In a landscape of Alpine glaciers in constant retreat, the Glacier d'Orny is one of the few that still keep some measure of grandeur and are easy to reach. If we then continue the walk to the Cabane du Trient, we find ourselves in a glacial setting with a Little Ice Age atmosphere.
We start from the top station of the La Breya chairlift from Champex to Grands Plans (m2194, 14 CHF one way, 19 CHF return). Already from here the view opens over the Lac de Champex below us, the Grand Combin and a slice of the Swiss lowlands opening out at the end of the valley.
The climb to the Cabane d'Orny (Orny hut) is a long, exposed but always very wide traverse cut into the mountainside, protected with chains in places. We then gain the almost level crest of the gigantic moraine of the Glacier d'Orny, and with one last steep pull we are at the Cabane d'Orny (m2826, 1.30 hours). On the way up, do not be fooled by the motionless ibex in front of the hut: it is not what it seems.
The spectacle from here is already incredible and very "Alpine", thanks to the glacier below us, the afternoon light grazing across the valley, and that sharp blade at the end of the valley, inhabited by a few tiny climbers.
From here we can continue to the Cabane du Trient (Trient hut), with a short stretch on the glacier that requires no equipment (at least that was the case in 2009), and then up to a rocky balcony overlooking the Plateau du Trient (m3170, 1 hour).
We descend the same way (2 hours). Alternatively, halfway between the Cabane d'Orny and Grands Plans a very narrow and exposed little path branches off to the left and crosses the Col de la Breya. It then plunges headlong into the Val d'Arpette, from which you can return to the bottom of the chairlift.
