The Haute Route Ski Traverse 

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Day 1 | Arrival into Chamonix

Chamonix, is one of France' oldest ski resorts, and some would argue is the center of the mountaineering universe. 

We meet in Chamonix on the first Day. We suggest clients aim to arrive into Chamonix by mid-afternoon so that we can conduct a team gear check around 5pm. If anyone needs to rent or buy additional gear, we can do this after the gear check. The evening is closed out with dinner in Chamonix and a team briefing of what to expect for the week.

Day 2 | Ski Tour from Aiguille du Midi

This first day is aimed at getting everyone acclimated and and warmed up for what's to come. We'll ease into things with a ski tour descending from the Aiguille du Midi. We'll have several options for descent routes including the "Voie Normale" Vallee Blanche, the standard, least-steep line down the upper Vallée Blanche which finishes via the Mer de Glace to Montenvers or, with good coverage, all the way to town, or the Rognon (Gros Rognon), a slightly steeper, more playful variation off the classic line.

During this day your guide will make an assessment of your fitness, ski level and touring skills, to make sure it is safe for every team member to set off on the first section of the tour.

Skiers descending from the top of the Aiguille du Midi Cablecar towards the beginning of the Vallee Blanche Glacier.

The Albert Premier Hut is perched at 8,865ft beside the Glacier du Tour and looking up towards the Aiguille du Chardonnet.

Day 4  | Argentiere Hut to Trient Hut (or Albert Premier to Mont Fort Hut) 

From the Argentiere Hut a choice of routes now presents itself – either the Col du Chardonnet or Col du Passon. Both are the same distance, but in recent years the Col du Passon has become more popular, since the Col du Chardonnet has dried out and become a rappel rather than a ski descent. We follow whichever route is in best condition, as both lead eventually to the  Swiss border and the Trient Hut. This first day is a long one, with over 4,000ft of climbing and two or three sections of roped climbing on foot – however the views and high mountain ambiance are amazing. Expect around 4,100ft of ascent, 2,600-6,200ft of descent and to be moving for ~6-8hrs

If we start from the Albert Premier Hut, we have a slightly shorter and less strenuous day. This will allow us to press on into Switzerland and a night in the Mont Fort Hut above Verbier. Expect around 2,000ft of ascent, 6,200ft of descent which should take around ~4-5hrs.

While there's really nothing that can improve on the view from the Terrace of the Mont Fort Hut, the ice cold beer after you unclip your ski boots adds another layer of bliss to the experience.

Day 5  | Mont Fort Hut (or Trient Hut) to Prafleuri Hut

From the Trient hut, the day begins with ~700ft of descent down the right bank of the Trient Glacier, followed by a section of Via Ferrata on rock to reach the Col des Ecandies at the top of the Val D’Arpette. This deep, north facing valley gives a wonderful long ski run right down to Champex, where we can get a ride to take us the few kilometers down the valley to the Verbier lift system.

After lunch on the slopes in Verbier, we head to the Prafleuri Hut. We set off in the afternoon to traverse 3 cols with short descents in between, which leads to the glacier below the Rosablanche and a good north facing decent down to the Prafleuri Hut. This is a long day and we usually arrive at the hut around 4-5pm. Expect 2,300ft of ascent, 4,300-7,900ft of descent which should take ~6-9hrs.

If staying at the Mont Fort Hut above Verbier, we can get up a little later before heading to the Prafleuri Hut, approached as above.  We might also take in an ascent of La Rosablanche en route, which gives a good north facing descent to the hut. Expect 3,450ft of ascent, 2,800ft of descent for a total time of ~5-6hrs.

The route from the Mont Fort Hut to Prafleuri Hut doesn't hold back on stunning vistas and, if conditions allow, great snow too. 

Day 6  | Prafleuri Hut to Dix Hut

From the Prafleuri Hut, an hour's skinning leads to the Col des Roux, where the long descending traverse above the Lac de Dix begins. This section of the Haute Route is south facing, so in warm weather, must be completed early in the day.

In good conditions with a fast team, various alternatives may be taken here, in order to find some fresh snow.

Either way, at the end of the lake the long climb up to the Dix Hut begins – usually in the afternoon sun. On paper this is quite a short day from the Prafleuri Hut, but the uphill finish in the afternoon heat makes it feel much harder. Luckily the Dix Hut is in a superb position, with a great sunny terrace where you can enjoy the view and a well earned beer before dinner. Expect ~3,000ft of ascent, 2,000 of descent and a day lasting ~5-7hrs.

Rustic and cozy, the Dix Hut is a welcome sight after two days of overall positive elevation gain.

Day 7  | Dix Hut to Vignettes Hut

At 12,434ft, the Pigne D’Arolla marks the highest point reached on the Haute Route Traverse and is a wonderful viewpoint across the whole of the Western Alps.

The ascent from the Dix Hut involves 3,000ft of climbing and takes about 3 hours, passing through some steep glacier terrain, including the passage of the Serpentine, which often has to be climbed on foot.

From the summit, it’s a 2,000ft descent down to the Vignettes Hut, which lies perched in a spectacular position on a rocky ridge crest. Here again, in the right conditions it’s sometimes possible to take a different line in order to find fresh snow. This is a relatively short day with 3,100ft of ascent, 2,300ft of descent which should take ~4hrs.

Our final hut night at the Vignettes Hut never disappoints. Enjoy a big meal and conserve your energy for our longest day and the trip finale towards the Matterhorn and Zermatt!

Day 8  | Vignettes Hut to Zermatt

The final day of the Haute Route is always one of the most memorable days out in any ski mountaineers career – crossing three cols and six glaciers, with a final huge descent down to Zermatt under the North Face of the Matterhorn.

Eight days all culminate in a ski descent into Zermatt that is as unforgettable as it is iconic.

An early start is required to make the first climb up the Col de L’Eveque, before a nice descent and second climb up to the Col du Mont Brule. The final section of this is steep and frequently climbed on foot.

From the Col Brule, the Col Valpelline doesn’t look that far away, but it always takes a good two hours to reach. Cresting the final col, the Matterhorn rears up ahead, opening the way to the final 6,200ft descent down the Stockji and Zmutt Glaciers to Zermatt. This is the longest day but well worth the effort. Expect 4,000ft of ascent, 9,200ft of descent and to be travelling for ~8-10hrs from the Vignettes Hut into Zermatt.

We'll enjoy a celebratory dinner in Zermatt and stay there for the night before taking trains back to Chamonix in the morning of Day 9. Expect to be back in Chamonix by Mid-afternoon.