The grand lui section isn't that busy. Stay at aiguilles dorees bivvy or the saleina hut, which mean you can be early on the descent to la fouly. Use plan du Jeu hut near the super St Bernard ski lift. Then go to velan hut. You can make chanrion in a day from there or go into italy . plenty of options.
Yeh it might be busy Dave or at least the huts anyway. Just be first on the hill each morning and then you have the route clear ahead of you. Scottish tactics. Most folk are in guided groups and are pretty slow. You're no slouch!!
further on- we couldn't get in the Vignettes- all our bookings ended up out of synch. due to bad weather before we started. After Pigne d'Arolla we continued on in to the last long day of the route and then popped over the Italian border and down to the Nacamuli hut which was a wee gem. Just 8 of us there. Perhaps a 1000ft back uphill in the morning to regain normal route but we were hrs ahead of the crowds and had that day to ourselves. Beautiful and untouched snow. Was a blessing as we beat the impending storm and arrived in Zermatt thinking thank God we're not up there anymore!
I reckon it would be doable in good conditions but you would want a good early start so that you weren't too late on the Plateau du Couloir. We did Valsorey to Bouquetins in a day because the Chanrion and Vignettes were booked but it nearly killed me.
If you're fit then Vélan to Chanrion is fine. It's a quick ski down from Vélan then 600m up to the Valsorey hut, so adds about 2 hours to the normal day. Plus, it means you climb to Valsorey in the shade (or dark!) instead of in the afternoon sun. I've done it several times and never met another team.
