Chemins pédestre de montagne, commune d'Orsières
HARD (3.9/10)Combe d'Orny → Glacier du Trient
Use this route
The walk, as far as the open data goes
Somewhere to stop
- Cabane d'Orny hut, 2,826 m
Mapped within 200 m of the line. Whether they are open is not something we have read.
Height and time
- High point 2,932 m
- Low point 1,469 m
- Climb 2,251 m from a 30 m terrain model, smoothed
- Swiss signpost time 8 h 39 the official method, on our line
Computed on 2026-09-20 from OpenStreetMap, the terrain model and the federal route layer — not read from the operator's own page, and not checked on the ground. Hikes we have reviewed say who published each fact and when.
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Route briefing
What comes next
Climbs, descents and decisive places in route order. Not listed does not mean absent: it may not be mapped.
Start
0 m
Combe d'Orny
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-04-11
About 0 min in
12.6 km remaining
+2251 m remaining
Climb
1.1 km
692 m climb
1.7 km at 40.2% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-11
About 42 min in
11.4 km remaining
+2240 m remaining
Descent
2.9 km
143 m descent
0.2 km at 79.2% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-11
About 1h 47m in
9.7 km remaining
+1564 m remaining
Climb
3.0 km
380 m climb
1.2 km at 32.2% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-11
About 1h 53m in
9.5 km remaining
+1509 m remaining
Climb
4.6 km
359 m climb
2.7 km at 13.1% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-11
About 2h 50m in
8.0 km remaining
+1106 m remaining
Climb
7.4 km
684 m climb
5.1 km at 13.4% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-11
About 4h 37m in
5.1 km remaining
+722 m remaining
Finish
12.6 km
Glacier du Trient
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-04-11
About 7h 48m in
0 m remaining
Trail route lab
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Chemins pédestre de montagne, commune d'Orsières is a 12.6 km point-to-point hard hiking route in Switzerland, running from Combe d'Orny to Glacier du Trient. The route covers 2,251m of ascent and 917m of descent, with elevations ranging from 1,474m to 2,932m. Allow approximately 7h 47m for the full route.
The route is divided into 5 segments. The toughest stretch is the 10.8 km from Combe d'Orny to La Breya, climbing 1,534m (allow 5h 24m for this section).
About 61% of the trail is runnable, but the remaining steep sections will push most people into power-hiking mode. Some pitches hit 60% gradient, so trekking poles are strongly recommended.
Budget roughly 5,782 kcal of energy expenditure and 4.7 L of water.
High-alpine route reaching 2932m. Typically accessible July–September.
Trail Splits
Waypoint-to-waypoint breakdown with estimated hiking times (Naismith's Rule).
| Segment | Dist | ↑ Ascent | ↓ Descent | Time | Cum. km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
📍 Combe d'Orny → La Breya | 10.8 km | +1534m | -824m | 5h 24m | 10.8 |
⛰️ La Breya → Le Châtelet | 2.2 km | +256m | -85m | 55 min | 13.0 |
⛰️ Le Châtelet → Petit Clocher du Portalet | 1.7 km | +342m | -0m | 54 min | 14.7 |
⛰️ Petit Clocher du Portalet → Aiguille d'Orny | 1.1 km | +146m | -4m | 27 min | 15.7 |
⛰️ Aiguille d'Orny → Glacier du Trient | 0.3 km | +17m | -3m | 5 min | 16.0 |
| Total | 12.6 km | +2,251m | -917m | 7h 47m | 12.6 |
Pace & Fuel Calculator
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Terrain Analysis
Surface & Technicality
Gradient describes steepness, not exposure, scrambling, footing or current conditions. Technical difficulty is unknown where no mapped rating is available.
Tree cover and UV
☀️ Little to hide under. About 73% of the route is above the treeline, so wherever the terrain is not shading you there is nothing else to. Sunscreen, a hat and extra water.
Canopy is inferred from elevation against a 2000 m Alpine treeline and from gradient below it, not from observed tree data — treat it as an estimate. It is a different question from the terrain shade above, which is about whether a mountain is between you and the sun at a given time.
