Patrouille des Glaciers

The Patrouille des Glaciers is an exceptional event that takes place every two years at the end of April. Linking Zermatt to Verbier via Arolla for the Z race and Arolla to Verbier for the A race, it represents a unique challenge for the thousands of participants, professionals and amateurs alike.

The Val d'Hérens, and in particular the village of Arolla, is a focal point of this race. For participants in the Z race, it represents a key halfway point. For participants in the A race, it's the starting point for this fantastic event, which then passes over the Col de Riedmatten to the commune of Hérémence and skirts the Lac des Dix before climbing to the famous Rosablanche, the last major difficulty before the finish in Verbier.

The event is organized by the Swiss Army, which will have one of its bases in Arolla, transforming the village into a nerve-center for operations during the race.

Practical info: Patrouille des Glaciers - Practical info (pdg.ch)

How to get there:

The Arolla road will be closed on race days, from Tuesday 16.04 at 12 noon to Friday 17.04 at 12 noon and from Friday 19.04 at 12 noon to Saturday 20.04 at 12 noon.

The Postbus will run as normal.

For the Patrollers, buses will run from Sion, with stops in Evolène and Les Haudères.

All information will be given to riders at the equipment checkpoint in Sion.

Shuttle buses will run from the COOP roundabout to Arolla from 5pm to 10pm.

Buses for spectators and refreshers from 10pm.

Nights of April 17 and April 20:

- The yurt will be open from 2 a.m.

- The Fontanesse 1 ski lift will be exceptionally open from midnight to 5.30am on race nights.

1 montée Fontanesse 1 10.00