Hike to Aiguille de Charlanon & Lac Cornu
Last summer, I went on a hike to Aiguille de Charlanon, above Chamonix.
Here is a map of the path I walked:
- Download path KML
- Download large map
- More photos on Flickr
- Day of the hike: August 16, 2022
In the morning, I took the train to Chamonix. I then boarded Télécabine de Planpraz. From the upper station, I started on the trail that goes to Le Brévent but I soon took a fork towards Clocher de Planpraz. There was a bit of a difficult passage to get to the ridge. After that, I followed the ridge off-trail towards the summit of Aiguille de Charlanon. I saw many alpine ibexes (bouquetins) along the way. At the summit of Aiguille de Charlanon, there was a great view, especially on Lac Cornu. On the way down, I walked towards Désert d’Arlevé and Lac Cornu: There is a direct path to Col du Lac Cornu from the summit but it didn’t look very reassuring. Instead, I had scoped out the path I took when I passed below earlier in the summer and it didn’t look very difficult (and that was indeed the case). At Désert d’Arlevé, I first walked to Petit Lac then came back to Lac Cornu and walked up to Col du Lac Cornu. I then passed through Col de la Glière and Combe de la Glière on the way to l’Index, where I took the chairlift to La Flégère. From there, I boarded Télécabine de la Flégère to Les Praz in the valley.
▲ Aiguille de Charlanon seen from Chamonix.
▲ In Planpraz.
▲ Téléphérique du Brévent.
▲ Clocher de Planpraz.
▲ On the path towards Col du Brévent.
▲ Fork to Clocher de Planpraz.
▲ Clocher de Planpraz.
▲ Climbers at the top of Clocher de Planpraz.
▲ Rocky part below the ridge. The path wasn’t that clear but I managed to pass in the middle.
▲ View on the other side of the ridge towards Col d’Anterne.
▲ The path goes down then up again along the ridge.
▲ Rocks.
▲ Clochetons de Planpraz and Pointe des Vioz.
▲ Child ibex.
▲ Alpine ibex.
▲ Looking back.
▲ After that, the path is flatter. There is still no visible path but the ridge is not very large.
▲ Aiguille de Charlanon.
▲ Mont Buet and Aiguille du Pouce.
▲ Gazex container.
▲ Désert d’Arlevé.
▲ Below Aiguille de Charlanon.
▲ Petit Lac.
▲ Le Brévent.
▲ Summit of Aiguille de Charlanon.
▲ Lac Cornu.
▲ Towards Aiguille de la Glière.
▲ A part of Lacs Noirs.
▲ Aiguille du Tour.
▲ Pointe Noire de Pormenaz.
▲ The path I will take on the way down.
▲ Looking back at the path I took.
▲ Réserve Naturelle de Carlaveyron.
▲ Aiguille Pourrie.
▲ Le Brévent and Planpraz.
▲ Mont Blanc.
▲ Aiguille Verte.
▲ Planpraz.
▲ Aiguille du Midi.
▲ On the way down towards Désert d’Arlevé and Lac Cornu.
▲ Climbers.
▲ The path. It alternates between smooth rocks and grass.
▲ Looking back at the summit of Aiguille de Charlanon.
▲ Alpine ibex.
▲ Lac Cornu.
▲ Désert d’Arlevé.
▲ Lac Cornu.
▲ Glacier-smoothed rock.
▲ I walked towards Petit Lac.
▲ Petit Lac.
▲ Returning to Lac Cornu.
▲ Lac Cornu
▲ Aiguille de Charlanon.
▲ Lac Cornu on the way up.
▲ Aiguille de Charlanon seen from Col du Lac Cornu.
▲ Lac Cornu on the way to Col de la Glière.
▲ Aiguille Pourrie.
▲ Difficult passage.
▲ Combe de la Glière.
▲ Aiguille Verte.
▲ Combe de la Glière.
▲ Mont Blanc.
▲ Station of Télésiège de l’Index.
▲ Glacier du Tour.
▲ On the way down to La Flégère.
▲ Télécabine de la Flégère.
▲ In the valley.
▲ Chapelle des Praz.
▲Les Drus.
▲ SNCF train station of Les Praz-de-Chamonix.