The second stage of the classic Haute Route leads from the Refuge d’Argentière (2771 m) over the Col du Chardonnet (3323 m) and the Fenêtre de Saleina (3261 m) to the Cabane du Trient (3170 m), crossing the border between France and Switzerland. The route passes through an impressive high alpine glacier landscape, framed by the mighty peaks of the Mont Blanc massif.
At around 9.6 km, with 1000 m of ascent and 650 m of descent, this is one of the more technically demanding sections of the Haute Route. The steep descent from the Col du Chardonnet to the Swiss side in particular is one of the first major cruxes of the whole traverse. Depending on conditions, abseiling and the use of crampons and ice axe are required here.