Hike Plan de l'Aiguille - Lac Bleu - Glacier edge 4.6 km
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 2.88 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,053 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation loss
- 1,053 ft
- Max elevation
- 8,455 ft
- TrailRank
- 46
- Min elevation
- 7,576 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 2 hours 39 minutes
- Coordinates
- 635
- Uploaded
- August 13, 2012
- Recorded
- July 2012
near Chamonix Mont-Blanc, Rhône-Alpes (France)
Viewed 13676 times, downloaded 150 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
If you do not have much time when visiting the Aiguille du Midi cable car, but want to do a little bit of hiking, this little hike from Plan de l'Aiguille cable car station to Lac Bleu and then to the edge of the glacier (Glacier des Pélerins) might be suited. Although the hike is marked easy, the ascent, the climb over stones and the loose moraine debris do not make this hike suited for everybody. The little hike to Lac Bleu on the contrary is suited for almost everybody.
From Plan de l'Aiguille to Lac Bleu is only 10 minutes. The hike to the edge of the glacier is about 1 hour up and 40 minutes down.
When you visit the Mont Blanc cable car (see website http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/aiguille-du-midi/timetables) and go up to Aiguille du Midi you cannot do much hiking as you can only access the glacier as an alpinist. On the way back down to Chamonix, you can stop at Plan de l'Aiguille for a short (or longer) hike. This hike first takes you to the aptly named Lac Bleu. When coming back you turn left before you come to the bar-restaurant and follow the trail up to the edge of a snowfield at about 2580 meters. On the way up, I chose the track on the right (south) marked 'rock trail' as a waypoint. On this track you have to scramble over larger rocks for 10 minutes. On the way back I followed an easier trail. The top of the trail is over moraine debris, dust and stones. Up here you have a good view over the Glacier des Pélerins, but you do not actually see the ice up close. The trail ends at a snowfield (still present at the end of July).
From Plan de l'Aiguille to Lac Bleu is only 10 minutes. The hike to the edge of the glacier is about 1 hour up and 40 minutes down.
When you visit the Mont Blanc cable car (see website http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/aiguille-du-midi/timetables) and go up to Aiguille du Midi you cannot do much hiking as you can only access the glacier as an alpinist. On the way back down to Chamonix, you can stop at Plan de l'Aiguille for a short (or longer) hike. This hike first takes you to the aptly named Lac Bleu. When coming back you turn left before you come to the bar-restaurant and follow the trail up to the edge of a snowfield at about 2580 meters. On the way up, I chose the track on the right (south) marked 'rock trail' as a waypoint. On this track you have to scramble over larger rocks for 10 minutes. On the way back I followed an easier trail. The top of the trail is over moraine debris, dust and stones. Up here you have a good view over the Glacier des Pélerins, but you do not actually see the ice up close. The trail ends at a snowfield (still present at the end of July).
Waypoints
Information point
0 ft
Glacier edge
Here the trail ends at a snowfield. The glacier is directly to the south. Maybe part of the glacier is also beneath the snowfield. Here you have a nice view of the glacier, the snowfield and the surrounding mountains. There is even a spot to pitch a tent.
Photo
0 ft
Lac Bleu
This blue lake offers some nice photo opportunities and is only a 10 minute hike from the cable car station.
Information point
0 ft
Rock trail
When going up, I took the south fork, but this path is across big rocks, and you have to scramble and watch your footing here. If in doubt take the trail to the left/north which is much easier.
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