Dolent-La-Maye bivouac

The Dolent-La Maye bivouac is a small, orange-colored SAC refuge run by the La Gruyère section at 2,667 m on the eastern ridge of Mont Dolent, between the village of La Fouly in Val Ferret and the three-country summit in the Mont Blanc massif. The metal bivouac stands like a space capsule on a moraine hill next to the Glacier du Dolent and is open all year round, but unattended. It offers 12 simple sleeping places with mattresses, blankets and pillows; inside it is functionally furnished, with some crockery, light and a USB socket, but no telephone connection. Drinking water is drawn from the nearby glacier. There is no fixed kitchen, only basic cooking equipment; you have to bring your own stove, gas and food. The starting point is La Fouly in Val Ferret in Valais, which can be reached by bus from Orsières. From there, a marked mountain trail leads to the bivouac in around 3 hours via Sur la Li and a steep climb of around 1,080 meters. The Dolent-La Maye bivouac is mainly used as a base for high-altitude tours on Mont Dolent and its Gallet ridge or as an intermediate destination on challenging alpine undertakings. Current conditions, any closures and the weather forecast should be checked carefully for each tour. The bivouac was built in 1973 and belongs to the SAC La Gruyère section.