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| Stunning views of the Petit Combin |
At 3084m high, Mont Rogneux sits proudly along the ridge linking Six Blanc at the top of Bruson to the Grand Combin, a 4000er. It is one of the classic ski touring peaks in the area and can be done in one or two days and from a variety of start / end points. This makes it skiable for most of the winter season. If you would like to take two days you can spend the night at the
Cabane Brunet.
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| Views towards Verbier and beyond from the summit of Mont Rogneux |
I chose to ski the peak from Loutier via the Cabane Brunet. This seems to be the most popular way up the peak, although it is also skied from the top of the Bruson ski lifts via the Tete de la Payane, and from the Val D'Entremont to the west.
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| The Barmasse parking above Loutier and the road to the Cabane Brunet from Switzerland Mobility |
The Barmasse parking lot at 1302m sits on the main road to Fionnay just beyond Loutier, it is large enough to accommodate numerous vehicles, and needs to be as the walk to the Cabane Brunet is a popular outing in its own right.
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| A multitude of ski touring possibilities within a short walk from the Cabane Brunet |
From the parking there is a road heading west towards Le Tongne which is normally pisted by the hut, and you can follow this the entire way. It is about 800m vertical from here to the Cabane Brunet and is well signposted. If you want a slightly steeper and quicker variant, after around 1km of skinning there is a summer track that heads south up the hill (and is signposted for ascending only). The track has a pleasant gradient and makes for a more interesting route to the mountain hut, unless you want to chat with friends, in which case the road would work best.
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| Smiling skimo selfie |
Most people will take around 1.5 - 3 hours to reach Brunet where the hut guardian will happily serve you a hearty lunch, coffee, or on a Wednesday evening, cheese fondue. And for a lot of folk, this will be the high point of their day out, returning via the fields or the road depending on snow conditions.
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| Cabane Brunet |
However, if you're hungry for another 1000m of ski touring and the possibility of peaks and untouched snow, Mont Rogneux is most peoples next target.
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| Mont Rogneux from the Cabane Brunet from Switzerland Mobility |
From the hut head SW across gentle slopes for a few km, the route is pleasantly angled with hardly any steep slopes around or above you until the final summit push itself. Eventually you will end up on the NE ridge which starts pleasantly and then continues more steeply. If snow conditions are good you will be able to skin the entire way to the summit, but you might need ski crampons and given the dots on the map at times you may need to walk to the top with crampons and an ice axe.
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| The summit of Mont Rogneux looking very snowy |
Once on the summit there are a multitude of options in descent from the steep and committing to the gentle. You can also ski on nearly any aspect and still return to the Cabane Brunet. This means that you can generally find some good and safe snow to ski, grab a coffee on your way down and follow the road to the bottom if conditions aren't great lower down.
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| Exploring the Alps, it's always good to see a sign post that confirms your navigation! |
This route took five hours, four to go up and one to return. And I can see why it's so popular. I'll definitely be back.
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| Powder turns from summit to the Cabane Brunet |
