This day offers one of the best descents on the Haute Route, that of the Val d'Arpette. From the Trient hut a quick, steep descent down the Trient Glacier leads to either the Col des Ecandies or the Fenêtre du Chamois, both leading to the Val d'Arpette and Champex. The Val d'Arpette usually offers an incredible run down cold, north facing slopes. The total descent from the Col des Ecandies to the town of Champex is almost 4400 vertical feet.

Classic Route: We continue by taxi to Bourg-St.-Pierre where we stay in a local hotel.

Usually we time our descent to arive in Champex in time for an early lunch. This gets us into Bourg-St-Pierre at about 1 in the afternoon, plenty of time to do a bit of wash and relax. Bourg-St-Pierre is a sleepy little town on the road up to the Grand Saint Bernard pass.

Verbier Route: From Champex we continue by taxi to the ski resort of Verbier. Once there, we ride the lifts to the Col des Gentianes, then ski down to the Mont Fort Hut. The Mont Fort has been recently renovated and now includes hot showers!