Le Catogne
2,598 m
Switzerland
Also known as Catogne, ლე-კატონიAlso known as
Catogne · ლე-კატონი
- Elevation
- 2,598 m
- Prominence
- 1,108 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Approximate line — not for navigation
An automated check found that parts of this line could not be matched to mapped trails, so it may stray far from the real route. Use it for planning only, with a map and a guidebook.
Why? 3 check notes
- Champex, Lac → L'Adray: corridor (detour; 10 m of gaps, 0.3 km)
- unresolved waypoints: Fratsay
- waypoints not on the route line: Pointe des Chevrettes (222 m off the trail)
A steep, well-marked mountain path from Champex-Lac (1,470 m) that climbs straight through larch and arolla pine to the Replat du 700ème, traverses scree under the Bonhomme and the Pointe des Chevrettes, then climbs a steep gully to the summit cross. About 1,130–1,350 m of ascent; Camptocamp's reference route for T3.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- ≈ 3.8 km
- one way
- Ascent
- ≈ +1,222 m
- −96 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,598 m
- Time Up
- ≈ 4h 44m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- ≈ 3h 14m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the Champex-Lac bus stop or car park, walk up to the signpost at L'Adray (1,515 m) where the Catogne path starts. It does not waste time on long traverses: it climbs steeply through forest straight to the Replat du 700ème (about 2,230 m), a flat viewpoint on the SE ridge below the Bonhomme. From there the path traverses the south-west flank below the Bonhomme to the Fratsay shelf (about 2,270 m, junction for the Catogne alpine pastures), drops about 100 m on a short traverse and passes the foot of the Pointe des Chevrettes (Tsevreresses). This section is rough in places, crossing many scree runnels and patches of arolla pine. At the end of the traverse the path climbs very steeply up the gully between the Pointe des Chevrettes and the fore-summit, crosses briefly onto the north-east side below the fore-summit, then reaches a small col and descends about 30 m on the south-west side to the summit cross over a few blocks. Descend the same way. The Pays du St-Bernard tourist office describes a loop (no. 12) that climbs from Champex-d'en-Bas via La Poya and descends this route, 11.7 km and 1,422 m of ascent, with a listed time of 7¼ hours. The path is well marked but tiring, with a few passages needing care and some exposure; avoid it when wet or icy.
Start
Champex, Lac1,472 m
- Train to Orsières (via Martigny), then the bus to Champex-Lac.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Champex, Lac → Le Catogne | 3.8 | 1,222 | 96 | 4h 44m |
Waypoints
- Station: Champex, Lac1,472 m
- Trailhead: L'Adray1,522 m
- Shoulder: Replat du 700ème2,218 m
- Feature: Pointe des Chevrettes2,531 m
The path traverses below this point, it does not cross the top (not on route line)
- Summit: Le Catogne2,598 m
Key Passages
- Steep forest climb to the Replat du 700ème
- Scree traverse below the Bonhomme and Pointe des Chevrettes
- Steep gully to the fore-summit
- Short descent over blocks to the summit cross
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
A steep, isolated 2,598 m summit standing on its own between the Val Ferret, the Val d'Entremont and the Rhône bend at Martigny. A marked but strenuous T3 path from Champex-Lac leads to a summit cross with views over the Mont Blanc and Grand Combin massifs and down the Rhône valley.
Le Catogne is the mountain you see blocking the entrance to the Val d'Entremont above Sembrancher. With more than 1,100 m of prominence it forms a small massif of its own, bounded by three valleys, and its steep flanks drop about 2,000 m to the Dranse at Bovernier and Sembrancher. Most of the north-western side is cliffs and gullies, including the climbing crag of La Dyure; the south-western side above Lac de Champex carries the hiking paths.
The normal route is a single long, steep climb with no hut on the way. It is popular with walkers staying in Champex-Lac and is the Camptocamp reference route for SAC grade T3: well marked, but rough, with scree traverses, a steep gully and a few spots where a slip would have consequences. The reward is a 360° view: the Mont Blanc massif, Grand Combin, the Bernese Alps across the Rhône, and Martigny and the Rhône bend far below.
In winter the mountain offers steep ski-touring couloirs on its west and south-west sides for experienced skiers.
Climbing Notes
Needs good fitness for 1,100–1,400 m of ascent and the same down on steep ground, sure-footedness and a reasonable head for heights; no technical skills or equipment beyond good boots. Allow a full day: the tourist office loop is timed at about 7 hours including the descent. There is no water or hut on the route, and the south-west-facing slopes get hot in summer, so start early and carry plenty to drink.
The path is best from late June, when the gully below the fore-summit is free of snow, until the first autumn snow. Avoid it in wet conditions, when the steep earth and grass sections are slippery. The SE ridge variant over the Bonhomme and the Pointe des Chevrettes (T5) is for experienced scramblers only.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; steep couloirs are for experienced ski-tourers only
- Feb
- Winter
- Mar
- Winter; avalanche-prone gullies
- Apr
- Snow on the upper path
- May
- Lower path clear; snow lingers in the upper gully
- Jun
- Usually clear by late June
- Jul
- Start early; hot on the south-west flank and afternoon storms
- Sep
- Stable weather and clear views
- Oct
- Larches turn; early snow possible on the upper section
- Nov
- Snow and short days
- Dec
- Winter
Access & Permits
- Getting There
Champex-Lac (Orsières municipality); Martigny for services
Geneva (GVA)
- Train from Martigny to Orsières (St-Bernard Express), then bus to Champex-Lac
- By car: from the Martigny motorway exit towards the Grand-Saint-Bernard, turning off at Orsières for Champex-Lac; the alternative road via Bovernier and Les Valettes is narrow and very winding. Large free car park at the foot of the Champex chairlift
Hazards
- Exposure
- Weather