Alpine Walking in the Val d´Anniviers, Switzerland
The Val d´Anniviers is a picturesque mountain valley in the French
speaking part of the Swiss Alps. The valley runs southwards from the
town of Sierre in the Rhone valley and ends below the snow covered
flanks of the Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Ober Gabelhorn and Dent Blanche
- all of which rise majestically above 4000m. Along the valley floor are the
villages of Vissoie and St. Luc, Grimentz, Ayer and finally Zinal. In the
village of St. Luc there is the very good Gîte du Prilet and in Zinal there is
the Auberge Alpina and a campsite together with the usual shopping
facilities, hotels, bank and tourist information. The area offers a wide
range of alpine walking options from easy trails to high mountain routes
over challenging terrain. It is certainly one of my favourite destinations.

Left, unpacking the car after a long drive from Denmark, making camp in
fine weather on the campsite in Zinal. Below, the view towards the end of
the valley from near the campsite. The rocky peak visible is the
impressive fishtail of Besso at 3668m.
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The three pictures right and below show parts of the circuit around the Pointes
de Nava, a terrific walk on easy footpaths that begins with a fairly steep ascent
from behind the Gîte du Prilet in St. Luc along the Torrent des Moulins before
following the valley gently to the Bella Vouarda col at 2621m. From the col the
footpath skirts the hillside back towards the starting point with views over the
d'Anniviers valley. Before the final descent to St. Luc you pass the grand Hotel
Weisshorn. The route is 13km with 1040m of ascent and descent which takes
about six and a half hours at a reasonably relaxing pace.
Below, the Pointes de Nava seen from the slopes above the Chalet Blanc
en route to the Lac de  l'Armina. The circuit follows the Tsa du Touno valley
to the left of the Pointes and returns along the rightward side overlooking
the Val d'Anniviers. The cream coloured Hotel Weisshorn where
refreshments can be bought, can just be seen in the right of the photograph.
Left, on the summit of Bella Tolla (3025m). This peak has been visited
since the late 1800's and is regarded by many as the best viewpoint in
the Valais. The peak can appear snow covered from a distance due to
the light chalk that forms the summit cone. In my opinion, Bella Tolla is
best approached by a cunning route that offers peace and quiet
compared to the popular direct route to the summit. From the Tignousa
furnicular in St. Luc, follow le Chemin des Planètes (the path of the
planets) before breaking off up the grassy hillside past the Chalet Blanc
and continuing towards the Meidpass. Stop to enjoy the tranquility by the
Lac de l'Armina before heading northwards on a faint path that leads to
the Pas de Boeuf. From here the summit of Bella Tolla is only a short
distance away. The final section towards the summit is quite loose in
places but you are rewarded with a fine panorama.

Below, the narrow ridge connecting Bella Tolla with the slightly lower top
of Rothorn at 2998m. On the path that follows the very crest of the ridge
there are several interesting rock towers that have to be negotiated as
seen above. The Rothorn is equipped with a circular viewing platform
that pinpoints the surrounding landmarks. The usual ascent/descent
route is via the obvious path joining the middle of the ridge between the
two tops. On a sunny day it is worth calling by the Cabane Bella Tolla for
cold refreshments on the way down. The cabane is just 10 minutes
above the furnicular station at Tignousa.
Above, the shapely peak of Dent Blanche rising above the head of the Val de Moiry, the right hand branch of the upper Val d'Anniviers. The view here was
photographed a few minutes walk from the top of the Bendolla cable car station at just over 2100m. The cableway supports the ski area in winter and rises above
the traditional wooden buildings of the town of Grimentz. The town is certainly worth a visit in its own right. Below right, a Stemless Carline Thistle or Carlina
acaulis is abundant on the middle mountain slopes in the valley. Below left, a Field Gentian or Gentiana campestris, almost in full bloom, is found in alpine
calcareous meadows.
An excellent circular walk can be made from the Bendola cableway southwards around the Pointe de Lona and then westwards to the Pas de Lona which
affords views to Mont Blanc on a clear day. From the pass there is a short ascent to the Cabane des Becs de Bosson and then one contours the steep slopes
of the Becs de Bosson to the narrow col on its east ridge at 2942m. From the col, a rough descent a first, leads to pleasant walking through varied rock scenery
and then to grassy slopes leading back to the cableway. Below, looking uphill to the Becs de Bosson.
Below, the Cabane des Becs de Bosson in late June, below right, with Chantale the hut guardian.
It is possible to shart and finish
many walks from the town of Zinal.
From the mountain walks in this part
of the valley you certainly feel the
closeness of the high mountains. It
appears that the tops are only an
arms length away. A excellent walk
for views is the traverse from the
Sorebois at 2438m, which can be
reached from the town centre via the
cablecar, to the Petit Mountet hut at
the very head of the valley by the
morrains of the Glacier de Zinal. The
path contours the hillside for 5km
before descending to the hut at
2142m. Over its length the views are
stunning as you can see on the left,
looking across to the west face of the
Weisshorn. Alternatively there is an
easy valley bottom walk that follows
a good track to the cabane too.

