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Traversée des Aiguilles Crochues Aiguilles Rouges Chamonix

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At the heart of the Aiguilles Rouges massif, a traverse dedicated to initiation

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The iconic hiking itinerary covers 160 kilometers with a total elevation gain of 10,000 meters

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This tour proves to be one of the jewels of Valle d'Aosta, combining wild valleys, high-altitude lakes, and remarkable viewpoints on the glaciers

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Randonnée été, sixt, samoens, Fer à Cheval, Vallée du Giffre

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Hiking excursion through sumptuous mountain pastures between the Pays du Mont-Blanc and the Swiss Valais

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The metamorphosis

Thanks to the growth of winter tourism, the guiding profession begins to be exercised all year round, allowing the guides to become mono-active. In parallel with the traditional activities practiced in the high mountains, new activities are developing: trekking, whitewater rafting, canyoning, via ferrata ... In order to meet the evolution of the demand, the Companie des Guides has opened its ranks to mountain leaders and has profoundly restructured its administration.


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Go climbing around Argentière and enjoy familly lessons with a climbing instructor

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Global warming

For over 200 years, the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix has adapted to the challenges of each time. It has played an active part in the writing of mountain history, demonstrating its engagement and imagination.
Today, the Compagnie des Guides is facing climate change, the greatest challenge in its history. More than ever, we are trying to adapt and imagine a new practice to keep offering exceptional adventures in a “World over the top”.

The adventure without boundaries

Increasingly more technical and complicated, the great climbs of this era were most often done by guides without their clients. Far-away expeditions were becoming more and more frequent. In 1950, Louis Lachenal, achieved with Maurice Herzog, the first ascent of Annapurna, which allowed France to win the race to be the first to reach 8000m. Gaston Rébuffat, Lionel Terray, Gerard Devouassoux, Georges Payot and René Desmaison to name a few were also particularly active in the Alps as well as abroad.

The opening up to the world

Once the main peaks have been climbed by their normal routes, mountaineers are turning to more technical routes. Little by little, the popularity of the high mountain increases and the first ascents without guides make their appearance. The guiding profession also begins to attract people that are not native to mountain valleys.

The conquest

This period is marked by an influx of rich Anglo-Saxons wanting to discover the high mountains in the valley. The majority of the alpine arc remains to be discovered and the hunt to be the first is in full swing. The 1855-1865 decade is considered "the golden age of mountaineering" because it is unquestionably the most prolific in the history of mountaineering.