Yesterday, I indulged in a reconnaissance tour of what I am told is an exceptional backcountry ski area around the Trient hut and Pointe d'Orny, at 10,732 feet (3272 m), the culminating point around the hut. I figured I'd go and see for myself and get some exercise while at it. This is in the Valais canton of the Swiss Alps. The views of the Mt Blanc massif are exceptional, and you get to two of the most famous mountain huts in Switzerland. The mountain huts of Orny, 9,288 feet (2831m), and Trient, 10,406 feet (3170m), are accessed a bit more easily thanks to the La Breya chairlift that starts at the Champex ski mountain, a tiny (with only four lifts) but very charming resort. Although tiny in quantity of lifts, the Breya old school double chair gains a bit over 2,200 feet of very steep terrain in about 10 minutes, so not by any means hapless...
Regarding the ski lines, they start from Pointe d'Orny or its ridge and drop down into the Val d'Arpette. The lines look sweet, and
here is an example of that.
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After about an hour's walk, you get a first glimpse of
the snow and the high Alpine terrain. |
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After another hour, the Cabane d'Orny is in sight as well as
the first glacier. |
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| Looks like Loki beat me to the hut. |
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| Leaving the Orny hut and its lake behind. |
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The more dramatic features prompt climbers in the Alps to
talk a bout a mineral or a vertical world. This picture
demonstrates how both can apply at the same time. |
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| Full glacier environment... |
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...and arrival to the very beautiful and recently (2023)
renovated Cabane de Trient that sits over the glaciers. |
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| This picture was taken while on the way to Pointe d'Orny... |
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...and this one on the way back down. After this, there was
a three hour walk back to the ski lift. |
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