Demi-Tour des Combins (4 days)

For this year’s Jeûne Genevois, we are doing the Italian half of the Tour des Combins (the Swiss half may come next year). The hike is mostly on well marked trails without major technical difficulties. But each day is long (6-8 hours of walking with significant altitude gain) so you have to be in very good physical shape.

Itinerary

Day 1: 800m 170m 11km 4 hours
We take a train and bus to the Mauvoisin dam and hike along a hiking path above the lake to the newly renovated Cabane de Chanrion, which actually belongs to the Geneva section of the Club Alpin Suisse.

Day 2: 1100m 1100m 23km 8 hours
Today we cross the Fenêtre de Durand into Italy. After a steep climb in the morning we have a long walk along the south side of the Grand Combins and arrive at the Rifugio Champillon.

Day 3: 1200m 1200m 20km 8 hours
We continue our trek through the Aosta valley and hike back up to the Grand St-Bernard pass which brings us back to Switzerland. Once all the day-tourists are gone, this is very special place and we stay in the iconic Hospice du Grand-Saint-Bernard.

Day 4: 900m 1700m 18km 7 hours
Depending on everybody’s energy there are multiple options to finish our last day. We can either follow the official Tour des Combins, or take a more adventurous option that involves passing over the Pointe de Drône. In either case we will arrive in Bourg-St-Pierre from where we travel back to Geneva.

Equipment

• Usual hiking equipment including rain gear, warm layer and gloves
• Hut sleeping bag (“sac à viande”) and toiletries
• Minimum one picnic for the first day + snacks (extra picnics can also be bought in huts)
• Bathing suit (there is a sauna in the Champillon hut)
• Buy your one-way train ticket (or day pass) before departure
• Optional:
  • Demi-tarif and alpine club membership card if available
  • Sandals or flip-flops for the train ride can be comfy (otherwise huts provide slippers)
  • Thermos bottle (huts usually provide tea for the day in the morning)

Costs

• Train tickets and cable car: ~75 CHF with demi-tarif
• Ski Club tax: 20 CHF (60 CHF non-members)
• Huts (demi-pension):
  • Chanrion: 95.50 CHF (80.50 CHF alpine club members)
  • Champillon: 70 EUR
  • Hospice: 65 CHF

Signup

• Hike leader: Frank Winklmeier (scig@winklmeier.name), Assistant: Maica Trabanco
• Sign-up via email with the following information:
  • Full name
  • Mobile phone number
  • Are you a Ski Club (SCIG) member of the current 2024/25 season?
  • Are you a CAS (or other alpine club) member?
  • Do you have any dietary constraints for dinner at the huts?
  • If I don’t know you personally, what comparable hikes have you done before?

To secure your spot a deposit of CHF 150 is required. Payment details will be communicated after sign-up.

Due to the 30-day cancellation policy of the Champillon hut, there is a minimum non-refundable 20 EUR in case you cancel (and I cannot fill your spot) or if we have to cancel the hike altogether due to bad weather.

Transport

• Leaving Thursday Sept 5th early morning (between 6-8am). Due to the damage to the road in Val de Bagnes, the exact connection will be communicated a few days before the hike.
• We meet on the platform towards the end of the train.
• Return from Bourg-St-Pierre on Sunday via bus and train.