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From the Réf. Argentière via 3 Cols to Campex Lac. A long and somewhat technically demanding tour via Col du Passon, Col Supérieure du Tour and Col des Ecandies. From Réf. Argentière over three cols to Champex Lac. Long and, in regards to stamina and technique, partially challenging tour over Col du Passon, Col Supérieure du Tour and Col des Ecandies.
An early start is necessary! First descent on mostly frozen snow back on yesterday’s ascent track. Always keep to the orographic right edge of the Argentière glacier until below the Col de Passon. You usually meet the tracks that lead over from the railway, as you can also do a day tour over the Col du Passon with a descent to Tour. Then up into the couloir visible from afar.
This is followed by a short descent to the Glacier du Tour, which you cross without difficulty in the direction of Col Supérieure. The route then makes a wide left turn onto the mighty Glacier du Trient. On the descent, we leave the ascent tracks to the Cabane du Trient on the right and ski increasingly steeply on the right side of the glacier to the start of the Col des Ecandies. A fixed rope makes it easier to find, ascend and find the way. Now we have 1300 metres of descent ahead of us. There’s everything from powdery slopes to a pull trail and a section of piste at the very end.
For the transfer, you can either take the public bus, then possibly change buses, or you can treat yourself to the luxury of a private bus, which will take you directly to Bourg-St-Pierre or Verbier, for example.
English version:
An early start is necessary!
First is a descent, on most of the time frozen snow, back to the ascent tracks from the day before. Always stay on the orographically right edge of the Argentière glacier until you’re beneath the Col de Passon. Here you often encounter tracks coming from the cable car, as there is the possibility of doing a one day tour of the Col du Passon and descend to Tour. Your tour then goes upwards into the couloir, which is visible from afar. Following is a short descent to the Glacier du Tour, which is easily crossed towards Col Supérieure. Then you take a wide leftwards curve onto the mighty Glacier Supérieure. During the descent you ignore the ascending tracks towards Cabane du Trient and instead descend the right side of the glacier with increasing steepness until you reach the entrance to Col des Ecandies. A fixed rope facilitates both ascent and navigation. Now you have a descent of 1300 metres in altitude in front of you, which includes slopes of powdered snow, flat ways and towards the end a bit of ski track.
In terms of transport there’s the option of bus routes, which might require switching busses or you invest in a private bus, which takes you directly to Bourg St. Pierre or Verbier.
Itinerary
Best period to go there
Prestations
Author\s note
An early start is highly recommended. Frequent alternation: descent, ascent on skis, with crampons. At Col Supérieure you can also aim for a summit, the ascent of the Aiguille du Tour.
An early start is highly recommended. Be prepared for many switches between descent, ascent with skis and ascent with crampons. On Col the Supérieure there’s the option of ascending to the summit of the Aguille du Tour.
Directions
An early start is necessary! First, we mostly return to yesterday’s ascent track on hard snow. Always keep to the orographic right edge of the Argentière glacier until below the Col de Passon. Leave the Col du Chardonnet to the right. You usually meet the tracks that lead over from the railway, as you can also do a day tour via the Col du Passon with a descent to Tour. In good conditions, you don’t need to carry your skis on the lowest ledge, but can bypass the upswing a little to the left. Then climb up into the couloir visible from afar. To reach the col, switch to crampons and ice axe. At the top, take a look back at the Argentière glacier and across to the Mont Blanc massif.
This is followed by a short descent onto the Glacier du Tour. Always keep to the right. Cross the glacier without difficulty and aim for the Col Supérieure, which can be seen from afar and is easy to climb. The route then takes a wide left turn onto the mighty Glacier du Trient. The tracks of the rope teams coming from the Réf. Argentière via the Col du Chardonnet and the Fenêtre de Saleinaz meet here. On the descent, we leave the ascent tracks to the Cabane du Trient on the right and continue on the right side of the glacier, becoming steeper and steeper, until we reach the ascent to the Col des Ecandies. A fixed rope makes it easier to find the route as well as the ascent. Now we have 1300 metres of descent ahead of us. There’s everything from powdery slopes to a pull trail and a section of piste at the very end.
For the transfer, you can either take the public bus, then possibly change buses, or you can treat yourself to the luxury of a private bus, which will take you directly to Bourg-St-Pierre or Verbier, for example.
English version:
First you return to the ascent tracks from the day before through most of the time hard and frozen snow. Ignoring the Col du Chardonnet, you always stay on the orographically right edge of the Argentière Glacier until you are beneath the Col du Passon. You often encounter tracks coming from the cable car, since a one day long tour over the Col du Passon with a descent to Tour is possible here. Under good conditions you don’t have to carry your skis at the lowest step so you can avoid the uplift by going a bit to the left of it. Then you move upwards to the couloir, which is visible from far away. In order to get to the Col, crampons and ice picks are required. Once you arrive at the top you’ll be treated to a nice view back at the Argentière glacier, as well as the Mont Blanc Massif.
Afterwards there is a short descent to the Glacier du Tour, during which you should always keep to the right. This glacier is easily crossed, after which you target the Col Supérieure, which is visible from a distance and an easy climb. Then you take a wide leftwards curve onto the mighty Glacier Supérieure. Here the tracks of the rope parties coming from the Fenêtre de Saleinaz and from the Réf. Argentière over the Col du Chardonnet meet. During the descent you ignore the ascending tracks towards Cabane du Trient and instead descend the right side of the glacier with increasing steepness until you reach the ascent to Col des Ecandies. A fixed rope facilitates both the ascent and navigation. Now you have a descent of 1300 metres in altitude in front of you, which includes slopes of powdered snow, flat ways, and towards the end a bit of ski track.
When it comes to transportation you can either take the bus, which might require some changing of busses, or you invest in a private bus to take you directly to Bourg St. Pierre or Verbier.