Glacier d'Orny and Cabanne du Trient

In a panorama of alpine glaciers in continuous retreat, the Glacier d'Orny stands out among the few still retaining some grandeur and being easily accessible. Moreover, continuing the hike to the Cabane du Trient takes us into a glacial environment with an atmosphere reminiscent of the Little Ice Age.

We start from the upper station of the La Breya chairlift from Champex to Grande Plans (2194m, 14 CHF one way, 19 CHF round trip). From here, the view already opens up to Lake Champex below us, the Grand Combin, and a slice of Swiss plain opening up at the end of the valley.

The ascent to Cabane d'Orny (Orny Hut) follows a long, exposed but consistently wide diagonal, sometimes equipped with chains, cut into the mountainside. We then reach the semi-flat crest line of the gigantic moraine of the Glacier d'Orny, and with one final uphill push, we arrive at Cabane d'Orny (2826m, 1.30 hours). On the ascent, don't be fooled by the motionless ibex in front of the refuge—it's not what it seems.

The spectacle from here is already incredible and very "alpine"—with the glacier below us, the afternoon light cutting through the valley, and the sharp pinnacle at the end of the valley, inhabited by some tiny climbers.

From here, we can continue to Cabane du Trient (Trient Hut), with a short stretch on the glacier that doesn't require any equipment (at least it was so in 2009) and then up to a rocky balcony overlooking the Plateau du Trient (3170m, 1 hour).

We descend via the same route (2 hours). Alternatively, halfway between Cabane d'Orny and Grande Plans, there's a very narrow and exposed trail that branches off to the left and crosses over to Col del la Breya. Then it descends sharply into the Val d'Arpette from where we can return to the chairlift starting point.