At the head of the Val d’Hérens, again only a 25 minute drive from our chalet, you will find the tiny village of Arolla.  It’s a well known destination for mountaineers in the summer, who come here to climb some of the 3,500m to 4,000m plus peaks which dominate the valley.  In the winter, it’s a very quiet ski resort (even at the weekends) with a very rugged and remote feel to it.  There are 6 button lifts, the main 2 of which take you up from 2,000m to almost 2,900m.  Thankfully, there’s a buvette at the top which serves drinks and snacks.