How to get there:
This summit is about 6 kilometer from the city of Martigny, south, but slightly towards the east.
The trailhead is located in the small tourist village Champex-Lac. The road from Martigny to Champex-Lac
is about 20 kilometer, narrow, partially single lane, driving time about 30 minutes.
We stayed at Au Club Alpin hotel, this is a pretty good place from where to start the climb.
Route description:
When you exit from Au Club Alpin hotel, walk a few meter right, then take the first small street going
uphill (left). There is a (curved) walking path, steps leading uphill passing between two buildings (close), then continuing uphill, eventually traversing a bit left. Shortly, you are at the highest possibleplace to park (few available spaces here). On the uphill side, you will see trail signs, Catogne going uphill
to your right. Shortly, the path crosses a small
road and you should see this sign.
The route will cross another (wide) parth, then climb steeply uphill with several zig-zag turns.
Next, you arrive at a signed trail fork, the right path connects to the viewpoint Belvedere. Catogne is
signposted going left. Continue ascending, the trail finally gains the main crest with a sign telling that
Catogne is left and descending back into the hill. There is a shortcut trail here avoiding the crest,
but this is only a very slight savings and the view from the crest may be worth a one-minute detour.
The route continues traversing the hill-side, you will gain a new spot with trail signs. Catogne is still
going left. After a bit more traversing, the trail heads downhill, loosing about 100 vertical meter, in
order to bypass below some cliffs. Finally, the trail ascends, crossing a very shallow gully, then
ascending more directly towards the skyline with a very
distinct rock formation uphill. You will pass
this on the right, then follow the main crest
a short section, (picture from the summit) before a small descent in order to
connect with the highest point along the crest.
You will see the summit cross, not far away.
Comments:
We drove from Gstaad to Champex-Lac, not without issues.
First, just a few kilometer above Aigle on Hwy. 11, we stopped with a long line of cars
ahead. No progress. Heidi walked downhill to discover a traffic accident.
It looked like a crash between a motorbike and a bus. The police informed her that the
road would remain closed several hours. OK, turn around and drive uphill looking for
an alternate route. This was discovered across Col de la Croix, 1778m.
Second, the car had lost its rear suspension,
This detour was on a road with a rough surface, not very pleasant.
The car should be repaired near Montreux in the afternoon on Wednesday (the next day).
Thus, this hike should be concluded well
before noon in order for me to take the car to the BMW service garage about one hour drive to the north.
I decided to start hiking with my torch light at 0500.
I started walking at 0455, the trail was easy to follow, but fairly steep. The summit was reached by
0725, so 2:30 up. I rested 10 minutes looking at the clouds that were drifting around. The descent took
1:55, back at my hotel precisely 0930, so 30 minutes left of breakfast time. Very nice indeed.
