OverviewWhen standing in Chamonix town and looking up at towards Mont Blanc one of the most striking features is the ridge of jagged Aiguilles that make up the skyline to the left of Mont Blanc itself. Right in the center, and bracketed by the Aiguille de L’M on the far left and the Aiguille du Midi on the far right, stands the Aiguille du Plan.
The Aiguille du Plan is probably most well known as the destination of the classic Midi-Plan traverse. The route and the summit of the Aiguille du Plan offer spectacular views over the surrounding mountains, the Vallée Blanche and the Chamonix valley itself.
Getting ThereThe Aiguille du Plan is part of the Mont Blanc MASSIF. See the excellent SummitPost page on the massif for more context and details of how to get there.
RoutesSome of the more well known routes on/to the Aiguille du Plan are:
1. Midi-Plan traverse,PD/PD+.
2. Ryan-Lochmatter Ridge D/D+
Alternatively, some north face horrors for the hard men and women:
1.North Face Direct,ED2
2.North-West Ridge Integral,TD+
3.Lagarde-Segogne Couloir,TD+
MapsInstitut Géographique National (IGN), map number: 3630 OT Chamonix (1:25000)
Red TapeNone.
When To ClimbClimbing is possible all year round – weather permitting – but the main summer climbing season runs June to August.
Mountain ConditionsMétéo France:
(phone) +33 8 36 68 02 74 for weather
(phone) +33 8 36 68 10 20 for snow conditions
(web) http://www.meteo.fr/meteonet/temps/activite/mont/mont.htm
Office de Haute Montagnes (OHM), Chamonix:
(phone) +33 4 50 53 22 08
(web) http://www.ohm-chamonix.com/
Office de Tourisme, Chamonix:
(phone) +33 4 50 53 00 24
(web) www.chamonix.com
Webcams:
http://chamonix.org/webcam.php
http://www.webcam-montblanc.com/
http://www.chamonix.net/francais/webcam/chamcam.htm
CampingThere are campsites in Chamonix and surrounding villages. Also many refuges in the mountains are situated for easy access to climbing routes. The most obvious ones relevant to the Aiguille du Plan being:
1. Refuge du Requin
2. Refuge Les Cosmiques
3. Not really Refuge status, but close to the Cosmiques, is the Abri Simond Bivouac.
Camping is not strictly speaking allowed on the mountain, but overnight bivouacking is. The somewhat ambiguous grey area inbetween these definitions means that the Col du Midi boasts a sea of tents through the summer climbing season. Some people report getting into difficulties with the police, but I have also seen 30+ tents up at a time. YMMV. See also the "More Info" comments...
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Graie Alps
