If you have a bit of general knowledge, you know what are the highest peaks of Europe, even of the world. Everest, K2, Annapurna, Mont-Blanc, and many else are known by many people as it is a synonym of a feat to reach the summit and being still alive. It means that not everybody is able to go on the top for a physical reason, and for a financial one too as it is definitely expensive to plan this kind of “trip”. Let’s define those ascents as a feat.

Except for those reasons, many other peaks are high and reachable. However, you need some equipment to reach the summit. I mean, for example, walking on a glacier is hard and you need stud on it. It is the same concerning climbing. A hike can start easily but the final line is sometimes too hard and too high that you have to get a rope in order to climb by safety. Let’s define those ascents as moutaineering.

I am not speaking at all about glacier, climbing or even rope. This article is basicly speaking about your hiking shoes and you. With an important piece of motivation and some sport training, you can reach a summit of 3 747 meters.
Aiguille de la Grande Sassière is definitely is highest hike of Europe WITHOUT A NEED OF EQUIPMENT. Let’s define this ascent as hiking.

3 774 meters.

In order to give you an idea of the altitude of the Aiguille de la Grande Sassière, please, find some sort of comparison:

• Mont Blanc – France/Italy : 4 810 meters (highest Western European peak)
• …
• Barre des Ecrins – France : 4 102 meters (10th highest French peak)
• Aiguille du Midi – France : 3 842 meters (highest French peak reachable by cable car).
• Aiguille de la Grande Sassière : 3 747 meters.
• Teide – Canary Islands : 3 718 meters (highest Spanish peak)
• …
• Aneto – Spain : 3 404 meters (highest Pyrénées peak)
• …
• Vignemale – France : 3 298 meters (highest French side Pyrénées peak)

Short context about our hike

Few years ago, some of my friends went on the top of Aiguille de la Grande Sassière, the highest hike of Europe. At this moment, I hiked few summits around 3 500 meters. However, these hikes were moutaineering. That was tough hikes, as I had to carry a heavy bag with equipments to cross glacier (stud, ice axe). Since the appreciation of Aiguille de la Grande Sassière, the highest hike of Europe, I definitely wanted to go on the top. Many reasons pushed me to start this hike:

• The accessibility to go to 3 747 meters.
• The possibility to bring people to this elevation as you don’t need specific equipments and knowledge.
• To hike a new summit.
• To hike in a new massif.
• To hike for the view on the top.

Finally, it is only in July 2022 that I had the opportunity to reach the top with a group of friends more or less comfortable with high mountain. As the hiking start was a bit far from our city, we choose to sleep in the car in the parking the day before, then start the hike at 6:00am.

Hiking Information

• Parking : Barrage du Saut
• Starting Point : Barrage du Saut
• Starting Elevation: 2 280 meters
• Aiguille de la Grande Sassière Elevation: 3 747 meters
• Total Elevation : around 1 500 meters D+
• Distance : 12,8 kilometers
• Time : around 7 hours (depending of your pace)
• Season : start of June to end of September without equipments
• Mandatory Equipment : hiking shoes from start of June to end of September
• Snacking : no shelter on the ascent in order to buy food or drinks.

Hiking Itinerary

I will not spend a lot of time concerning the hiking itinerary as the track is definitely easy to find. First fact: you can see the summit from the parking, something which is not obvious in mountain.

Through the track, you will go around some passage where you are exposed to heights, but nothing specifically dangerous. Just be prepared of the last rise, it is really hard as you gain a lot of elevation in few meters. Altitude does not help too.

However, this hike does not have to be under-rated. Aiguille de la Grande Sassière, the highest hike of Europe, is high mountain. Even if you will not cross glacier or use a rope to climb cliff, the danger can come from anywhere in mountain. Especially at our age, with global warming. Mountains are weak and the rocks can fall from anywhere. Be careful, a helmet is always a good idea to bring.