Alpine Adventure Itinerary
The adventure itinerary presented here is purely an example of what might happen in a perfect week and could be changed due circumstances beyond the control of the guides, including adverse weather conditions.
Arrival Day
The group will rendez-vous in our office in Chamonix. In the evening, we will have an informal chat about the week ahead. There will also be a chance for the guide to check out your clothing and gear and to decide if you will need to pick up any further items of equipment before setting out in the morning. After this, it will be time to sit down to an excellent three-course dinner.
Day 1. Balcon de Mer de Glace – Couvercle hut 2,687m
We will take the old rack and pinion railway up through the woods from Chamonix to the edge of the Mer de Glace (1,909m.). This is the glacier where Frankenstein hid in Mary Shelley’s novel. All around are granite spires, with the glacier flowing through the middle. A short trek and a few ladders lead us down to the glacier.
For those who have never used crampons, there is time for an introduction before heading up over the glacier. We cross the Mer de Glace and head for the ladders on the other side to reach the path called Balcon de Mer de Glace. This is a path / Via Ferrata route that eventually leads us to the Couvercle hut where we spend the night. This hut is situated in the Talèfre basin with a magnificent view of the legendary Grandes Jorasses.
Day 2. Le Jardin de Talèfre, a unique alpine flower garden
Leaving the hut, we head up the Glacier de Talèfre to the Jardin de Talèfre. This is a garden of Alpine flowers set in the middle of the glacier. Here we have time for a picnic before we slowly head down a different route back to the Montenvers train
Day 3. Traverse of the Vallée Blanche
We take the cable car up to the Aiguille du Midi 3,842m. We have time to have a look around the different viewing platforms before we continue with the little gondola over to the Italian side. During the slow journey, you get the most amazing views of the Glacier de Grands that we are about to trek across. After an Italian coffee in the little café on the other side we start the five hour walk across this classic glacier traverse. The high altitude makes this technically easy day quite challenging.
Day 4. Via Ferrata at Plain Joux
In the morning, there will be the opportunity to hire or buy any items of clothing or gear that you will need for the week before heading out for the first day of adventure. A short drive just out of the Chamonix valley, takes us up to the little village of Plaine Joux. From this sunny side of the valley, we get beautiful views of the Mont Blanc range. A new and relatively easy Via Ferrata route opened here in 2007 . This is a perfect start of the week with an introduction to the gear, the environment and certain exposure.
Day 5. Conscrits hut 2,730m
We drive out of the valley towards Megève to the village called Les Contamines. From the car park, it is about a five hour walk to the Conscrits hut. This alpine trek starts through lush forest which turns into a more bare alpine landscape as we pass the Tré la Tête refuge. Soon we find ourselves on a glacier before we arrive at our destination, the Conscrits hut. This hut is located on a different side of the Mont Blanc range and offers a whole new view of the mountains.
Day 6. Col des Dômes 3,564m
An early morning start takes us further up the Tré la Tête glacier to the Col des Dômes at 3,564m. From there you have a fantastic view down the green valley on the other side, up the snowy ridge of the Dômes de Miage and up Mont Blanc. We take our time to admire the views before we head back down again for a nice relaxing afternoon. In the evening, you will have the opportunity to reflect on the adventures of the week with your guide
