Grand Combin ski tour | Ski mountaineering at over 4,000 metres

• Procedure and meeting place

  • Meeting place

    9.45, Le Chable railway station

    We meet after the train arrives in Le Chable at 9.45 am. From here we will take a taxi to the starting point.

  • Day 1

    100 Hm

    500 Hm

    WS+

    Access via Cabanne Brunett and Col des Avouillons. Varied and the taxi can take us up to around 2000 metres. We climb to the Cabanne FXB Panossiere, where we also spend 2 nights.

  • Day 2 Crossing the Combin peaks

    1800 metres altitude

    1800 metres altitude

    S

    10h

    Today is the big day. We set off very early and first cross the cosy glacier to the start. The Couloir du Gardien leads steeply up a few hundred metres, first with skis and then with crampons. There are often a few metres of bare ice. Here we climb up secured in pitches, with ice axe and crampons. On the plateau, we first climb the Combin de Valsorey and then the main summit. The descent is via "La Mur". A steep flank. We often abseil down here. Now comes the last Combin summit, the Combin de la Tsessette. The descent via the corridor is pleasant and often powdery for a long time! We return to the hut happy and cheerful after a long day. This tour leads under glacier collapses at the couloir and the corridor. There is therefore an objective risk of icefall. Of course, we try to minimise this time.

  • Day 3

    On the last day, we have the option of making a leisurely descent in around 3 hours to rest our legs. If the weather is good and we are fit, we can also do the Petit Combin as a ski tour. We will decide this the evening before.

• Requirements

  • Solid ski touring technique with skins, hairpin bends and crampons.
  • Safe downhill skiing technique in open terrain and in various types of snow up to 35°.
  • You have experience with ice axe and crampons.
  • Fitness for ski tours with around 1800 metres in altitude at a normal pace (~400 m/h).
  • In addition, there are sections where we carry the skis and trudge through the snow.
  • Splitboarder:inside by arrangement only.

• Price and services

  • CHF 1590.-
  • Rope team with 2 guests per mountain guide.
  • Including planning and realisation with mountain guide and his travel expenses.
  • Including accommodation costs with half board.
  • Excluding travel expenses, possible train tickets, personal consumption.

• Material and equipment

  • We have for you a detailed packing list with packing tips compiled.
  • For this tour you need the following material from this PDF. We carry our equipment with us all the time. Pack only what is necessary.

That's what our guests say:

Impressions: Grand Combin