Altitude...one of the best things about Alpine climbing, but also one of the worst! If you haven't spent time up high in the last 2 or 3 weeks, you'll need to "acclimatise" at the start of your trip. You can do this by climbing lower peaks at the start of the week, but if you want to get a head start, here are some ideas for overnight trips in the Arolla valley.
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This is a complex scientific subject but basically your body adapts to the altitude it's at - if you live at sea level (all of the UK really!) you're used to roughly 1000Mb (1bar) air pressure. At 3000m the pressure is roughly 700Mb (0.7bar) This means each lungful has only 70% of the oxygen we'd get at sea level...so it's not surprising that walking uphill feels like hard work. The good news is that your body will adapt quite quickly even while you're sleeping! A day or 2 walking up to 3000m at the start of a trip will make a difference, even better if you can sleep high for a night.
DO:
- try to spend some time up high before starting your climbing week.
- take it easy. Walk slowly, stop and take photos. It's about spending time at altitude.
- drink plenty, eat plenty, wear sunglasses, suncream and a sunhat
- sleep in a hut, or camp up high for a night
DONT:
- Try to go as high as possible, it doesn't speed up the process! 3000m is enough.
- ignore warning signs. Turn back if you feel ill!
- get blisters, sunburn, heatstroke, de-hydrated, push on in bad weather, get lost, injured...
- be tempted to wonder onto glaciers near a hut on your own
Here are a few ideas of 1 or 2 day trip in the Evolene area. All start points accessible by bus or car.
1: Cabane de la Tza. +700m, 4 hours. A lovely walk easily doable in a day, but a nice peaceful place to spend the night
2: Aiguilles Rouges hut: +1000m from Arolla. 6 hours. Doable in a day from the bus stop in La Gouille or Arolla. Nice as a A-B journey in either direction.
3: Becs de Bossons hut. +1500m, 6 hours. A bit longer so best over 2 days. Could start with the bus to Eison. Fantastic views from the hut and amazing sunrises.
4: Dix hut. Day 1 +400, 4 hours. Day 2 +250 3 hours. This is nice starting from Dixence Dam, reached by bus. Returnn through the Riedmatten col to Arolla. The Pas de Chevres ladders are officially clsed at the moment (2025)
5: Bertol hut. +1300m 5 hours up, 3 hours down. The highest hut in the area. It's maybe even too high for a first night and the ladder to the hut is steep and intimidating, but a spectacular spot to visit.