Hike to La Jonction des Glaciers (Mont Blanc)

La Jonction (The Junction) is a rocky area below the Mont Blanc where the Glacier des Bossons and the Glacier de Taconnaz meet. The first successful ascent of the Mont Blanc by Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard in 1786 was made through there: The hiking trail goes past the rock formation (known as Gîte à Balmat) where the 2 men stayed at some point during that ascent. I followed this itinerary.

Here is a map of the path I walked (download KML):

I boarded the first morning train from Annecy and got off at Les Bossons train station in the valley of Chamonix. I then took the lift to the Chalet du Glacier des Bossons. After a detour through the viewpoint nearby (however, the Glacier is much higher than it used to be so the view was not that great), I started on the trail through the forest. Some time later, I reached the Chalet des Pyramides. From there, the view from the trail alternated between the Glacier de Taconnaz, with the Dôme du Goûter on top, and the Glacier des Bossons, dominated by the Mont Blanc du Tacul. Finally, I reached the rocks of La Jonction. When I got there, I was the only one for a bit but, during the time it took to eat my sandwich, it got really crowded. There was a great view on the Mont Blanc and the two glaciers from there. I then went down using the same path.

Above, Les Bossons train station.

Above, Aiguille du Midi.

Above, Dôme du Goûter below the Mont Blanc.

Above, Glacier des Bossons and Mont Blanc du Tacul.

Above, lower station of Télésiège des Bossons.

Above, on the lift to Chalet du Glacier des Bossons.

Above, Planpraz.

Above, the valley of Chamonix.

Above, Glacier des Bossons and Aiguille du Midi.

Above, the chalet.

Above, the Aiguilles Rouges on the other side of the valley.

Above, Glacier de Taconnaz.

Above. Dôme du Goûter.

Above, towards Bellevue and Le Prarion.

Above, Chalet des Pyramides.

Above, Pointe Percée in the Aravis.

Above, Gîte à Balmat.

Above, Aiguille du Midi.

Above, at La Jonction.

Above, Dôme du Goûter.

Above, Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit.

Above, Aiguille du Midi.

Above, Refuge des Grands Mulets.

Above, Aiguillette du Brévent and, in the background, Désert de Platé.

Above, towards Switzerland.

Above, on the way down.

Above, Arve river.

Above, the tip of the Glacier des Bossons.

Above, on the lift down to the valley.