July 24, 2024

Pont d’Arlevé, 1.597m

Departure from the bridge at 8am for the long climb to the summit of Le Brévent. We stop for breakfast at Chalets d’Arlevés (ruins, but bivouac area possible), then start climbing again.

We pass the first névés before reaching the Col du Brévent.

Col du Brévent, 2,368m

As soon as you reach the Col, you lose visibility. We begin the climb to the summit, passing several névés and ladders.

Brévent summit, 2,525m

Once at the summit, the clouds change very quickly, and we sometimes get a few seconds of sunshine.

We’re starting to cool off, so we decide to start the descent, and soon find ourselves with a great view of the Mont Blanc massif in front of us.

Refuge Bellachat, 2.152m

We stop for a bite to eat at the Refuge before continuing the very long descent to Les Houches.

I’m afraid of heights and thought the climb to the summit would be difficult, but in fact I found it harder on the descent, several handrails, you’re exposed to the void for quite a while, and the 1,500m descent seems endless.

Les Houches, 1,010m

We spend the night at the Bellevue campsite, starting to feel the accumulation of long days of walking. A good burger to recover from the day, and build up your strength for what’s to come.