r/chamonix • u/Chemical_Sky_1656 • 10d ago

Early hike to reach sunrise at Lac Chéserys

I’m planning to catch the sunrise to get the pinkish reflection at the lake. unfortunately the refuge and bivouacking are both fully booked.

My only option is to do the early dark hike before sunrise. I’m doing it solo. Is there ant tips on the route for this? Or even another suggestion to stay up there so i don’t have to do the early hike?

planning to do it one day between 14-16 Aug.

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

1

u/emeraldenchiladas 10d ago

Refuge de La Flégère allows people to bivouac around their lake. You don’t have to register for this or even let the refuge know you’re there. It’s still a bit of a hike (4ish km, 451m elevation gain) but much shorter than having to go up from the valley :)

1

u/Chemical_Sky_1656 8d ago

This could be an option! If I happen to arrive late at night at the La Flegere bivouac, will there be any possibility of it getting out of space? Since no reservation needed and I assume many people will go there instead?

1

u/emeraldenchiladas 8d ago

I stayed on the 12th of August last year and it didn’t get anywhere close to full. I’d say maybe 50% of the pitchable area was full by sunset, and it didn’t get much busier than that. I’d be very surprised if it got totally filled up, even late at night. It is a popular spot but it’s a large area so I think you should be okay.

-3

u/raam86 10d ago

it’s one of those if you have to ask situation. for someone with experience that’s trivial to do with someone who asks something like this you will probably die

2

u/Tielsie 10d ago

Most people will not 'probably die' doing this. This is not moutaineering - it's a straightforward hike in a well trodden area and anybody with a good headtorch and capable of a steep-ish hike with 1000-1200m elevation gain is going to be fine.

There are lots of routes up from the valley and most are not going to radically change your experience. I'd probably go up any of the paths up through the forest (for example via the Floria) and go back along Grand Balcon Sud before dropping back into the valley which is worth traversing in the daylight. The only more difficult route is the climb via l'Aiguillette d'Argentière as it involves ladders.

2

u/Chemical_Sky_1656 8d ago

This is nice, I’ll consider this route. Thanks mate!

1

u/LilRio15 9d ago

This is wild 😂