Bertol hut

The Bertol hut, officially Cabane de Bertol, is located at 3,311 m on a rocky spur above the Col de Bertol in the Val d'Hérens, above the village of Arolla in the municipality of Evolène. The hut belongs to the Neuchâteloise section of the Swiss Alpine Club and overlooks the glaciers of Mont Miné and Bertol as well as Dent Blanche, Matterhorn and Dent d'Hérens. It is a key base on the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt and is also passed by the Patrouille des Glaciers. The hut is open from the beginning of March to the end of September, with an extension into October depending on the weather. The main ascent begins in Arolla and first leads up the valley on a road, then over moraines to the Plans de Bertol and on over the glacier to the Col de Bertol; at the end, ladders and steps secure the ascent to the hut. Depending on the route, plan around 4 to 5 hours and around 1,350 m ascent for the approach; glacier experience and suitable equipment are required. The hut serves as a starting point for high-altitude tours to Tête Blanche, Tête de Valpelline, Dents de Bertol and other peaks. The first hut was built in 1898 thanks to a donation from Carl Russ-Suchard; after several extensions, a new building followed in 1976, which was modernized in 2000. Anyone wishing to visit the hut should obtain up-to-date information in advance on the condition of the trail, any closures and the weather.