Skitouring

Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt

An absolute ski tour classic. Over 5-6 days, from one mountaineering centre to another.

The Cabane des Vignettes hut, with the Dent Blanche and the Matterhorn in the background
  • Type Skitouring
  • Difficulty medium
  • Duration 50,00 h
  • Distance 94,3 km
  • Ascent 6700 m
  • Descent 8345 m
  • Lowest point 718 m
  • Highest point 3776 m

Description

Chamonix and Zermatt: Two names that make any mountaineer’s heart beat faster. A multi-day ski tour links them both. Every day starts early, often when it’s still dark. There are tough ascents and fantastic descents, requiring both physical and mental stamina. Surrounded by the highest mountains in the Alps, you travel from hut to hut on an incredible route.

  • The classic among ski tours
  • From hut to hut
  • Surrounded by the highest mountains in the Alps

1. Stage
Aiguille des Grands Montets – Glacier d’Argentière – Glacier du Chardonnet – Col du Chardonnet – Fenêtre du Saleinaz – Plateau du Trient – Cabane du Trient

2. Stage
Cabane du Trient – Col des Ecandies – Val d’Arpette – Champex – Verbier (Taxi) – Cabane du Mont Fort (Bergbahn)

3. Stage
Cabane du Mont Fort – Col de la Chaux – Col de Moming – Rosablanche – Cabane de Prafleuri

 

4. Stage
Cabane de Prafleuri – Col de Roux – La Barma – Lac des Dix – Cabane des Dix

 

5. Stage
Cabane des Dix – Col de la Serpentine – Pigne d’Arolla – Cabane des Vignettes

 

6. Stage
Cabane des Vignettes – Col de l’Evèque – Col du Mont Brulé – Col de Valpelline - Zermatt

The details on the tour (distance, duration, altitude and depth) also include the Orsière-Verbier-Mont Fort stretch that is covered by taxi and cable car.

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.)
  • Food (energiereiche Nahrung wie Schokolade, Trockenfrüchte)
  • Bring everything needed for a multi-day ski tour from hut to hut

The Haute Route is a long tour during which you spend several days high up in the mountains a long way from civilization. Calm weather conditions, experience in the high mountains and careful preparation are essential.

  • 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