Three Hut Trips for Spring
We are blessed with incredible huts dotted around the Swiss Alps, some famous worldwide and some hidden gems. They lie along ski touring routes and offer the chance to escape into the wilderness and leave the beaten track. This is absolutely the best way to truly experience the beauty of the Alps and to get as far away from the crowds as you can. It gives you a real sense of autonomy and achievement that can be difficult to find in every day life. Here are three hut trips suggested by our very own Tom Crothall to get you started this spring.
Cabane Brunet - Rogneux Loop
Level: Beginner
Tom’s notes: The route starts up through the forest and offers spectacular views down the Val de Bagnes. You can see the hut right up on the ridge when you start to get close. It is a great beginner tour and is easy to navigate technically.
What you will need: The hut is catered and food is provided by a famous local chef. You only need a sheet sleeping bag which normally can be purchased at the hut (worth checking beforehand).
Mont Fort - Cabane de Prafleuri - Rosa Blanche over the Col de Roux
Level: Intermediate (a guide is required if you are a beginner)
Tom’s notes: The hut is very remote and offers a real feeling of being in the wilderness. This tour is a little harder as it is right up in the mountains and involves crossing high glaciers. The hut has an electricity metre which is rare and pleasant feature so remember to bring coins for that extra comfort!
What you will need: The hut is catered when it is manned (March/April) but is open and non-catered when unmanned. Sleeping bags required.
Mont Fort - Pantalons Blancs - Cabane des Dix - Arolla (Three day tour)
Level: Intermediate (harder than the previous tour and a guide is required)
DAY 1:
Mont Fort - Pantalons Blancs
Tom’s notes: The first hut is an unmanned igloo that sleeps 12. You all sleep in a circle round a fire. Normally gas/wood is provided, you just have to pay your nightly fee - via TWINT or bank transfer - the details are on the hut website: https://www.sac-cas.ch/fr/cabanes-et-courses/portail-des-courses-du-cas/refuge-igloo-des-pantalons-blancs-2147000199/. It is worth reserving online in case of any double bookings. The hut is right up on the ridge and the sun sets directly
behind Mont Blanc which is epic. This route is harder than the others with more distance and elevation.
What you will need: Cravass rescue equipment. Food for this first night as it is not catered. Maybe a beer to celebrate making it to the hut! Sleeping bags required.
DAY 2:
Pantalons Blancs - Cabane des Dix
Tom’s notes: Expect long glacier descents with cruisy skiing and beautiful scenery down to Lac des Dix. You go past the hut and tour up Col de Cheilon before skiing back down. TIP: leave your extra gear at the hut before this to make the ascent easier.The hut is a really famous refuge between Zermatt and Verbier on the Haute Route.
What you will need: It is a catered hut so you just need a sheet sleeping bag.
DAY 3:
Cabane des Dix - Arolla
Tom’s notes: You tour up a huge ice formation called Serpentine then round the back of the Pigne d’Arolla. The route takes you past the vignette hut where you can stop for coffee. This is another famous hut with 120 beds up at 3157m! Then you enjoy a beautiful long descent down to Arolla on a big open glacier.
What you will need: You’ve made it so just a beer to celebrate!
As these are all ski touring routes you will need all your regular equipment (touring boots/skis/compatible bindings and skins). Cravass rescue equipment and avalanche gear are essentials for the intermediate routes. Don’t forget your camera to capture these incredible memories!
Gear and Clothing Recommendations
Our team offer their suggestions on what equipment you’ll need to get off the beaten track and tackle hut trips and touring this spring!
FOR HIM
Perfect for advanced riders looking for a light ski, a versatile blade and excellent downhill performance to have fun on any terrain! Traverse the back country with ease.
The easy entry and the extremely practical operation of all functions give a lot of security, especially in difficult terrain.
Your skin is ready in 5 minutes thanks to the Ready2Climb system.
All the avalanche equipment you need for freeriding, off-piste runs or ski touring.
An ultralight merino base layer top designed to help regulate body temperature during high-intensity activity.
Hardshell pants for extreme alpine expeditions.
Made for fast, dynamic, done-in-a-day mountaineering ascents.
Ski socks with ultralight cushioning for direct control and speed.
The Summit snow helmet is the lightweight go-to lid for backcountry touring and ski mountaineering.
Hold up to harsh, ever-changing conditions while providing a contrast-boosting view of every crevasse, wind drift and terrain feature.
A binding which boasts convenience, reliability, and is light weight.
FOR HER
Moves downhill as effectively as it climbs up.
Your skin is ready in 5 minutes thanks to the Ready2Climb system.
All the avalanche equipment you need for freeriding, off-piste runs or ski touring.
We have plenty of fantastic active suggestions for you to check out online and in store, as well as every event for your diary throughout the next few months. See the links below to be sure you don’t miss out!
from the Mountain Air team