Spring Ski Touring in Arolla

Spring settles over the Valais in contrasts. At the entrance to the Val d’Hérens, the apricot trees burst into white blossom; deep in the valley, the summits remain draped in snow. Between the two, Arolla lives what is known here as “the spring of skiing”: the finest season for ski tourers and freeriders, when the light lengthens, the snow transforms and the great routes become possible once more.

A village at the foot of giants

Arolla is a village-resort set at the very head of the Val d’Hérens, at around 1,998 metres, beneath prestigious summits: Mont-Collon, the Pigne d’Arolla (3,796 m) and the Aiguille de la Tsa. These legendary peaks have drawn mountaineers for nearly a hundred and fifty years. The altitude and setting guarantee good snow cover well into spring, and access remains easy, by car or by public transport. It has always been an ideal starting point for fine ski tours.

Ski touring & freeride

In spring, skiing changes its face. You leave the groomed pistes for climbing skins: you ascend slowly, at your own pace, before dropping into a descent where the snow, warmed by the sun, turns soft and playful. The valleys around Arolla offer outstanding terrain to ski tourers and freeriders alike, from introductory tours to the great glacier itineraries. To each their own objective, chosen by ability, experience and the conditions of the moment.

Two legendary events

At the heart of spring, Arolla lies on the route of two legends of ski mountaineering, which each year gather crowds of enthusiasts from around the world.

• The Patrouille des Glaciers: a legendary ski-mountaineering race held in late April, every two years, between Zermatt and Verbier.
• The Haute Route Chamonix–Zermatt: one of the finest ski traverses of the Alps, passing through Arolla.

The mountain huts

For these great tours, the high-altitude huts stay open late in the season, until the beginning of May. They offer a roof, a hot meal and the wardens’ invaluable advice on the day’s conditions.

• The Cabane des Vignettes (3,160 m), kept by Karine and Jean-Michel Bournissen.
• The Cabane Bertol (3,311 m), perched on its rocky spur.
• Both open until early May, depending on conditions.

In the high mountains, the finest day is the one when you come home safe.

For the magic of spring skiing must not let us forget that here we move across glaciated, avalanche-prone terrain. Before setting out, it is essential to consult local experts on the weather and conditions, and to hire a professional mountain guide — the only way to enjoy these summits with complete peace of mind.

Back from the heights, the hotel returns to its gentle ways: tea in the lounge, a crackling fire, dinner at L’Honorine to relive the day’s route. For the length of a spring ski-touring stay, Arolla becomes your starting point towards the finest summits of the Valais.