Glacier Haute Route Hike: from Chamonix to Zermatt

6/29 Stage 2: Refuge Albert Premier – Cabane d’Orny

6/29 In anticipation of a warm day and a long snow route to the d’Orny hut we left the Albert Premier hut early (6:00a). It was a clear morning the sunrise on the east face of the Aiguille du Chardonnet was a beautiful sight as we descended and traversed a rocky trail east from the hut down to the edge of the Glacier du Tour. Before starting out across the glacier we roped up for safety and also to give Katherine some practice with roped glacier travel. The route contoured around the bottom of the west face of the Aiguille du Tour and passed to the east of point 2883m (9459ft). From here the route turned southeast and climbed gradually to a point below the Col Superior du Tour.

Here we stopped and put on our crampons before continuing up the short steep slope to the col (3289m – 10,791ft) (8:40a). The col marks the Swiss border and it afforded a fabulous view both west, on the Chamonix side, and east out across the Plateau du Trient. After a short rest we set out across the Plateau. The traverse of the plateau was a long, easy, gently descending traverse near the base of the Aiguilles Dorees. The route then gradually curved around to the northeast toward the Cabane du Trient and the Col d’Orny (3098m – 10.164ft). After a rest stop and a snack at the col we continued east down the Glacier d’Orny to the Cabane d’Orny (2831m – 9288ft) (11:00a). The cabane is perched on a rocky outcropping over the glacier and affords a great view to the east including the Grand Combin in the distance.