Skitouring

Dufourspitze

The ultimate ski tour. A long ascent up to the highest point in Switzerland with an even longer descent surrounded by Alpine giants back to Zermatt.

On the way to the Dufourspitze. It's well worth looking back at the Gorner Glacier and the Matterhorn
  • Type Skitouring
  • Difficulty hard
  • Duration 9,00 h
  • Distance 22,3 km
  • Ascent 1749 m
  • Descent 3017 m
  • Lowest point 1615 m
  • Highest point 4634 m

Description

Start in the early morning when it's still dark. Steep at first, the terrain gradually flattens out slightly. At Sattel (4,355 m), you leave your skis and ascend the ridge. It is likely that crampons will be needed for this stage. The enjoyable ridge climb over snow, ice and rock takes you to the highest peak in Switzerland.

The ascent route to the hut now becomes your descent route. You then head over the snow-covered Gorner Glacier back to Zermatt.

  • Dufourspitze – Switzerland's highest point.
  • Since summer 2020, the Dufourspitze has a new summit cross
  • Long descent covering almost 20 km and 3,000 metres of elevation

Monte Rosa Hut SAC – Obere Plattje – Satteltole – Sattel (Skidepot) – Dufourspitze
Descent and downhill: Same as the ascent and from Monte Rosa Hut SAC back over the Gorner Glacier to Furi and Zermatt

We recommend to book a mountain guide who knows well the place.

We recommend:

  • Ski touring equipment: touring ski-boots, touring skis with touring bindings, ski poles, skins, crampons
  • Climbing harness
  • Backpack, shovel, probe
  • Avalanche transeiver
  • Warm weatherproof clothing
  • Warm gloves and warm hat
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Warm drinks
  • Snack (high energy foods such as chocolate, dried fruit etc.)
  • Bring everything you need for an overnight stay in a hut

Important! Requirement: very good skiing skills and abilities, ski touring experience, surefooted with no fear of heights

It’s worth looking around during the ascent to see the sunrise on the Matterhorn.

  • Always go with a mountain guide on a tour
  • Stay up-to-date with the weather and avalanche status: Snow Report
    More information is available in the Swiss avalanche bulletins (www.slf.ch)
  • Always maintain visual contact with accompanying persons
  • Use key sections and extremely steep slopes individually
  • Never go into a wild game protection zone (these are marked and one will be fined)
  • Always switch the avalanche transceiver (LVS device) unit to transmission
  • Always carry a shovel and a probe
  • Pay close attention to daily atmospheric warming and continually re-evaluate the situation

Tip: “Be searchable”. Equip yourself with an additional RECCO rescue reflector*. Whether summer or winter. Available in our Online-Shop or our information desk.
*The additional reflector does not replace an avalanche beacon.

Map and arrival

detailed map