Via Alpina Stage 80: Trient - Champex-Lac
HARD (3.2/10)Trient → Arpette
A demanding mountain route — the Via Alpina Stage 80: Trient - Champex-Lac packs 17.5 km and 1,451 m of climbing into a 6h 53min day. Running from Trient to Arpette, the trail spans an elevation range of 1,303 m to 2,623 m. At 83 m/km, this is one of the steeper profiles you'll find.
The route breaks into 9 segments. The toughest stretch is the 1.3 km from Pointe de Prosom to Someceon du Dru, climbing 450 m — an unrelenting 346 m/km grade.
About 59% of the trail is runnable, but the remaining steep sections will push most people into power-hiking mode. Some pitches hit 60% gradient, so trekking poles are strongly recommended.
Budget roughly 4,291 kcal of energy expenditure and 4.1 L of water. Aim for 60–90 g of carbs per hour to avoid bonking on the longer climbs. No confirmed water sources along the route — carry all the water you need.
Alpine route. Usually accessible from June to October. Early and late season may have snow patches above 2200m. Expect snow patches above 2,423 m into early summer.
Elevation Profile
Route Map
Trail Splits
Waypoint-to-waypoint breakdown with estimated hiking times (Naismith's Rule).
| Segment | Dist | ↑ Ascent | ↓ Descent | Time | Cum. km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 📍 Trient → Troutse à l'Aye | 0.0 km | +0m | -0m | 0 min | 0.0 |
| ⛰️ Troutse à l'Aye → Refuge Le Peuty | 1.2 km | +140m | -0m | 28 min | 1.2 |
| 🏠 Refuge Le Peuty → Pointe Ronde | 2.4 km | +193m | -22m | 48 min | 3.6 |
| ⛰️ Pointe Ronde → Pointe de Prosom | 2.1 km | +540m | -1m | 1h 19m | 5.6 |
| ⛰️ Pointe de Prosom → Someceon du Dru | 1.3 km | +450m | -0m | 1h 00m | 6.9 |
| ⛰️ Someceon du Dru → Six Carro | 1.4 km | +26m | -364m | 37 min | 8.3 |
| ⛰️ Six Carro → La Breya | 3.3 km | +0m | -615m | 1h 10m | 11.6 |
| ⛰️ La Breya → Luy Blanche | 2.2 km | +2m | -170m | 35 min | 13.8 |
| ⛰️ Luy Blanche → Arpette | 2.8 km | +101m | -0m | 43 min | 16.6 |
| Total | 17.5 km | +1,451m | -1,171m | 6h 53m | 17.5 |
Terrain Analysis
Nutrition & Hydration
Estimates based on metabolic equivalent (MET) for hiking with significant elevation gain. Actual needs vary by body weight, fitness, weather, and pack weight.
Pace Estimates
Based on Naismith's Rule adjusted for distance, elevation, and technical difficulty. Click a pace to update split times above.
Current Conditions
Best Season
Alpine route. Usually accessible from June to October. Early and late season may have snow patches above 2200m.
Logistics
💧 Water Advisory
No confirmed water sources along this 17 km route. Carry all water needed — plan for 4.1 L minimum.
Nearby Points of Interest
⛰️ Peaks
- Someceon du Dru 379m · km 6.9
- Pointe des Écandies 449m · km 7.1
- Le Génépi 656m · km 7.4
- Six Carro 669m · km 8.3
- Tronc du Berger 760m · km 3.8
🏠 Mountain Huts
- Refuge Le Peuty 409m · km 1
📍 Nearby Places
- Argny 241m
- P2280 294m
- L'Eudéi 375m
- Ly 569m
- P2364 583m
Route Details
- Network
- International Trail Network
- Sport
- hiking
- Start
- Trient
- End
- Arpette
- Operator
- via-alpina.org
- Start Coordinates
- 46.05655, 6.99465
- OpenStreetMap
- View on OSM →
- Official Website
- Visit →
Similar Trails
Plan this route
This hard route demands careful planning. Use the TrailSplits planner to set waypoints at key mountain huts, get turn-by-turn navigation, and export to your GPS.