Ski tour Chamonix - Zermatt | Haute-Route classic

• Procedure and meeting place

  • Meeting place

    10:30 am, Argentiere railway station, Chamonix

    We meet after arriving from the train in Argentiere. Here we take the cable car up to the top and start our day of touring.

  • Day 1: Departure Argentiere

    600 Hm

    500 Hm

    From Argentiere, we take the Grands Montets cable car and enjoy the first long descent to the Argentiere glacier. A short ascent leads to the Refuge d'Argentiere. From here we enjoy a magnificent view of the north faces of Droites and Courtes.

  • Day 2: Crossing Trento

    1100 metres altitude

    2300 metres altitude

    WS

    The second day takes us across the Trient Basin. We set off early in the morning and glide onto the glacier by the light of our headlamps. A rhythmic ascent leads us up to the Col du Chardonnet. The last few metres are tackled with ropes and crampons. We cross this spectacularly by abseiling. A short descent and then a second, this time short, ascent. Now follows a long descent, past the Trient Hut into the Val d'Arpette. Here we are picked up by taxi, drive to the Verbier ski area and take the cable cars up to the Cabanne Mont Fort. Here we can also take a shower 😉

  • Day 3: Rosablanche

    1100 metres altitude

    900 metres altitude

    WS-

    The third day leads with several ascents and descents to the Rosablanche, the first famous summit of this crossing. Small crossings with great descents await us!

  • Day 4: Lac des Dix

    The tour continues along the Lac des Dix. Thanks to our skis, we cover the greatest distance gliding almost to the end of the lake. Now we climb leisurely up to the hut. We can either have a leisurely day today or, if you fancy it, climb a little further and enjoy a great descent in the Sulz!

  • Day 5: Pigne d'Arolla

    950 metres altitude

    750 metres altitude

    WS+

    Today we head over the Pigne d'Arolla, a pretty mountain high above Arolla to the Cabane des Vignettes. This is one of the most beautiful days of this touring week, a really beautiful and varied ascent, an imposing summit with great views of the Matterhorn and co. for the first time and finally a brilliant descent!

  • Day 6: Tete Blanche

    1250 metres altitude

    2500 metres altitude

    WS+

    On the last day, we cross the glaciers to the Col de l'Evêque, over the steep Col du Mont Brulé and, depending on the conditions, up to the summit of the Tête de Valpelline before hurtling down the beautiful slopes to Zermatt. Thanks to the ski area, we can ski down the slopes to Furi and then take the cable car down to the valley.

  • Conclusion

    approx. 15:00 Zermatt

    We round off the tour with a feast in Zermatt before travelling home.

• Requirements

  • Mastering the ski touring technique with its basics (skins, hairpin turns).
  • Safe downhill technique in open terrain and in different types of snow.
  • You have first experience with ice axe and crampons.
  • Stamina for ski tours for around 1500 metres at a leisurely pace (~300m/h).
  • Condition for 1500m descent in different types of snow.
  • In addition, there are sections where we carry the skis and trudge through the snow.
  • Splitboarders are welcome, provided they are experienced.

• Price and services

  • CHF 1790.-
  • Small group with 4 - 6 guests per mountain guide.
  • Including planning and realisation with mountain guide and his travel expenses.
  • Including overnight stays in huts with half board.
  • Excluding travel expenses, possible train tickets, personal consumption.

• Material and equipment

  • For this tour you need the material from this PDF. We carry our equipment with us the whole time. Only pack the essentials.
  • General material and packing tips we have also put together for you.

That's what our guests say:

Impressions: Valais Haute Route classic