This is the kind of fun end-to-end hike that, when leaving from St Gervais, requires no car. You start at Bellevue, where you get using the cog train, and end up 15 miles away at the La Gruvaz village, where you get on the St Gervais shuttle.
The total distance is a little under 15 miles, and the net elevation gain is approximately 3,500 ft. I got on the Tramway du Mt Blanc (TMB), which is the ski train that in winter gets you to the top of Les Houches, one of the Chamonix Valley resorts. It's France's highest cog train and also serves as the approach for any mountaineers wanting to use the "Royal trail" to the summit of Mt Blanc, 4,807 m (15,770 feet). I only needed it to the Bellevue stop, one of the Les Houches ski lift top stations.
From Bellevue, 1,796 m ( 5,900 feet), you hike down to the "Passerelle des Glaciers," 1,700 m (5,500 feet), which is a hanging bridge crossing some thundering whitewater. That is deeply disturbing to Loki, my Australian Kelpie. He will only cross it if I belay him... From there, you hike up to the Col de Tricot, 2,120 m (7,000 feet), down to Chalets de Miage (a cluster of mountain huts), 1,720 m (5,650 feet), then up to Plateau de Truc, 1,800 m (5,900 feet), and then all the way down to La Gruvaz, 1150 m (3,800 feet).
Sunrise over the Aiguille de Bionnassay. |
Arriving at Col de Tricot looking towards the Arrette de Tricot, the trail going up the ridge or towards Plan de Glacier, the lower trail to the right, Chemin des Contrebandiers. |
Still at Col de Tricot, looking down the trail and the Chalets de Miage. |
Loki inspecting a container dropped by chopper in support of the UTMB. |
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This picture was taken during a hike to the Refuge de Plan Glacier. In the center, you see the Miage hut cluster, and above them to the left, Plateau de Truc, that's our next stop. |
Col de Tricot and Chalets de Miage as seen while hiking up to Plateau de Truc. |
Arriving on Plateau de Truc. |
The Auberge de Truc is a restaurant on the plateau. |