La Brinta and an attempt to Roc d'Orzival

-

🗺️ Hike Overview

  • Starting point: Crêt du Midi, 2332 m (top of Vercorin lift)

  • Highest point: La Brinta, 2658 m

  • Distance: ~6.5 km round trip

  • Elevation gain: ~400 m

  • Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours (to La Brinta and back)

  • Optional extension: Roc d'Orzival (~4.5 to 5 h total)

  • Difficulty: Moderate (short exposed section, optional scramble)


We originally planned to reach Roc d'Orzival, 2853m, but early summer snow made the final stretch too risky. Still, we reached two scenic high points — Sex de la Brinta and the summit of La Brinta — and it was absolutely worth it.

The Trail

The hike starts at Crêt du Midi (2332 m), the upper station of the Vercorin cable car. This spot is particularly special for me — it’s where I took off on my 2nd and 3rd (and last) solo paragliding flights. The view over the Val d'Anniviers is already stunning before you take a single step.

From the station, descend slightly before beginning the gradual ascent toward the ridge. The landscape turns rocky quickly, and after about 40 minutes, you’ll arrive just below La Brinta, a distinct and steep-looking peak on your left.

Ridge Traverse to Sex de la Brinta

After skirting the base of La Brinta, the trail descends briefly, and you’ll soon encounter a metal rope section that helps you cross a mildly exposed ledge — nothing too technical, but a nice touch of alpine character.

Past this section, the trail widens again as it follows the ridge. After a bit more climbing, you reach Sex de la Brinta (2600 m) — a scenic high point with sweeping views of the surrounding ridges.

Turning Back… and a Bonus Summit

From Sex de la Brinta, the trail continues along a jagged ridge toward Roc d'Orzival, about 30 minutes further. However, since it was early June, snow still covered the ridge, and we judged it too risky to continue without proper gear. So we turned back.

Still, we wanted to summit something — so on the way back, we decided to climb La Brinta after all!


The summit is just 50 m above the main trail, but the short detour involves a bit of scrambling and use of your hands. It’s not marked but easy to follow. The summit of La Brinta (2658 m) is very narrow, with just enough space for two people to sit and admire the view — which makes it feel even more rewarding.

Route Options and Variants

  • A round-trip to La Brinta takes about 2 to 2.5 hours.

  • If conditions allow and you continue to Roc d'Orzival, plan for 4.5 to 5 hours total.

  • From Roc d'Orzival, a descent to Grimentz is possible, making this a traverse if you haven't left your car in Vercorin. Otherwise, you’ll need to return the same way.

Location: 3967 Vercorin, Switzerland

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Capanna Margherita: highest building in Europe

-
Image
Overview Starting point:  Staffal (1800m) Arrival point:  Capanna Margherita (4554m) Lift dropoff:  Punta Indren (3200m) Altitude gain:  1300m Time:  2 days (at least for normal people like me) Difficulty:  Difficult (especially due to the altitude) Technical difficiulty : Easy Download GSP file If you love mountaineering, you can't miss  Capanna Margherita . At  4,554m , it’s the highest mountain hut in Europe and, surprisingly, accessible to anyone with  average fitness . I went with a friend, joining a  guided tour  organized by  MonteRosaBooking . It cost us  €420 , and I can say— worth every cent! You can start your ascent from  Staffal (Gressoney)  or  Alagna . Either way, you take the lifts (included in our tour in our case)  up to Passo dei Salati (3,000m).  There we met our guide, Fabio. He immediately made us feel at ease, provided the necessary gear ( crampons and harnesses ), and then....
Read more

La croix de Châtel

-
Image
🗺️ Overview Starting point : Col du Mollendruz (1180 m) Summit : Châtel Cross (1442 m) Distance : 7.8 km round trip Ascent : ~270 m Time : ~1h30 with a brisk pace or 2h30–3h round trip with kids Difficulty : Easy Suitable for : Families, beginners, snowshoes in winter Download GPS file The hike to the summit cross of  Châtel , above Montricher, is one of my all-time classics. It’s easy, scenic, and family-friendly—perfect even with a 4-year-old, who managed (almost) the entire walk. Whether in  summer   or  winter , this route works beautifully—snowshoeing in the cold months or hiking under a clear June sky, as you can clearly see in the pictures below 🤣 . Bonus: there are cozy mountain huts along the way for tea, cake, or even fondue. The Trail While there’s a longer route starting from Montricher , I usually begin at Col du Mollendruz (1180m) , where the snowshoe trails are marked in winter. There’s ample parking, but it can fill up on sunny...
Read more

Climbing Säntis – A Hike into the Clouds and a Surreal Surprise at the Summit

-
Image
Starting point: Schwägalp (1,350m) Arrival: Säntis (2,502m) Altitude gain: 1,150m Duration: ~3 hours (ascent) Difficulty: Moderate Technical difficulty: Moderate (some steep sections with ropes at the end) Download GPS file For a long time, I had dreamed of climbing the famous Säntis , the highest peak in the Alpstein group in the  Appenzell region . I finally found the perfect opportunity when I had to travel to Nevegal in the Dolomites for summer holidays. My family had already left before me, meaning I was alone and free to make a detour. I left after work one evening and camped near Zug to get a head start. The hike itself isn’t particularly long, and under normal circumstances, there would be no need to camp beforehand. However, since I had a 6-7 hour drive to Nevegal after the climb, I wanted to start early to make the most of the day. I woke up to the fresh morning air by Lake Ägerisee , packed up my tent, and headed towards the mountains. The Ascent – Steep Trails ...
Read more