Chamonix hiking/hut recommendations...
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My gf and I are planning a hiking/trail running trip to the Chamonix area early Sept 2019. This will be my first, and possibly only time in the Alps. |
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Zirkel wrote: easy 3rd class/trail access peaks. No idea why you would choose Chamonix for this. Almost anywhere in the Alps is better for that. For trail running . . . suggest you do a search onUltra Tour Mont Blanc since it's happening near your dates. Arguably the most famous + prestigious trail run event in the world. . . . (but it does not go to peaks). |
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I second the questioning of chamonix. Check out the Tour des Ecrins, beautiful area. Anncey is a cool town, worth a day to visit for sure. |
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kenr wrote: We'll be there a week after this event occurs. We are hiking, not climbing on this trip -- I should have stated that more clearly. Edited for clarity. |
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Zirkel wrote: So if you are not climbing . . . |
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kenr wrote: I note that Chamonix is very unrepresentative of hiking in the Alps - (tho it does have _some_ nice hiking). Go with this, man! |
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Seriously, check out the Parc National de la Vanoise and Barre des Ecrins, beautiful areas, great hiking, less tourists. Make sure to eat some tartiflette, yum! |
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Ashort wrote: Seriously, check out the Parc National de la Vanoise... This place looks VERY COOL. I need an entire Summer and not just a week! Let's say you had 48 hours here -- best bang (TWO hikes, food, lodging) for the buck? |
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Yes you do! |
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Zirkel wrote: "best" as in what characteristics? "for the buck" ought to eliminate Chamonix, since it's one of the more expensive places in the Alps.If you keep insisting on Chamonix, then I guess "best" for you includes "crowded with tourists" as well as "expensive"? |
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kenr wrote: He may already have reservations in Cham, so how about offering something helpful. Chamonix is beautiful and worth seeing. |
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kenr wrote: Dude, you're kind of embarrassing yourself here. |
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I don't have much beta on Chamonix, but can highly recommend Valle Antrona a little east of there.....Cham may be busy but considering it's the week after the UTMB and in September, it certainly won't be at it's worst. Try and get over to Aosta if you can! |
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Zirkel wrote: Hanging in the French Alps for the past few days, so far nobody has called me that. Currently feeling happy and energized.Spent two of my past four days on the peaks and glaciers above Chamonix. Interesting variety of snow + rock terrain with transitions to different equipment modes, exciting explorations of new places, close and far from the most spectacular ice + rock structures in the world, exercising some of my key alpine skills at my highest levels. I was going to suggest a way for someone new to the European Alps to get a small starting taste of that. |
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Zirkel wrote: Will NOT be equipped for glacier travel. We have one week. You can rent said equipment in town if desired. Boots, crampons and an axe would be sufficient to hike the Mer de Glace as far as the Envers hut, as it is generally bare ice and there is a beaten path that avoids the crevasses. If you have any crampon experience this is easy safe terrain. This is a way worthwhile outing just from a scenic perspective, great views of the Grandes Jorasses and Dent du Geant for example. You take the little funicular train from town to the restaurant overlooking the glacier, hike for just a couple hours up to the hut. You don't have to have reservations if you think you want to stay over but it could easily be full and overflow is the attic. You should be able to find out in town if there is space or at least call the hut, but it would be a great day hike. |
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Wow, people sure are down on Chamonix... but I spent a couple weeks there and was blown away with the hiking. This was after spending a few weeks in Switzerland, so it seemed cheap to me, but your mileage may vary. I was there in early June and it didn't seem crowded. Walked right on to trams and sat right down at restaurants with no waiting. This was my overall favorite hike: |
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Count me as an enthusiastic proponent of Chamonix Mont Blanc as a stand-out place for American visitors for alpine rock / ice / mixed climbing and serious ski-mountaineering (and glacier hiking for those competent). |
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Ken, you and I are getting off-topic, but this is kind of funny: I'm in the Calanques right now (this morning was Morgiou to Sugiton, with a bunch of climbing along the way), and I'd agree, the hiking here is stupendous, though completely different of course, being seaside cliffs instead of the alps! |
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Good post |
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Zirkel, last August my partner and I hiked the TMB. It was crowded at times since it was August. We based in Chamonix at Hotel Chamonix. Multiple options online to search hikes either there or several hut connections i.e. col de Fenetre, as an objective. Dormitories or rooms. I had climbed Aiguille du Midi by Super DuPont c25 years ago camping in Chamonix and having un grand cafe at the restaurant at the top of the teleferique...I still found Chamonix delightful... more shops more people but still Chamonix. |