Cabane de Tracuit (3256m)

Hike to one of the highest cabanes of the Alps, the starting point of alpinism with amazing views over the high mountain

Overview:
From Zinal many great hiking trails start, this one leads you to one of the highest cabanes of the Alps to an amazing height of 3256m. From Cabane de Tracuit you'll get an amazing view over the +4000m mountains and the Turtmanngletsher.

Tips:
- Only attempt this hike when the weather is beautiful
- Only attempt this hike when freezing lever is above 3500m or higher and with not much snow. At this altitude snow is more frequent
- Although the hike looks not very long, it is 1,5km in height difference! When going up, calculate 4 to 5 hours of time to get there.

Starting point
Zinal village, free parking is available at the end of the village

Story:
The last day of our holiday leads us to our highest point: Col de Tracuit 3256m. We start from Zinal with an altitude of 1680m, realizing we have to do 1,5km in height difference on a trail distance of just 8km.
The path is marked well at Zinal witch tells us it will take 4 to 5 hours to get to the Tracuit. The tempo was very good and with just over 4 short stops we reached the Tracuit at noon. The last 200m in height difference and the last kilometer where very time taking with the snow that covered the path and with no clear path visible with all the rocks. Just before arriving at Col de Tracuit a small slope with a chain awaits us, once up there you are on top of the Turtmann glacier, just amasing. We didn't stay long at the cabane, some clouds moved in and it was getting chilly up there.
The return is the same path, again it was paying attention on the first kilometer back due to the snow.
After a few hours we got back to Zinal where we enjoyed our last evening.