Glacier de l'Argentière
Posted: Wed 20 Aug, 2014 9:40 pmThe Argentiere Glacier, next to Chamonix, is well known in the Alps. It's one of the most impressive, as you can reach a lookout to see the seracs (the big blocks at the end) above a steep slope and some wonderful waterfalls, then walk farther up to see most of its length from above and the surrounding pics (such as Aiguille de l'Argentière where 6 climbers died this month).
The start of the walk can be either a village near Chamonix, which means an elevation gain of around 1100 m, either taking the cable car to Lognan. Problem : cable cars are an immense tourist attractions and prices are freaking steep... 16 € for a return trip... Mind you, that's still cheaper than Thredbo chair lift in Kosciuszko, and with better views. But with so many cable cars in the Alps, it can mounts up pretty quickly.
Anyway, I started from the bottom, and had to climb for hours. Luckily, I had some views towards the Aiguille du Midi, and other great summits of the area. After a lonely, steep and slippery walk up a narrow exposed path, I arrived to the end of the cable car. It wasn't lonely anymore : at 10:30 am, the tourists were numerous and all going towards the glacier. Despite that, nothing can take away from you the great sensation of seeing that dropping glacier above the cliffs. Seeing it from above is even better, as you can spot all the crevasses. Plenty of people walking on that river of ice, but for that you need proper equipment. Behind me, other beautiful mountains that I could barely see, obscured by a rocky dome. The map said there was a lookout there, so I started climbing it.
Mind you, after a 1100 m climb already, the extra (and underestimated by me) 300 m were a bit much, especially on such steep moraine. It took me a bit of time to find the cairn marking the nice viewspot, but it was worth it. Everywhere you looked there were snow capped summits, and at this kinda secret spot, only old timers not afraid to go the extra km. I photographed the glacier and panoramic views from all angles, trying to get nice shots of the crevasses and seracs. On the way back, you can walks by the side of the glacier on a secondary track. It was certainly worth battling the summer vacation traffic on the way back home. Mind you, with the track to the cable car being so steep and most of it devoided of views, if you've got 25 € to spend, definitely take the cable car. You'll have more energy to explore all the vantage points.
The start of the walk can be either a village near Chamonix, which means an elevation gain of around 1100 m, either taking the cable car to Lognan. Problem : cable cars are an immense tourist attractions and prices are freaking steep... 16 € for a return trip... Mind you, that's still cheaper than Thredbo chair lift in Kosciuszko, and with better views. But with so many cable cars in the Alps, it can mounts up pretty quickly.
Anyway, I started from the bottom, and had to climb for hours. Luckily, I had some views towards the Aiguille du Midi, and other great summits of the area. After a lonely, steep and slippery walk up a narrow exposed path, I arrived to the end of the cable car. It wasn't lonely anymore : at 10:30 am, the tourists were numerous and all going towards the glacier. Despite that, nothing can take away from you the great sensation of seeing that dropping glacier above the cliffs. Seeing it from above is even better, as you can spot all the crevasses. Plenty of people walking on that river of ice, but for that you need proper equipment. Behind me, other beautiful mountains that I could barely see, obscured by a rocky dome. The map said there was a lookout there, so I started climbing it.
Mind you, after a 1100 m climb already, the extra (and underestimated by me) 300 m were a bit much, especially on such steep moraine. It took me a bit of time to find the cairn marking the nice viewspot, but it was worth it. Everywhere you looked there were snow capped summits, and at this kinda secret spot, only old timers not afraid to go the extra km. I photographed the glacier and panoramic views from all angles, trying to get nice shots of the crevasses and seracs. On the way back, you can walks by the side of the glacier on a secondary track. It was certainly worth battling the summer vacation traffic on the way back home. Mind you, with the track to the cable car being so steep and most of it devoided of views, if you've got 25 € to spend, definitely take the cable car. You'll have more energy to explore all the vantage points.
