Chamonix Mountain Adventures

Hilary Sharp is a qualified Accompagnatrice en Montagne (International Mountain Leader) based permanently in the village of Vallorcine, near Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in the French Alps. A native Brit, she runs her own trekking business, leading guided walks and treks. Hilary has contributed to several British walking magazines and hiking guides. This is her fifth guidebook for Cicerone.

A guidebook to mountain activities in and near Chamonix in the French Alps. Walking, trekking, mountaineering including Cosmiques Arete and Mont Blanc, mountain biking, road cycling, via ferratas, rock climbing and bouldering routes, with clear advice for novices, and suggested levels of expertise required. Ideal for multi-activity holidays.

Map key Map of walks and Alpine mountaineering routes Map of trail running, road biking and mountain biking routes Map of rock climbing, bouldering and via ferrata routes Chamonix town map Introduction The region Glaciers Flowers and animals How it all started Mountain adventures Other activities When to go Getting there and getting around Accommodation Tourist information Language Health and safety Using this guide 1 Walks Classic Walks Route 1 Mont Joly Route 2 Le Prarion Route 3 Aiguillette des Houches Route 4 Montagne de la Cote Route 5 Lac Cornu and Lacs Noirs Route 6 Plan de l'Aiguille to Montenvers Route 7 Grand Balcon Sud: La Flegere to Planpraz Route 8 Aiguillette des Posettes Route 9 Lac Blanc from the Col des Montets Route 10 Mont Buet by the Normal Route Family Walks Route 1 Lac des Ilettes Route 2 Lacs Jovet Route 3 Chalets Miage and Truc Route 4 Charousse Route 5 Lac du Brevent Route 6 Argentiere via the Paradis des Praz Route 7 Le Chapeau Route 8 Montroc-Col des Montets-Vallorcine Route 9 Berard valley and Sur le Rocher Route 10 Dinosaur tracks Hut Walks Route 1 Refuge de Plate Route 2 Refuge de Tre-la-Tete Route 3 Refuge Moede d'Anterne Route 4 Refuge Bel Lachat Route 5 Refuge du Lac Blanc Route 6 Refuge Albert Premier Route 7 Refuge de la Pierre a Berard Route 8 Refuge de Loriaz Adventure Walks Route 1 Pointe Percee Route 2 The Derochoir and Desert de Plate Route 3 Aiguille du Belvedere Route 4 Mer de Glace Balcony Trail Route 5 Tre-les-Eaux Circuit Route 6 Loriaz to Emosson Route 7 Mont Buet by the North Ridge Route 8 Cheval Blanc Trail Running 2 Alpine Mountaineering Route 1 Champex to Le Tour Route 2 Grand Montets to Lognan Route 3 Aiguille du Midi to Helbronner Route 4 Petite Aiguille Verte Route 5 Aiguille Crochues Route 6 Aiguille du Tour Route 7 The Cosmiques Arete Route 8 Mont Blanc 3 Mountain Biking Route 1 Les Contamines: Truc Miage circuit Route 2 Saint-Gervais-les-Bains: Prarion circuit Route 3 Pipeline descent: Saint-Gervais to Le Fayet Route 4 Tour des Ayeres Route 5 Promenade de l'Arve Route 6 Petit Balcon Nord: Chamonix to Le Tour Route 7 Montroc to Chamonix along the Arve Route 8 Col des Montets to the chocolate shops Route 9 Vallorcine-Col des Posettes-Le Tour-Montroc Route 10 Vallorcine to Martigny Descents and airtime 4 Road Biking Route 1 Chamonix to Sallanches Route 2 Col des Montets Route 3 Emosson Lake Route 4 Col de la Forclaz Rides outside of the Chamonix valley 5 Rock Climbing and Bouldering Rock climbing Area 1 Les Gaillands Area 2 The Index Area 3 La Joux Area 4 Les Cheserys Area 5 Aiguillette d'Argentiere Area 6 Vallorcine Slab (Rocher de la Saix) Area 7 Barberine Bouldering Area 1 Col des Montets Area 2 Pierre d'Orthaz Area 3 Les Bossons Area 4 Le Coupeau Area 5 Le Medonnet 6 Via Ferratas Route 1 Le Mont, Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval Route 2 La Curalla, Passy Other routes in the Haute Savoie region Route 3 La Yves Pollet Villard, La Clusaz Route 4 La Roche a l'Agathe, Thones Appendix A Useful contacts Appendix B Useful French words and phrases Appendix C Further reading Appendix D Glacier travel and rescue techniques