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“If you’re not moving, you’re standing  still.”

 

Steve Trafton

Dent du Midi Traverse: Montreux to Chamonix

After a nice rest at the hut I shouldered my pack and set out for the Col de Susanfe. I made my way up the valley, through heather and boulder meadows, gradually climbing and traversing the valley which passed the along the base of the south face of the Haute Cime (ca. 10680 feet), the highest peak of the Dent du Midi. At the head of the valley a steep series of switch backs led up the final scree slopes to the Col De Susanfe (1:30; ca. 8180 feet). This airy col connects to the south east ridge of the Haute Cime and provided a commanding view of the Lac de Salanfe in the valley eighteen hundred feet below. It also provided the first grand view of the Grand Combin and even the Matterhorn in the far distance.

After a short stay at the col I started down the east side toward the Lac de Salanfe and the Salanfe Hutte which was my goal for the day. The path was steep and scree filled, but interesting, with several gullies which had to be crossed that were assisted by fixed chains for safety. The way down was unrelenting and I quickly lost altitude and came to the valley floor about an hour after leaving the col. From here it was a pleasant walk through meadows to the lakeshore and then along the lakeshore until I reached the hut (3:00; ca. 6320 feet).

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