Grande Dent de Veisivi

This is a great one day hike/climb in a stunning area. Starting at Satarma (just after Lac Bleu on the road to Arolla), take the track to Tsarmine. It's quite a long way up with 1600m to the Grande Dent, starting in forest, then the high pastures, then past the moraine and alongside the looming Petite Dent (a great climb itself). From the Col de Tsarmine there are excellent views down to Les Haudères and across to the Pigne d'Arolla.
From the col it gets much tougher, and most of the climb is over boulders, some of which are a bit loose: take good care before committing to a hand or foot hold. It's more of a scramble than a climb, with a short chimney near the top. Exposure is quite high in places. Helmet recommended as there are plenty of loose rocks. We took full rope and harnesses but didn't need them. However we did make good use of ice axes, partly for the nevées, and partly for getting some extra reach going up the boulders. Take care after a wet spell of weather: near the top there are some sections which if wet would be quite unstable.
Not many people head up this route, so you may well be on your own. We met just 2 others who'd done the Petite Dent.
The view from the top is astonishing, from Dent Blanche to the Matterhorn and the Dent d'Herens, plus the Pigne d'Arolla, Mont Blanc de Cheilon and Grand Combin. Also back down to Evolène way down below. Well worth it.