Pigne d'Arolla, Alpine summit in Valais, Switzerland.
Pigne d'Arolla is a 3,787-metre mountain in the Pennine Alps of Valais, Switzerland, near Arolla and the Italian border. Its name comes from the Valais patois word pigne, meaning peak. The standard route from the Cabane des Vignettes involves scrambling and snow travel.
The mountain was first climbed on July 9, 1865, when Adolphus Warburton Moore, Horace Walker, and Jacob Anderegg reached the summit. This early ascent opened the peak for systematic mountain climbing during that period.
The mountain is part of the Haute Route, a long-distance trail connecting Chamonix and Zermatt that draws climbers from around the world. This trail links several passes and peaks across the region into one continuous path.
The standard route leaves from the Cabane des Vignettes (3,158 m) at the head of the Val d'Arolla, 2–3 hours as an alpine climb or about 3 hours on skis including the descent. The western flank is reached from the Cabane des Dix above the Val d'Hérémence, 3–4 hours on foot or 4 hours on skis. Both huts belong to the Monte Rosa section of the Swiss Alpine Club.
The name comes from the Valais patois word pigne, meaning peak. In April 2018, seven of fourteen skiers died of hypothermia or falls after an unplanned overnight stay at 3,000 metres in a snowstorm. The standard route from the Cabane des Vignettes involves scrambling and snow travel.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,599 contributors worldwide.