Tour Du Mont Blanc - Variante de la Fenêtre d'Arpette
MODERATE (2.2/10)Champex d'en Haut → Grands Dessous
Use this route
The walk, as far as the open data goes
Getting there
- Finish: Champex (télésiège) lift station, 166 m away
- Finish: Champex, télé bus stop, 176 m away
- Finish: Champex, d'en-Haut bus stop, 479 m away
Height and time
- High point 2,629 m
- Low point 1,514 m
- Climb 1,103 m from a 30 m terrain model, smoothed
- Swiss signpost time 4 h 59 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.
Explore the route
Read the topography, inspect the climb, or preview the route over real terrain.
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
Champex d'en Haut
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-04-10
About 0 min in
10.0 km remaining
+1103 m remaining
Climb
0 m
1108 m climb
6.2 km at 18.0% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-10
About 0 min in
10.0 km remaining
+1103 m remaining
Route note
0 m
Luy Blanche
Peak
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-10
About 0 min in
10.0 km remaining
+1103 m remaining
Route note
100 m
Bonhomme
Peak
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-10
About 3 min in
9.9 km remaining
+1096 m remaining
Route note
1.3 km
La Breya
Peak
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-10
About 38 min in
8.7 km remaining
+965 m remaining
Descent
6.2 km
1017 m descent
3.8 km at 26.6% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-10
About 3h 02m in
3.8 km remaining
+11 m remaining
Finish
10.0 km
Grands Dessous
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-04-10
About 4h 54m in
0 m remaining
Trail route lab
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Tour Du Mont Blanc - Variante de la Fenêtre d'Arpette is a 10.0 km point-to-point moderate hiking route in Switzerland, running from Champex d'en Haut to Grands Dessous. The route covers 1,103m of ascent and 1,102m of descent, with elevations ranging from 1,513m to 2,628m. Allow approximately 4h 54m for the full route.
The route is divided into 10 segments. The toughest stretch is the 3.0 km from La Breya to Aiguille de la Cabane, climbing 487m.
Only 44% of the route is below 15% gradient — expect to hike more than you run. The steepest pitches reach 60% gradient.
Budget roughly 2,878 kcal of energy expenditure and 2.9 L of water.
Mountain route up to 2628m. Best June–October; snow possible into June.
Trail Splits
Waypoint-to-waypoint breakdown with estimated hiking times (Naismith's Rule).
| Segment | Dist | ↑ Ascent | ↓ Descent | Time | Cum. km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
📍 Champex d'en Haut → La Breya | 1.3 km | +145m | -8m | 30 min | 1.3 |
⛰️ La Breya → Aiguille de la Cabane | 3.0 km | +487m | -0m | 1h 24m | 4.3 |
⛰️ Aiguille de la Cabane → Six Carro | 0.5 km | +134m | -4m | 19 min | 4.8 |
⛰️ Six Carro → Le Génépi | 0.9 km | +229m | -20m | 34 min | 5.7 |
⛰️ Le Génépi → Someceon du Dru | 0.6 km | +151m | -26m | 23 min | 6.3 |
⛰️ Someceon du Dru → Grand Bec | 0.5 km | +0m | -204m | 16 min | 6.8 |
⛰️ Grand Bec → Pointe de Prosom | 1.3 km | +16m | -376m | 35 min | 8.1 |
⛰️ Pointe de Prosom → Bonhomme | 1.0 km | +18m | -297m | 29 min | 9.1 |
⛰️ Bonhomme → Tronc du Berger | 0.6 km | +5m | -147m | 15 min | 9.7 |
⛰️ Tronc du Berger → Grands Dessous | 0.3 km | +7m | -20m | 4 min | 10.0 |
| Total | 10.0 km | +1,103m | -1,102m | 4h 54m | 10.0 |
Pace & Fuel Calculator
Adjust your flat 10K pace to see personalized finish time, calorie burn, and hydration needs.
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 44% 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, the weather on Tour Du Mont Blanc - Variante de la Fenêtre d'Arpette is usually best from July to August. Snow is likely at the high point (2629 m) in November to June.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (1,514 m) and high point (2,629 m)…
Weather by month
Typical weather on this trail: at the lowest point (1,514 m) and the highest point (2,629 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Good | Good | Mixed | Mixed | Poor | Poor |
| High point, day / night | -5°/-10° | -5°/-11° | -3°/-9° | -1°/-6° | 4°/-2° | 8°/3° | 10°/4° | 11°/6° | 7°/2° | 4°/0° | 0°/-5° | -3°/-8° |
| Low point, day / night | 1°/-6° | 2°/-6° | 4°/-3° | 8°/0° | 12°/4° | 17°/8° | 18°/10° | 19°/10° | 14°/7° | 11°/5° | 6°/0° | 3°/-4° |
| Rain, mm | 160 | 129 | 139 | 125 | 159 | 116 | 103 | 109 | 106 | 133 | 164 | 173 |
| Snow at high point | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | – | – | – | 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 40 |
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.
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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 10.0 km, 1103m ascent, max altitude 2628.1m, ~5h 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. 2878 kcal burn
- 🧴 Sunscreen SPF 50+UV intensifies above 2000m
- 🧢 Sun hat / capExposed alpine terrain
- 🧥 Windbreaker / shell jacketSummit at 2628.1m — 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
- 🔦 Headlamp5h route — plan for delays
- 🩹 Mini first aid kitBlister plasters, tape, antiseptic
- 🥢 Trekking poles64% steep terrain, 1103m+ ascent
- 🧊 Microspikes / light cramponsSnow risk in Jan, Feb, Mar
- 🦵 GaitersKeep snow out of boots
Logistics
This route runs from Champex d'en Haut to Grands Dessous (10.0 km by trail). You'll need to arrange transport back to your starting point.
Nearby Points of Interest
⛰️ Peaks
- La Breya km 1.3 · 1.5 km off trail
- Luy Blanche 1.6 km off trail
- Bonhomme km 0.1 · 1.7 km off trail
- Six Carro km 4.8 · 909m off trail
- Le Génépi km 5.7 · 1.3 km off trail
📍 Nearby Places
- Grands Plans 1.2 km off trail
- Belvédère 1.4 km off trail
- Le Niolet 1.7 km off trail
- P2280 km 5.3 · 826m off trail
- P2364 km 5.5 · 1.1 km off trail
Route Details
- Network
- Regional Trail Network
- Sport
- hiking
- Start
- Champex d'en Haut
- End
- Grands Dessous
- Start Coordinates
- 46.03158, 7.10445
- OpenStreetMap
- View on OSM →
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Route resources
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