Dents du Midi, Mountain chain in Valais, Switzerland.
This chain runs for three kilometers across the Chablais Alps, rising to seven separate summits with the highest at 3,257 meters (10,686 feet). The northern slopes drop sharply while the southern flanks descend more gradually toward the Trient valley below.
Vicar Jean-Maurice Clément reached the Haute Cime in 1784, marking the beginning of recorded mountaineering here. Other summits were climbed for the first time during the 19th century by local and visiting alpinists.
Local people watch the position of the summits against the sun to read the time, a practice that continues in the valley. Mountain guides lead walkers through the alps, sharing knowledge about routes and conditions passed down through generations of climbers.
Several trails lead into the range from Champéry, and guided ascents are offered between June and September when conditions are more stable. Routes vary from day hikes to technical climbs that require alpine experience and proper equipment.
Three glaciers occupy the hollows between the summits: Plan Névé on the south face, and Chalin and Soi on the northern slopes. These ice fields retreat across the upper sections and shift from year to year with snowfall and summer melt.
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