeau and Tête des Prapators     
15    Montenvers     
16    Montagne de Blaitière    
17    Chalet de Cerro     
18    Montagne de la Côte     
19    Refuge de Bel Lachat and Le Brévent    
20    Grand Balcon Sud – La Flégère to Planpraz    
21    Lac Blanc     
22    Tête de Villy    
23    Col de Salenton    
24    Lac Cornu and Lacs Noirs    

Chapter 5 – Argentière    
25    Argentière Valley Walk    
26    Pierre à Bosson    
27    Tête du Grand Chantet    
28    Aiguillette d’Argentière – Les Chéserys    
29    Argentière Glacier Pointe de Vue    
30    Aiguillette des Posettes    
31    Refuge Albert Premier    
32    Croix de Fer    

Chapter 6 – Vallorcine    
33    Vallorcine Valley Walk    
34    Pointe de la Terrasse and Tré-les-Eaux Valley    
35    Cheval Blanc    
36    Dinosaur Tracks     
37    Bel Oiseau     
38    Col de Barberine and Fontanabran    
39    Refuge de la Pierre à Bérard    
40    Mont Buet by the Normal Route     
41    Refuge de Loriaz    
42    Emosson from Loriaz    
43     Mont Buet by the north ridge   

Chapter 7 – Courmayeur    
44    Punta della Croce    
45    Mont Fortin    
46    Mont Chétif    
47    Col and Lac Liconi    
48    Mont de la Saxe    
49    Tête Entre Deux Sauts    
50    Tête de Ferret    

Chapter 8 – Multi-day Treks    
51    Vallorcine to Plaine Joux    
52    Tour of the Aiguilles Rouges
53    Vallorcine to Servoz     
54    Italian Val Ferret Circuit    

APPENDIX 1  Mont Blanc Region Tourist Offices    
APPENDIX 2  Useful Terms and Glossary     
APPENDIX 3  Transport in the Chamonix and Courmayeur Valleys    
APPENDIX 4  Rainy Day/Rest Day Activities    
APPENDIX 5  Hut Etiquette    
APPENDIX 6  Climbing Peaks and Hiring Guides