Grand Combin

The Grand Combin is a mountain massif in the western Pennine Alps in the canton of Valais. It is one of the highest peaks in the Alps, with its summit, called Combin de Grafeneire, reaching a height of 4,309 metres (14,137 feet). This makes it the second most important peak in the Pennine Alps.

The Grand Combin is a large and icy mountain with several summits. Three of these summits rise above 4,000 metres: Combin de Grafeneire at 4,309 metres, Combin de Valsorey at 4,184 metres, and Combin de la Tsessette at 4,132 metres. Most of the highest part of this mountain is in Switzerland, but the border with Italy is just a few kilometres to the south.

For people who want to climb the Grand Combin, the usual path starts from the Panossière Hut on the north side, in the Corbassière valley. Although the climb does not have very hard parts, there is one very risky section called Le Corridor. This narrow path is often hit by large blocks of ice called seracs, making it dangerous to cross.

Geography

The Grand Combin is a mountain group located in Lower Valais, south of Verbier. It lies between the Val d'Entremont and the Val de Bagnes. The northwest side of Grand Combin is covered with snow and glaciers. The southern and eastern sides are very steep and do not have snow.

The Grand Combin has many peaks. The highest point, called Grand Combin de Grafeneire, is 4,309 metres tall. Two other peaks that are also very high are the Grand Combin de Valsorey at 4,184 metres and the Combin de la Tsessette at 4,132 metres. All the water from this area flows into the Dranse river and the Rhone.

Climbing history

The Grand Combin is a tall mountain that not many people knew about for a long time. The first person to explore part of this mountain was Gottlieb Samuel Studer from Berne. On August 14, 1851, he reached the top of the Combin de Corbassière with a guide named Joseph-Benjamin Fellay. Others followed him in the years after.

At first, people only reached a smaller peak near the Grand Combin. The first group to climb this smaller peak was made up of local mountain guides on July 20, 1857. The very first complete climb to the top of Grand Combin happened on July 30, 1859, led by Charles Sainte-Claire Deville with several helpers.

Later, in 1872, another part of the Grand Combin called the Grand Combin de Valsorey was climbed for the first time.

Climbing huts

• Panossière Hut (2,641 m), north side
• Valsorey Hut (3,030 m), south-west side
• Bivouac Biaggio Musso (3,658 m), south side