Winter Trekking – Grand St Bernard

Fly to Geneva and take the train around the north side of Lac Léman (aka Lake Geneva) to Martigny.  Swap trains and travel to Orsières (usually changing at Sembrancher).

You will meet your trip leader at the Hotel Terminus at 7 p.m. Briefing and equipment check followed by dinner.

After breakfast, we jump into the minibus and drive to Télés-Vichères-Liddes (25 mins). Here, we don our snowshoes for the first time and embark on the local Plan Beu trekking route. Our target today is to familiarise ourselves with walking in snowshoes whilst enjoying the panoramic views of the Combins and the Dolent ranges. On the way, we learn how to use our avalanche transceivers and we practice a rescue.

Elevation: +517m | Distance: 8.7km | Duration: 3h30m – 4hrs | Max Altitude: 2,109m

Today, we trek to the legendary monastery on the Col du Grand St. Bernard, where we will spend the next two nights.

After arriving at the monastery, we will venture out to confirm our avalanche search and rescue skills and make a study of the snow pack; all part of improving our avalanche awareness and training for the future.

If we are going well on the way up to the monastery, we may swing off to the SSE and into the Combe de Barasson.  This takes us under the east flank of the ominously named Le Mont Mort (2,866m).  The south-east ridge of this mountain leads down to a col at 2,634m which we will endeavour to reach from the cwm (or the col to its east).  Having reached the col and enjoyed the views over Italy, we turn around and retrace our footsteps downwards till we can traverse around the northerly aspect of Le Mont Mort.   Rounding the spur, we turn to the SW and make our way up the Combe des Morts, to the safe refuge of the monastery.

Height Gain: +888m | Distance: 9km | Duration: 6-7hrs | Max Altitude: 2,635m

Another big day in the mountains begins with a fulsome breakfast – so eat as much as you can (you’ll need the calories).  Just as importantly, drink well at breakfast to ensure you are well hydrated before leaving.

With picnics in our pockets, our target today will be either the Fenêtre de Ferret (2,695m) or the Fenêtre d’en Haut (2,722m).  Each of the two cols gives access to summits/ high points a little further beyond (the Tête de Fenêtre or the Tête de Fonteinte respectively).  The choice of which col or top we stand on will depend on snow conditions and our anticipated speed of travel.  Whichever we choose, when we get there, we will be treated to the most magnificent views of the Massif du Mont Blanc.  We will reverse our route, less so many zig-zags as we made on the way up, all the way back. Back at the monastery, we have a restful evening and dinner at the Col du Grand St. Bernard.

Fenêtre de Ferret (and the Tête de Fenêtre)

Height Gain: +495m | Distance: 6.5km | Duration: 6-7hrs | Max Altitude: 2,824m

Fenêtre d’en Haut (and Tête de Fonteinte)

Height Gain: +376m | Distance: 6km | Duration 5-6 hrs | Max Altitude: 2,773m

We descend from the monastery, down through the Combe des Morts where avalanches and rogues used to prey on pilgrims, to our vehicle at Bourg-St-Bernard.  After a 45-min drive, we arrive back in Martigny.  There will be a final debrief over lunch before jumping on the train back to Geneva Airport in time for an early evening flight home.

Elevation: +850m | Distance: 10km