Description

An obvious skyline ridge traverse following the French Swiss border all the way to Aiguille du Tour.

Starting at the Col de Balme and taking in some rarely visited summits and exposed rock, and with the added fun of some glacial travel towards the end in order to reach the Aiguille du tour normal route.

Descent is as for the Aiguille du Tour Normal route, back to the Albert Premiere and home to Le Tour.

Not for the inexperienced, some adventurous rock and exposed down climbing, as well as the obvious glacial skills required. Starting at the Col de Balme and head for the ridge that’ll take you to the summit of Grandes Autannes, follow on the multiple plateaus and short scrambles eventually reaching Col des Grandes, where escape down to the Albert 1er is possible.

Continuing to the Aiguille du Genepy will see the rock quality lessen as you near the glacier.

Once finding a method to jump the Rimaye and head onwards to join the glacier proper and leaving the ridgeline.

Traverse the eastern side of the Aiguille du Midi des Grandes, and further East on the glacier to avoid the ridge up the Aiguille Pissoir, and a little further to join the Normal route of Aiguille du Tour.

Enjoy the quality rock for a scramble and summit.

Follow the well used track back to the Col Superior du Tour or Col du Tour depending on conditions, and down to Albert Prem for a beer before heading back down the main track to Le Tour.