Pigne de la Lé

Overview

The Pigne de la Lé (3392 meters) is popular mountain in the Pennine Alps, to be more precise in the Val d'Anniviers area. The summit is not very prominent, but due to the short ascent from the Cabane de Moiry, and the beautiful summitview, it is still often climbed.

The SAC guidebook (Walliser Alpen, band 3) is not clear about the first ascent of the mountain. According to the SAC guidebook the mountain is climbed for a long time ago by several chamois hunters.

The summit can be either climbed by alpinists that want to acclimatise for the 4000ers in the Pennine Alps, or by beginning alpinists to test their alpine climbing skills. When you traverse the mountain you'll have a nice introduction in alpine rock, snow and glacier. The fact that the summit is only 2 hours from the Moiry hut, makes it even possible to start in the valley.

Pigne de la Le from the Cab de Moiry	Summitview

Getting There

To the Val d'Anniviers (Lac de Moiry)

By Car: A9 motorway, Sierre-Est exit (Val d'Anniviers, Vissoie, Grimentz). The access roads are clear all year round. From Grimentz follow the route du Moiry to the barrage de Moiry and the end of the valley.
By public transport: The nearest trainstation is in Sierre, wich is at the beginning of the Val d'Anniviers. From Sierre you need to travel by bus to the Val de Moiry (see links for time tables).

To the Cabane de Moiry (See the Summitpost page about the hut: Cabane de Moiry.

The ascent to the Cabane de Moiry is a short hike from the end of the road in Moiry Valley (P.2349 meter, at a small lake). You can also start at the barrage de Moiry, but then the approach is a bit longer. The approach takes about 1½-2 hours from P. 2349 meters and runs across the westside slopes of the Aiguilles de la Le.

Routes

There are several routes known to the summit of the Pigne de la Le. I will only describe two of them, wich are far most common. Other routes, like the North Face and East flank are dangerous, because of rockfall or lack of snow and ice.

1. Southwest flank/ridge: normal route to the summit, wich is usely used for the descent. Head southeast from the Cab. de Moiry to the Glacier de Moiry (some scrambling, marked). Enter de glacier de Moiry and traverse below the Pigne de la Le at it's westside. Go around Southwest arete and reach the snowy pass at 3283 meters, attention crevases. Then follow the snowy ridge/flank to the summit. This is problably also the best route in winter.

Alpine climbing grade: F (Facile). 1½-2 hours from the Cab. de Moiry

2. North ridge: this short rock ridge offers some easy climbing (UIAA I-II) to the summit. Head southeast from the Cab. de Moiry to the Glacier de Moiry (some scrambling, marked). Stay on the north side of the glacier and reach the Col du Pigne (3141 meters). Then follow the north ridge to the summit. Stay on the ridge, because the rock in the flanks is very loose. Some climbing passeges (UIAA I-II).

Alpine climbing grade: PD- (Peu difficile). 1½-2 hours from the Cab. de Moiry

Maps and Guidebooks

Map 1:25 000:

• SAC Map: 1327 Evolene

Map 1:50 000:

• SAC Map: 283 Arolla

Online Maps:

• http://www.mapplus.ch / www.swissgeo.ch/

Guidebook:

• SAC Guidebook: Clubführer Walliser Alpen 3, Maurice Brandt, ISBN: 3-85902-231-8

• SAC Guidebook: Hochtouren im Wallis, Hermann Biner, ISBN: 3859022040

To order SAC Maps: www.toposhop.ch
To order SAC Guidebook: www.sac-cas.ch

External Links

Cabane de Moiry CAS 2825 m
Lidia and Yvan Duc
3960 Sierre
Phone (hut): +41 (0)27 475 45 34

Homepage:www.cabene-de-moiry.ch

Other useful links:

WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF - Avalance Bulletin
Weather Forecast - Detailed weather forecast
Railroad information - Railroad schedule
Bus information - Postbus schedule
Val d'Anniviers - Tourist information about Val d'Anniviers

Images

View Pigne de la Lé Image Gallery - 11 Images