Читать книгу The Swiss Alps онлайн

143 страница из 176

Walks and climbs from Champex

Apart from a gentle stroll of an hour around the lake, most routes worth tackling from Champex are fairly long or strenuous, or both. The one exception is the approach to Cabane d’Orny using the La Breya chairlift to gain an initial 700m of height.

  North of Champex, in effect backing the resort, a long mountain spine culminates in the summit crown of Le Catogne (2598m). The ascent, which begins at the lower end of the village, is not difficult, but has 1100m of height to gain. A major reward for making the ascent is the extent of the summit view, which is especially fine towards the Dents du Midi.

  A day’s walk (4½–5hrs) leading to Col de la Forclaz via the Bovine alp is known to thousands of trekkers, as it forms a stage of the TMB. First visiting the chalets of Champex d’en Haut and Champex d’en Bas, it makes a lengthy slanting traverse of forest and pasture, with occasional views of the Dents du Midi, as well as the Alpes Vaudoises across the Rhône valley, and a backward view to the Grand Combin. Although not as strenuous as the alternative TMB stage via the Fenêtre d’Arpette (see below), this Bovine route is demanding enough. At the end of the day accommodation is available at Hotel du Col de la Forclaz (see ssss1 for details). To vary the return to Champex, consider making a round-trip by reversing the Fenêtre d’Arpette route (about 6½hrs from Forclaz to Champex).