Current Conditions
Based on 1991–2020 climate averages, no month on Chemins pédestre de montagne, commune d'Orsières is without a weather drawback; August to September are the most workable. Snow is likely at the high point (2932 m) in November to July.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (1,469 m) and high point (2,932 m)…
Weather by month
Typical weather on this trail: at the lowest point (1,469 m) and the highest point (2,932 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Mixed | Mixed | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| High point, day / night | -7°/-12° | -7°/-13° | -6°/-11° | -3°/-9° | 1°/-4° | 5°/1° | 7°/3° | 8°/4° | 4°/1° | 1°/-1° | -3°/-6° | -5°/-10° |
| Low point, day / night | 2°/-5° | 2°/-6° | 5°/-3° | 8°/0° | 13°/5° | 17°/9° | 19°/10° | 19°/11° | 15°/7° | 11°/5° | 6°/0° | 3°/-4° |
| Rain, mm | 141 | 118 | 130 | 118 | 143 | 114 | 98 | 102 | 97 | 121 | 149 | 156 |
| Snow at high point | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | – | Possible | Possible | Likely | Likely |
| Daylight | 9 h 01 | 10 h 20 | 11 h 49 | 13 h 30 | 14 h 55 | 15 h 44 | 15 h 26 | 14 h 13 | 12 h 37 | 11 h 01 | 9 h 30 | 8 h 41 |
Source: TerraClimate 1991–2020 monthly averages. Averages for the area at each point’s elevation (4 km grid, corrected for height). Not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. These values describe the whole trail's lowest and highest points. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
Averages cannot establish current trail conditions. Check recent local reports, the forecast and restrictions before departure. Snow and ice can persist on shaded sections or arrive outside the usual season.
Current snow conditions
Insufficient evidence
Enable “Current snow map” in the route map’s Map layers to see the surrounding snow evidence. Current conditions do not describe a future departure date.
Planning ahead?
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Safety & Bailouts
We do not have a verified emergency exit plan for this route. A nearby settlement, hut or route endpoint is not necessarily reachable or open. Do not leave the trail based on a straight-line distance or compass direction.
Review possible exits against current local information before your trip. In an emergency, contact local rescue services; this page is not live rescue guidance.
Suggested Gear List
Auto-generated based on 12.6 km, 2251m ascent, max altitude 2932.2m, ~8h duration.
- 👟 Trail running shoes / hiking bootsRequired for any trail
- 📱 Phone (charged) + offline mapNavigation & emergency contact
- 💧 3L hydration vestWater source information is incomplete; plan supplies before departure
- 🍫 Trail mix, bars & sandwichEst. 5782 kcal burn
- 🧴 Sunscreen SPF 50+UV intensifies above 2000m
- 🧢 Sun hat / capExposed alpine terrain
- 🧥 Windbreaker / shell jacketSummit at 2932.2m — wind chill
- 🆘 Emergency space blanketCritical if injured at altitude
- 🕶️ Sunglasses (cat 3+)Snow & rock glare at altitude
- 🧤 Warm mid-layer (fleece)Temps drop ~6°C per 1000m
- 🔦 Headlamp8h route — plan for delays
- 🩹 Mini first aid kitBlister plasters, tape, antiseptic
- 🥢 Trekking poles50% steep terrain, 2251m+ ascent
- 🧊 Microspikes / light cramponsSnow risk in Jan, Feb, Mar
- 🦵 GaitersKeep snow out of boots
Logistics
This route runs from Combe d'Orny to Glacier du Trient (12.6 km by trail). You'll need to arrange transport back to your starting point.
Nearby Points of Interest
⛰️ Peaks
- La Breya km 10.8 · 1.1 km off trail
- Le Châtelet km 13 · 1.6 km off trail
- Aiguille de la Cabane km 14.3 · 2.2 km off trail
- Aiguille d'Arpette km 15 · 2.1 km off trail
📍 Nearby Places
- Plan Raveire km 0.8 · 938m off trail
- Grands Plans km 10.4 · 1.1 km off trail
- L'Affe km 1.4 · 1.2 km off trail
- Le Niolet km 1.6 · 1.5 km off trail
Route Details
- Network
- Local Trail Network
- Sport
- hiking
- Start
- Combe d'Orny
- End
- Glacier du Trient
- Start Coordinates
- 46.01186, 7.10810
- OpenStreetMap
- View on OSM →
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Route resources
Specialist links and source details for this route. Everyday actions are kept in the route rail above.