Bouquetin bivouac

The Bouquetin bivouac, also known as the Refuge des Bouquetins, is located at 2980 m on the edge of the Haut Glacier d Arolla above the mountain village of Arolla in the Val d Hérens. The simple stone building belongs to the Val de Joux section of the Swiss Alpine Club and is an unattended bivouac that is open as a shelter all year round. It consists of an octagonal main building with a wood-burning stove in the middle and an outbuilding with additional storage and wood supplies. It is mainly used by mountaineers on ascents of the Dents des Bouquetins, Mont Collon and crossings into the Italian Valpelline, as well as a staging point on the Haute Route between Zermatt and Chamonix. The ascent from the valley town of Arolla takes a good four hours via the Haut Glacier d Arolla with an altitude difference of around 1150 meters, often on skis in winter. The terrain is high alpine and runs over glaciers; appropriate equipment, experience and rope safety are essential. The best time to visit is during stable summer weeks for high-altitude tours and the ski touring season in late winter and spring. Due to an ongoing new construction project, there may be restrictions in the coming years, so current conditions, construction phases, closures and the weather should be carefully checked before each tour.