Europe 2006 - Walkers Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt

All photos © David Noble. No image can be used for any purpose without permission.

Day 1 - September 8 - Chamonix to Argentiére

In the afternoon of the 8th I walked up the valley from Chamonix to a camping ground not far before Argentiére. This was an easy walk mainly on tracks on the side of the valley. There were plenty of other walkers and some mountain bikers.

Day 2 - September 9 - Argentiére to Le Peuty

I left the camping ground and walked up to Argentiére where I visited the supermarket - then left the town and walked alomng a track on the side of the valley

Above - Le Tour - the last town in the valley. I climbed up through a ski field to a pass - the Col de Balme - the low point to the right of centre.

Above - From the Col de Balme - looking back (with the aid of a telephoto lens) at the Chamonic Aiguilles and Mt Blanc

Above - Looking down the the Col into Switzerland. The route goes steeply down into the valley to Le Peuty then (the next day) up the first valley on the right

Above - Flower

Above - My small tent pitched at the camping ground at Le Peuty

Above - Peak up the valley behind the camping area

Day 3 - September 10 - Le Peuty to Champex

Above - Flower

Above - The route follows a path (sentier) next to a canal used to collect water for agricultural purposes - called a bisse. This section was very easy and pleasant walking up a gentle slope.

Above - Here the bisse is raised to mainain the flow

Above - Further up - looking back down the sentier. The path continued up to a pass - the Fenêtre d'Arpette (2665m)

Above - Detail

Above - Flower

Above - Part of the Glacier du Trent

Above - The Glacier du Trent icefall

Above - Other walkers close to the pass

Above - At the Fenêtre d'Arpette (2665m) - plenty of other walkers - most of them going the opposite way to me - on the Tour of Mt Blanc walk

Above - The Aiguille du Tour

Above - Plenty of big boulders to negotiate on the other side of the pass

Above - a small hamlet on the way down the valley to Champex.

At Champex I stayed in the Pension En Plein Air which was excellent. I enjoyed an excellent meal and the company of Ian and Yvonne from Scotland. They had just completed the Tour of Mt Blanc walk. They are both keen walkers and had walked the GR20 in Corsica and they gave me some good advice.

Day 4 - September 11 - Champex to Le Châble

Above - Looking up the valley on the way to Sembrancher from Champex

Above - Flower

Above - the sentier - easy pleasant walking through the rural countryside

Above - Occasionally the sentier went through the streets of a small hamlet such as here.

Above - Leaves

Above - Descent through forest on the way to Sembrancher. On this section there was some light rain - but you could hardly feel it in the forest.

Above - Close to Sembrancher

Above - A street in Sembrancher

Above - cobblestones

Above - On the short walk from Sembrancher to Le Châble I walked with two walkers from upstate New York - Eric and Sue. I enjoyed their company for the next few days.

Above - Detail - a train at Le Châble

At Le Châble I stayed with some walkers at a hotel

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