Hike to Baraque des Rognes & Nid d'Aigle (Mont Blanc)

Last summer, I went on a hike near Chamonix to the Baraque Forestière des Rognes, a tiny emergency hut located between the much bigger Refuge de Tête Rousse, where most mountaineers stop on their way to the summit of Mont Blanc, and Nid d’Aigle, a hut at the terminus of Tramway du Mont Blanc. I followed this trail direction (except I started and ended at the Bellevue cable car station): Sentier des Rognes on the way up and a path along Glacier de Bionnassay on the way down.

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

In the morning, I went by train from Annecy to Les Houches, in the Chamonix Valley, switching at Saint-Gervais-les-Bains. My goal was to reach the Bellevue station to get a head start on the ascent. Usually, I could have boarded the Tramway du Mont Blanc at Saint-Gervais station but, at the time I went on this hike, the track was closed for repair. Instead, I used the Bellevue cable car, but it was a ~30min walk from Les Houches train station. Once at Bellevue, I started on the trail that goes around Mont Lachat on the north side until Col du Mont Lachat. Then I started on the Sentier des Rognes (Trail of Les Rognes): The trail was steep but regular, right until the final part before reaching Col des Rognes, which was pretty hard, but equipped with ladders and chains. I crossed path with many people, since the trail is a popular way to get to and from the summit of Mont Blanc, all the more so since the Tramway was closed. Once at Col des Rognes (2685m), I saw my first alpine ibex (bouquetin) of the day. I reached the Cabane des Rognes a few minutes later: There was a great view on the Désert de Pierre Ronde, the Dôme du Goûter and the Aiguille de Bionnassay from it. Soon after, I started on my way down towards Nid d’Aigle. There were many alpine ibexes despite the place being mostly stones. Once at the hut, I took a trail along the Glacier de Bionnassay for a while then went up again to reach the Bellevue cable car station, just in time for the last cable car.

Above, train in the morning at Saint-Gervais-les-Bains.

Above, Les Houches train station.

Above, Arve river.

Above, cable car station in Bellevue.

Above, church in Les Houches.

Above, cable car station.

Above, at Bellevue.

Above, Bellevue station on the Tramway du Mont Blanc.

Above, on the trail around Mont Lachat.

Above, Rochers des Fiz.

Above, Chamonix valley.

Above, Réserve Naturelle de Carlaveryon.

Above, Arête des Rognes, where the trail leads me.

Above, view from Col du Mont Lachat.

Above, on the Sentier des Rognes, looking back at Mont Lachat.

Above, Tramway track to Nid d’Aigle.

Above, Mont Vorassay.

Above, Massif des Aiguilles Rouges.

Above, mountaineers going down.

Above, Dôme du Goûter.

Above, entering the place known as “le Dérochoir”, the final part before reaching Col des Rognes.

Above, Aiguille Verte.

Above, chain on the path.

Above, almost at Col des Rognes.

Above, Aiguille du Midi.

Above, alpine ibex.

Above, Cabane des Rognes from the Col.

Above, Dôme du Goûter.

Above, Aiguille de Bionnassay.

Above, path to Refuge de Tête Rousse.

Above, Désert de Pierre Ronde.

Above, on the way down.

Above, Refuge du Goûter.

Above, Nid d’Aigle in view.

Above, Glacier de Bionnassay.

Above, Nid d’Aigle from below.

Above, lake formed by water from the Glacier.

Above, back at Bellevue cable car station.

Above, Rochers des Fiz.

Above, Dôme du Goûter seen from Les Houches.

Above, waiting for the train back to Annecy.