Pigne d'Arolla : Par les Vignettes 7 - 8 avr. 2017

We started on the ski slopes of Arolla, toward Cabane des Vignettes, then arrived on Pigne d'Arolla. Next, we descended to the North-West, traversed the top of the Tsijiore Nouve glacier to the col de la Serpentine to descend on the Tsena Réfien glacier to finally descend onto the Cheilon glacier, finishing at the Cabane de Dix.
Second day, we climbed the Mont Blanc de Cheilon along the regular route. We descended the same way as we climbed, we did not dare to try the direct way down as from the distance it looked to icy. We crossed the Cheilon glacier to reach the Pas de Chèvres, finally descending back to Arolla.

Blue sky both days, excellent temperatures.

Start in Arolla was on icy slopes, but nothing too difficult. After the Pigne d'Arolla, the descent via the col de la Serpentine was under very good conditions: a decent layer of power snow covered the ice, making it an easy descent. The final descent from the Tsena Réfien glacier down to the Cheilon glacier was under excellent conditions: best powder of the season.
Second day, we approached the Mont Blanc de Cheilon over the normal route, on transformed snow. Descent was not as pleasant as what we had hoped for after the previous day, but still doable.

First day we took a long time to reach the summit: starting in Arolla at 8h10, reaching the summit at 14h00. Probably this can be done faster if one feels fitter, take it as a maximum time to spend on the ascend. Second day we started early (7h30), as there is little sleep in the Cabane when other groups get up early anyway. As a consequence, we reached the Mont Blanc de Cheilon rather early at 10h30, such that the descend was on still frozen snow. Perhaps a later descend would be more of a pleasure. Returned to Arolla at 12h45.

No problem to access.

As the hut is part of the Haute Route, and we are in the middle of the season, it was fully booked, very crowded.