Below left, descending to the Petit
Mountet perched high above the
valley floor. If you are able to spend a
night at the Cabane du Petite
Mountet then the walk from there that
ascends behind the hut and
traverses high on the hillside above
the morrains of the Zinal glacier is
well worth it. On one of the
occasions that I have walked the
route it had snowed overnight.

Below you can see the amazing view
across the valley to Besso and
further right of this view you are able
to see the glacier basin surrounded
by 4000 metre peaks
There are many places in the Alps where passages of steeper terrain are protected with various fixed equipment, for example, with chains, ladders or thick rope.
For the inexperienced, fixed equipment should be approached with care as a slip or fall on this ground could have very serious consequencies. With a qualified
IML or mountain guide, they will most likely protect you with a rope. A few kilometers beyond Zinal you can choose to follow a path that takes you up through the
Pas du Chasseur. The trail is marked as difficult and would require nerve in wet weather. There are fixed chains protecting roughly 80m of steep rocky ground.
Below left you can see me leading off up the first section of chain. The Pas du Chasseur can be taken on a 7km circular walk from Zinal with a return via Le
Chiesso and the path to the Petit Mountet, or as part of the approach to the Cabane d´Ar Pitetta that sits high under the west face of the Weisshorn.
Above right top, the Cabane d´Ar Pitetta which sits at 2786m in the magnificent surrounds of glaciers and peaks. Above right bottom, in the dining room of the
hut. There is space for 30 in two dormitories upstairs. Below, the view from the terrace.
Above left, Alpine Choughs below the Cabane du Tracuit and below, evening light viewed over the Val d'Anniviers from outside the Cabane de Tracuit. The
pastures are 700m below and Zinal is a further 900m down. The Tracuit is one of the highest huts in the Alps and sits perched on the edge of a rocky precipice
at 3256m. Just near the cabane, the Turtmann glacier that flows down from the Bishorn, sticks its snout out over the precipice that overlooks the valley.
Below left, approaching the Col de Milon (2990m) along a crest of moraines formed by the now receeded left hand snout of the Glacier du Weisshorn. Below
right, descending the short steep section of rocky ground on the north side of the small col. Here there are fixed chains to aid descent. From the col, it is
possible to descend all the way to Zinal or to follow the path northwards to join the trail to the Cabane de Tracuit.
After a hearty 3 course meal in the cabane and a good nights sleep you will
be refreshed for the long descent. The middle section of the descent is
quite pleasant, however, the final third below the Roche de la Vache is
quite punnishing in places. Left, a section of steep pathway with Zinal in
the distance. Below, Spring Gentian or Gentiana verna.
Above, morning light falling on
Sasseneire (3254m) above an
inversion from the Cabane de Moiry.
Above, enjoying the extensive view from the exposed summit of the Becs de Bosson (3149m) and below looking eastwards past the Cabane des Becs de
Bosson and the Becs de Bosson itself from Pointes de Tsavolire (3026m).
Above, sunset from the Cabane
des Becs de Bosson. Left, at the
end of the Lac de Moiry reservoir
looking towards the dam en route
to the Cabane de Moiry (below) at
2825m perched above the icefall
of the Glacier de Moiry (below left).
Below left, looking down valley towards Zinal from the approach to the Cabane du Mountet on the opposite side of the Glacier de Zinal to the Petit Mountet. Below
right, the Cabane du Mountet in the evening sun. The panorama here is very impressive and includes the Ober Gabelhorn (4063m) below.