A 5-day tour of the Beaufortain

We meet up at 9am in the village of Beaufort-sur-Doron, recognisable by its traditional architecture and cheese, the starting point for the day.

The hike begins on typical paths through forests, clearings and mountain pastures towards Hauteluce, where the chalets are a blend of stone and wood. The trail then climbs up to the ridges of Les Saisies, offering the first clear view of Mont Blanc and the surrounding peaks; this is a good opportunity to find out the route and adjust the pace of the group. The climb continues at a leisurely pace towards the Col de Véry, with time for practical training (map reading, effort management, positioning on the ascent).

We reach the Mountain hut for the night, perched in an open, panoramic setting: settling in, tidying up the equipment and dividing up the tasks. In the evening, we take stock of the weather and the state of the terrain, discuss what we've learnt today and plan the rest of the route together.

Departure from the Col de Véry: follow the balcony paths over vast green valleys, alternating between mountain pastures, forests, clearings and wilder stretches. You reach the Col du Joly, a viewpoint overlooking Mont Blanc and the high mountains, and then gradually descend into the isolated valley of La Gittaz. Logical progress over ridges and valleys with sections of path that are sometimes narrow or steep.

Objectives for the day: walking techniques in varied terrain, reading a balcony itinerary, managing the pace of the group and self-sufficiency (water, layers, navigation depending on the weather). There will be regular breaks, navigation relays and exchanges to reinforce the group's dynamic and autonomy.

Arrival and settling in at the Mountain hut: meal, review of the day's activities and concrete preparations for what's to come.

We leave the Mountain hut de la Gittaz for a predominantly alpine day, with a gradual climb towards the Col du Bonhomme, then the historic route of the Tour du Mont Blanc and the Croix du Bonhomme. The route takes in clearings, alpine meadows and valleys, then opens out onto the Roselend valley and its wide open mineral spaces, with occasional ridge climbing depending on the itinerary.

The morning is sustained, the pace is adapted to the group with technical breaks and regular hydration. Technical and educational objectives: ascent and descent techniques, map reading and independence in alpine terrain, effort management at altitude and navigation on historic trails.

We finish in a Mountain hut, on the edge of its high-altitude lake, where we settle in and discuss our experiences as a group. Brief preparation for the next day: equipment check, weather briefing and choice of route depending on conditions.

Departure from the Mountain hut for a very scenic day in the heart of the Beaufortain, with the Pierra Menta visible and easy to spot from several points along the way. We cross mountain pastures, clearings, ridges and hanging valleys, adapting the route according to the weather and the energy of the group to maintain a safe and friendly pace.

After passing the Cormet d'Arêches, we reach the Col de la Louze and then a final climb before descending to tonight's Mountain hut, nestling in the middle of the pastures and perfect for watching the sun set over Mont Blanc.

The day will focus on navigation in open terrain, effort management, ascent/descent techniques and the gradual autonomy of the group. Settle in at the Mountain hut, return and share your impressions; concrete preparations for the next day's route.

We leave the Mountain hut in the morning and head back up towards the Col de la Bâthie, regaining altitude. We then climb two closing summits, the Grande Journée and the Mirantin, which offer great vantage points from which to view the massif we've covered.

The route follows ridges and valleys, passing through mountain pastures, summer chalets and a few clearings; depending on the weather, there may be snow at higher altitudes. We manage the pace of the group, work on navigation and self-sufficiency, and refine our descent techniques.

A long descent takes us back to Beaufort through the mountain pastures, where we complete this demanding and immersive tour.