Col Du Pigne (3140m)

A short but challenging mountain hike which takes you high above the mountains of Val d'Anniviers with some tremendous views over glaciers and high alpine peaks.

Summary:
- T3 - Challenging mountain hike
- 9km - 800m climbing
- approximately 5h hiking time
- parts can be covered in snow
- tremendous views!

To get to the starting point of this trail, you'll go by bus or car from Grimentz up to the Moiry Dam and go along the road to the end of the Moiry lake and park at the parking lot. In summer this parking lot can be full so if you arrive early you'll definitely have a place.

The first part of this hike is really easy, from the parking lot you'll go in the direction of the famous Cabane de Moiry. This trail is relatively easy (T2), short section with chains but easy. It's steady climbing just up to the cabine where a tremendous view awaits over the Moiry glacier, really an amazing viewpoint and worth a stop at the terrace.
Most people just go up to the cabine and the Alpinists go way further and we will do a part of that in the next part of the hike. We recommend to first do the col and on the way back to the parking lot rest at the terrace of the Moiry cabine.
The next part is much harder and classified as a T3 trail, with the cabine in front of you, search on the left for some white-blue-white marks and yellow or red paint. The white-blue-white paint is quickly gone so look carefully for yellow or red paint. At start the trail is pretty clear, then at a rocky section it gets less clear and you'll have to look out carefully for marks and find a way through. Some parts can be covered in snow during early season so watch out! Further up we get closer to the glacier and the view only gets better and better. The path itself is more like no path and find the markings left and be careful for loose rocks. The col isn't that far away anymore and to the right the Pigne de La Lé smiles at you. Once arrived at the col, you'll get an amazing view over the Zinal valley and the 4000m peaks and glaciers. really an amazing and desolated place.

From the col the Pigne de La Lé is so close by you can hike on it, but the Pigne is a T4 trail and it's best to have the right equipment (helmet, rope, ...) before attempting it.
If you don't want the same way back, a T4 trail gets you in the Final valley, but for safety first we head back to the cabine for a refreshing pint.

From the cabine it's the same way back as well, but in this trail we do a little sidewalk to the glacier tongue that's definitely worth it. The track goes to an unmarked route and off map but it's relatively easy with the glacier tongue in view. once at the glacier tongue (and try to touch it) go along the lake and follow the river back to the parking lot