Demi-Tour des Combins (3 days)

The hike will lead us on the Swiss half of the Tour des Combins with an ascent of Mont Rogneux. You need to be comfortable hiking on blue-white alpine trails (T4).

Itinerary

Day 1: 1100m 280m 11km 4h30m
We take a train and bus to Bourg-St-Pierre and start the hike with the first stage of the Tour des Combins reaching Cabane de Mille. Along the way we will have dramatic views of the Mont Blanc range.

Day 2: 1300m 1150m 12km 7h
Today we will divert from the official Tour des Combins and instead take the adventurous “shortcut” across Mont Rogneux (3084m). This follows a blue-white alpine trail (T4) but does not pose any major technical difficulties. We will be rewarded with a 360 degree panorama and another 3000m peak in your pocket. We descend Mont Rogneux, ascend the Col des Avouillons and make our way to the Cabane FXB Panossière at the base of the Grand Combins massif.

Day 3: 400m 1000m 8km 4h
We hike up to Col des Otanes (1h, 250m) from where we will have multiple options. The most direct way is to descend to the Mauvoisin dam (2h30m, -1000m). A slightly longer alternative is to end in Fionnay. If there is a motivated group and if conditions allow, there is also the option to scramble up to the top of Grand Tavé (3158m, T4) from the col. Depending on the timing we may decide to call a private taxi to bring us back to Le Châble.

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).
• Buy your one-way train ticket before departure.
• Optional:
  • 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

• Transport tickets (~70 CHF with demi-tarif)
• Ski Club tax: 15 CHF (45 CHF non-members)
• Huts (demi-pension):
  • Cabane de Mille: 79 CHF
  • Panossiere: 80 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
  • Will you be a Ski Club (SCIG) member of the 2026/27 season (renew membership in June)?
  • 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 160 is required. Payment details will be communicated after sign-up.

Cancellation policy (unless I can fill your spot): There is a non-refundable 20 CHF charged by Cabane de Mille per person once signed up. Full hut charges are due if canceled less than 48 hours in advance.

Transport

• Saturday Aug 1st IR 90 9:05 Genève – 12:00 Bourg-St-Pierre
• We meet on the platform towards the end of the train.
• Return from Mauvoisin, Fionnay or Le Châble by bus/train on Monday afternoon. Arrival in Geneva at the latest around 19:00.