CR Adventures 020822: TMB Day 8 - Auberge Mont Blanc (Trient) to Gite d’Alpage les Ecuries de Charamillon via Col de Balme

TMB Day 8 starts from the Auberge Mont Blanc in Trient, Switzerland, a hamlet of around 150 people in Valais, Switzerland · Trient Glacier, a glacier on Mont Blanc, Switzerland · Trient (river), Switzerland.

We ascend following the Trient river towards La Peuty taking the route variation of 2:45hrs towards the Col de Balme.

Alternative Route:
A longer alternative route of 4hrs will take you along the ridge of The Croix de fer a mountain of the Mont Blanc Massif, overlooking Trient in the canton of Valais located north of the Tête de Balme and L'Arolette and it is the culminating point of the group between the Col des Montets and the Col de Balme.

The long climb to the Col de Balme through the Valley passes by Les Herbagères formed with L'Argny and L'Odeyi created three alpine pastures ranging from 1410 to 2400 meters above sea level, up to at the Col de Balme where the hotel of the same name is located.
Each mountain pasture, with its chalet, forms a whole.
The two stables of the Herbagères are entirely in stone and vaulted and laid out to protect against avalanches. They are home to Hérens dairy cows. Milk makes lean cheese. Five employees run the operation. A water point is located slightly to the right of the farm.
Overall view of the two stables and the living quarters. The slope was dug to accommodate barn No. 1 over almost its entire length as well as the rear half of barn No. 2. The rear gable of the house is protected by an avalanche barrier in the shape of an isosceles triangle.

The Col de Balme is a high mountain pass of the Alps, located on the border between Switzerland and France offering the first views of Valie de l’Arve (the Chamonix Valley).
It connects Trient in the Swiss canton of Valais to Argentière in the French department of Haute-Savoie. The pass lies between the summits of Tête de Balme and Les Grandes Otanes.
Elevation: 2,195 m

This privately-run refuge Col de Balme complete with restaurant is based in a cottage that is actually just over the border in Switzerland. Having been built in 1877, the accommodation is pretty basic and there is no drinkable tap water available. Water is provided at an additional cost.

The Col de Balme refuge built in 1877 was apparently occupied by the German troops during World War 2.

This is the last of the TMB border crossings between Switzerland and France.

After a deserved break we descend to our refuge for the night just visible from the Col de Balme.

The gîte des Ecuries de Charamillon (1850) a former cow shed is located right in the high mountain pasture on the ski slopes of the Tour/Col de Balme.

Peace is guaranteed with just the "black" Hérens cows and the marmots for company

Sun-drenched terrace and an unrestricted view over the Mont-Blanc mountain range and the Chamonix valley.