Grand Combin (Valsorey e Grafeneire) - 4314 mt - Via Arête du Meitin (Bourg-Saint-Pierre - CH) 4K

The imposing Himalayan peak that dominates the entire Great St. Bernard Valley - the legendary Grand Combin! Finally, a dream come true: climbing the Arête du Meitin route. The route is long, challenging, and very easy to get lost. Furthermore, you need to be very familiar with the steep exposures and treacherous scree terrain (not without objective dangers, such as falling rocks if other teams are on the route). Note: The normal Italian route, also known as the Isler shoulder, tackles the steep south face and, despite its lesser difficulties, has recently become quite dangerous due to constant rockfall (it is rarely found in good condition). First day: Leave the car in La Delise in Bourg-Saint-Pierre at about 1,800 meters and immediately take the beautiful farm road that, with signs for Vélan and Valsorey, enters a seemingly enchanted valley. Green pastures, rivers, and the enormous glaciers of Mont Vélan dominate the landscape—it's truly a paradise! We continue through the well-marked valley to some green plateaus where we encounter numerous ibex. Here, the enormous Meitin ridge and the Cabane de Valsorey perched on a rock at the top of a steep climb (still on a trail) emerge. The view from the Cabane is breathtaking, and the refuge itself is decidedly beautiful and welcoming (although it was still closed and unmanaged when we visited). The trail indicates a four-hour walk from the car, but by walking at a steady, leisurely pace, we saved one hour. It's early, and to pass the time, we enjoy the views, chop wood, and light a fire, sharing some mountaineering anecdotes (only one Austrian man is with us at the bivouac, and we'll spend a pleasant evening with him). We go to bed early despite the long June days. The alarm clock goes off at 3:00 AM. Second Day: At 3:30 a.m., after a light breakfast, we leave the refuge and immediately put on crampons to tackle the steep, still snow-covered slopes that lead to the Col du Meitin at approximately 3,650 meters. Be careful on these slopes, as they are steep and exposed: the progress is better than on the steep scree trail along the ridge/rocky slope that is the normal ascent route. At the col, it's already dawn. We enjoy a few moments before tying up and starting the climb. The ridge is composed of three sections: the first, decidedly longer and more challenging, is approximately 350 meters (grade III+/IV), followed by the second, 120 meters, and the final, shorter but very exposed section that leads to the summit of Combin de Valsorey at 4,184 meters. There's a beautiful wooden summit cross here. N.B.: For a detailed description of the ridge, I recommend checking the Camp to Camp website. From Valsorey to the highest peak of the Grand Combin (the Combin de Grafeneire at 4,314 meters) you have to tackle a simple glacier progression (beware of some hidden crevices). The view from the summit is truly breathtaking: in the distance, you can see the city of Aosta and all around the main peaks of the Aosta Valley and beyond. There's not a cloud in the distance, and you can easily admire Lake Geneva and the Piedmont plain: AWESOME!!!! A few photos and then descend the ascent route, which will challenge us both mentally and physically. It's quite long and requires countless rappels. We prefer to abseil down safely rather than downclimb with a dull mind and fearful exposure. After about 5 and a half hours of descent, we're back at the Cabane de Valsorey where we'll have lunch. The entire return trail continues, and the trip concludes with a nice cold Coke at the legendary Bar du Lac on the Great St. Bernard Pass. Note: If the refuge is closed, I recommend bringing plenty of water. Thanks to my friend Alex for making this dream climb a reality. Mountaineering Difficulty: AD+ Required Equipment: Ice axe, crampons, helmet. Harness and snow/ice belaying gear, plus a few quickdraws, a descender, and a 50-meter rope. For the trip's track, find me on Strava or Garmin (Fabio Mochettaz). Total Trip: Approximately 21 km and 2,700 meters of elevation gain. Enjoy! Subscribe to the channel, like the video, and comment below if you'd like more info! :)