Hike to L'Arolette, Tête de Balme & Glacier du Tour
Last fall, I went back to Chamonix, in the Balme-Vallorcine area: I walked up L’Arollette and Tête de Balme (which are mountains in Switzerland) then took a trail down along Glacier du Tour.
Here is a map of the path I walked (download KML):
In the morning, I took a train from Annecy to Saint-Gervains-les-Bains-Le Fayet. Then, since the train tracks in the Chamonix valley were closed for repair, I took a replacement bus until Les Pélerins, where I waited to board a local bus to Le Tour. From there, I boarded a cable car, Téléphérique de Charamillon, then switched to a chairlift, Télésiège des Autannes. Finally, I arrived at the start of the trail. I first headed to Col de Balme, at the border between France (Haute-Savoie) and Switzerland (Valais). I then started on the ascent to L’Arolette. There was a great view from up there. After that, I reached Tête de Balme nearby and went back down to Col de Balme then started on the way to Glacier du Tour. I crossed the upper station of Télésiège des Autannes, my starting point, on the way. After a while, I arrived in view of the glacier, with Aiguille de Chardonnet in the background. That view was really spectacular. I kept going until the fork to Refuge Albert 1er. In the morning, I had planned to go up there, but I didn’t think there was enough time if I wanted to get back to Le Tour in time for the bus. Instead I went down directly to Le Tour, taking a trail along the moraine of Glacier du Tour. The trail started gently but got pretty steep as it approached a place called Fenêtre du Tour, below the glacier. After that, the trail became much harder, with a lot of steep rocky passages. Finally, I arrived in Le Tour. I took a local bus to Argentière then a replacement bus to Saint-Gervais. Finally, I boarded a train back to Annecy.
Above, Lac des Gaillands at Les Pélerins in the morning.
Above, Arve river. Its source is below Tête de Balme.
Above, cable car station in Le Tour.
Above, inside the gondola of Téléphérique de Charamillon.
Above, Aiguillette des Posettes.
Above, Aiguille de l’Encrenaz and Aiguille de Mesure in the Massif des Aiguilles Rouges.
Above, lower station of Télésiège des Autannes.
Above, Col des Posettes.
Above, at the upper station of Télésiège des Autannes, looking at Tête de Balme, Refuge du Col de Balme and L’Arolette behind it.
Above, Mont Blanc.
Above, on the way to Col de Balme.
Above, Refuge du Col de Balme.
Above, Aiguille Verte.
Above, Swiss trail direction signs.
Above, Croix de Fer.
Above, Mont Buet.
Above, Tête de Balme.
Above, L’Arolette.
Above, on the way to L’Arolette.
Above, Barrage d’Émosson.
Above, at the summit of L’Arolette.
Above, Barrage and Lac d’Émosson.
Above, Mont Buet.
Above, Tour Salière.
Above, Mont Blanc.
Above, Grandes Autannes.
Above, Aiguille Verte.
Above, summit cross of L’Arolette.
Above, Col de Balme.
Above, continuing towards Tête de Balme.
Above, Lac de Cotagne.
Above, looking back at L’Arolette.
Above, Mont Blanc, viewed from the summit of Tête de Balme.
Above, Glacier du Tour.
Above, border stone.
Above, on the way down to Col de Balme.
Above, source of the Arve river below.
Above, Aiguillette des Posettes.
Above, more people at Refuge du Col de Balme.
Above, dry Lac de Charamillon.
Above, Le Tour below.
Above, Glacier du Tour.
Above, Refuge Albert 1er.
Above, the tip of Glacier du Tour.
Above, path down to Le Tour.
Above, on the way down to Le Tour.
Above, at Fenêtre du Tour.
Above, Le Tour below.
Above, difficult passage on the way down.
Above, field of fireweed.
Above, in the valley.
Above, in Le Tour waiting for the bus.