Do you love the mountains, love an adventure, a challenge, maybe a once in a lifetime experience? Snoworks brings you its all-new ‘Haute Route Ski Touring Adventure’. The famous Haute Route was first crossed on foot by an English party at the end of the nineteenth century before being gradually linked together on skis in the first quarter of the twentieth century.
This fantastic ski journey crosses glaciers and high passes through the heart of the Alps. There are constantly changing stunning views of Mont Blanc the Monte Rosa, Grand Combin and of course, the Matterhorn.
Starting in Argentiere/Chamonix and ending up in the shadow of the Matterhorn/Zermatt, it is a journey that every ski tourer should undertake at least once in their lifetime.
This is one of the most famous ski touring traverses in the world. the Haute Route is a demanding week that involves several 8 hour days and typically 800-1200m of ascent a day – so you need to be a good standard off piste skier with several weeks’ ski touring experience, preferably including hut to hut tours, and be happy skinning uphill for at least 3-5 hours per day with a big pack.
To join this trip you need a minimum 300 metre/hour skinning rate, and a confident kick turn on steeper terrain. A training day is included on day one to refresh and check these skills. Please contact us to discuss your level prior to booking
Minimum requirements for this course:
Check your ski level here.
6 x full days Sunday – Friday
Avalanche equipment can be provided
Glacial safety equipment can be provided (€150 supplement)
As this is a high mountain Alpine traverse, there is a chance that it won’t be possible to complete the original itinerary below due to safety and snow conditions. In this instance, the guide will tailor the itinerary to provide you with the best possible ski touring adventure.
Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel of your choice in Chamonix (not included in the price)
Team meeting at 08:30, we will issue any kit you have pre-booked from Snoworks, followed by a short briefing before heading off with full kit packs for our in-resort warm up ski day.
A short ski tour, off piste runs, equipment check, and getting to know the team. We will then meet again before dinner to run through kit checks, and safety routines, look over maps, and more.
Our guide will assess your current ski standard, fitness, and technical ability before committing to the tour.
Overnight at your chosen Chamonix hotel (not included in the price).
Argentiere – Trient Hut – 1200m+ approx 7-8 hours.
From Argentiere a choice of routes 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 become an abseil rather than a ski descent.
We follow whichever route is in the best condition, this leads us to the Swiss border and the Cabane du Trient. This first day is a long one, with 1200m+ of climbing and two or three sections of roped climbing on foot, however the views and high mountain passes will balance the effort-reward scales!
Dinner and stay at Trient Refuge.
Trient Hut – Prafleuri Hut (or Mont Fort Hut) – 1300m approx 7-8 hours
We start today with a descent down the righthand side of the Trient Glacier, followed by a short roped climb to reach the Col des Ecandies at the top of the Val D’Arpette. This north facing valley gives a wonderful long ski run right down to Champex and is one of the highlights of the week. Here we meet our transport to take us to Verbier. Lunch on the slopes in Verbier, then we set off in the afternoon to traverse 3 cols with short descents in between, this puts us on the glacier below the Rosablanche and onto an amazing north facing ski descent down to the Prafleuri Hut.
Dinner and stay at Plafleuri Refuge. (or Mont Fort)
Prafleuri Hut – Cabane du Dix = 900m approx 5-6 hours.
From the Prafleuri Hut, our first skin takes us to the Col des Roux, followed by a long descending traverse above the Lac de Dix. At the end of the lake we start today’s longest climb up to the Dix Hut – usually in the afternoon sun. On paper, this is quite a short day from the Prafleuri Hut, however, the uphill finish in the afternoon heat can make it feel harder. The Dix Hut is in a wonderful position, with a great sun-kissed terrace where we can enjoy the view and a well earned beer before dinner.
Dinner and stay at Cabane du Dix
Dix – Vignettes Hut – 1000m approx 6 hours.
Our first ascent today involves 900m of climbing, passing through some steep glaciated terrain, including the passage of the Serpentine, which often has to be climbed on foot. The Pigne D’Arolla at 3790m is the highest point on our tour and offers breathtaking views across the whole of the western Alps. From this summit, it is a 600m descent to the Vignettes Hut, which is in a spectacular position on a rocky ridge.
Dinner and stay at Vignettes Refuge.
Vignettes – Zermatt – 800m approx 8-9 hours.
Our last day of the Haute Route will be one of, if not the most memorable of your ski touring days. We cross three cols and six glaciers and finish with an amazing huge descent down to Zermatt under the north face of the Matterhorn.
We start up the Col de L’Eveque, followed by a beautiful descent, then a second climb up to the Col du Mont Brule. The final part of this is steep and usually climbed on foot. From the Col Brule, we head across to the final summit of the Col Valpelline. And then…….. The Matterhorn rears up in front of us, cameras ready!
Finishing with the last huge 1900m ski descent down the Stockji and Zmutt Glaciers into Zermatt.
We will transfer back to Chamonix after skiing for our last dinner (not included) together ending a fabulous touring adventure, before departing for the UK tomorrow. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Chamonix (not included in the price).
Breakfast, photo and video sharing, goodbyes, and transfer back to Geneva for your flights home. WOW!
Accommodation at the beginning and end of this adventure in Chamonix is not included in the price to give you the best choice and flexibility.
