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Haute Route Ski Week from Chamonix to Zermatt
Join IFMGA/UIAGM certified mountain guide Caroline on a Haute Route ski week from Chamonix to Zermatt in the stunning Swiss Alps!
Description
The famous Haute Route is an Alp favorite and for good reason! With its stunning ascents and descents, glaciers and white capped mountains, it is a snowy haven for skiers and mountaineers alike. Of course, it is also a challenge. Consequently, it is best to tackle it well prepared and with a seasoned guide. On this Haute Route ski week from Chamonix to Zermatt I will gladly show you through it!
We will meet in Chamonix for a warm up day first. This will serve us to test the group’s ability and go over important safety information. Then, we will go for a fun ski outing in the area. The next day, we will depart on our Haute Route journey. Every day we will discover different glaciers, peaks, cols and mountain huts. We will also improve our skiing skills as we revel in the beauty of the Alps and acquire the unique sense of achievement that comes with a great adventure!
The Haute Tour has its challenges. Therefore, it is important that you have prior skiing experience and that you have a good fitness level. Keep in mind you will need to skin uphill 5,000/ft a day for 5 consecutive days over 6-8 hrs per day. I will of course always be there to help you, and to give you some pointers to improve and acquire new techniques!
Are you ready to take on an exhilarating adventure in the Alps? Then book your place now and join me on this classic Haute Route ski week from Chamonix to Zermatt.
Tempted to plan out your own ski tour route? Then join me on this intensive ski touring course in Valais.
Details
Accommodation 3 nights hotel lodging (2 prior to trip and one at the end) based on double occupancy;5 hut nights, demi-pension (includes breakfast and dinner) |
Meeting point Chamonix |
Photos
Itinerary
Day 1: Assessment and Warm up at Chamonix
On the first day of our tour we will evaluate the overall group fitness and ability. We will also review some glacier skiing and avalanche rescue skills. If the weather permits, we will ski the Valle Blanche, a legendary glacial decent above Chamonix. Otherwise, we may spend the day at the Grands Montets. Lodging: Chamonix
Day 2: Grands Montets-Trient
We will begin by taking the lifts up the Grands Montets and skiing down to the Argentiere glacier. Then, we will skin up to the col du Chardonnet, before dropping onto the Saleinaz glacier, our entrance into Switzerland. Another skin will take us to the Fenetre de Saleinaz, which leads to the Trient glacier. Finally, from there, we will traverse to the Trient Hut. Lodging: Trient Hut
Day 3: Trient-Verbier
To start off the day, we will ski down to the Col des Ecandies. After a quick climb we will arrive at the Val d’Arpette, which we ski to Champex. We will then take a taxi to Verbier. Depending on conditions and the group, we will spend the afternoon exploring the Verbier resort or lounging in the sun at the Cabane Mont Fort, where we will spend the night.
Day 4: Verbier-Prafleuri Hut
We will kick start the day by skinning to the Col de la Chaux. From there, we will immerse ourselves in a world of glaciers and high peaks. After reaching the summit of the Rosablanche we will ski down to the Prafleuri Hut where we will spend the night.
Day 5: Prafleuri Hut-Dix Valley
After a short skin up to the Col des Roux we will begin the long traverse above the Lac des Dix. A steep climb up the Pas du Chat will take us into the Dix valley with stunning views on the Mont Blanc de Cheilon. We will stay in the Dix Hut for the evening.
Day 6: Dix Hut-Vignettes Hut
We get the icing on the cake on the last two days of our tour. We will begin with a skin up to the Pigne d’Arolla through a maze of crevasses and rugged terrain. After a last steep section, we will traverse a high glaciated plateau to reach the summit of the Pigne d’Arolla – the highest point on the Haute Route at around 3,800m – which offers mindblowing views over the Alps and the surrounding 4000m peaks. After taking it all in, we will ski down to the Vignettes Hut.
Day 7: Vignettes Hut-Zermatt
To wrap up an amazing week in the Alps, we will traverse three cols before the long ski down to Zermatt. These cols are the Col de l’Eveque, the Col Brule and the Col de Valpelline. Once we reach the last col, we will see the mighty Matterhorn reveal itself in the most majestic way and we will get to ski with this jaw-dropping view all the way down to Zermatt!
About the guide
I was born in a small ski village in the Swiss Alps and was immersed in the climbing culture through my parents at a young age. After three years competing in the ice climbing world cup and after graduating from law school, I decided to pursue climbing professionally, both as a guide and as a professional alpinist.
My passion for everything relating to the mountains - alpine climbing, ice climbing, skiing, skimo races, rock climbing, etc. - has taken me all over the world, doing first ascents and repeated beautiful climbs in places such as Canada, Ethiopia, Norway, Jordan, Iceland, Antarctica, Morocco, Thailand and more. But some of my greatest climbs have been here in the Alps, climbing the north faces of the Eiger, Matterhorn, Grandes Jorasses and Drus, or Beyond Good and Evil in Chamonix. What I love most though is climbing big frozen waterfalls.
Through guiding, I get to share my love for the mountains, as well as my skills and knowledge with guests around the world, in the alpine, on ice, rock or on skis. What I love about my job in the Alps is that I get to speak so many different languages - English, French, Italian, German - as the mountains sit on or close to borders.
The mountains are my passion and have been my way of life for most of my life. It is a community I am proud to belong to. And on this journey, I have met my husband and fellow mountain guide, Adam. We love working together. We live in Finhaut - a small Swiss village right the French-Swiss border between Chamonix and Verbier - with our lovely daughter Olivia. We have access to beautiful climbing and ski touring right from our doorstep and are close to world class terrain in France, Switzerland and Italy in a matter of minutes!
When I am not guiding, I play for myself in the mountains, work on translations, blog and love to rediscover the wonders of the world through the eyes of my daughter.
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Prices per person
Group of 1 | CHF 9691 each |
Group of 2 | CHF 4846 each |
Group of 3 | CHF 3230 each |
Group of 4 | CHF 2423 each |
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Price includes
- Guiding fee
- Accommodation
- Lifts tickets
- Transport during the trip
- Luggage transfer during the trip
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Price details
INCLUDES: 3 nights hotel lodging (2 prior to trip and one at the end) based on double occupancy;5 hut nights, demi-pension (includes breakfast and dinner);Taxi service from Champex to Le Chable and luggage transfer from Chamonix to Zermatt; Lift tickets (one multi-pass ticket in Chamonix, one single ride at the Grand Montet, one single ride at Verbier to access Mont Fort. DOES NOT INCLUDE:
All guides fees and expenses
Does NOT include: Drinks (including water, which most of the time needs to be purchased separately); Trip insurance or rescue insurance; Travel to Chamonix prior to trip and travel from Zermatt at the end; Gear rentals. The price does not include the guide´s expenses (accommodation, meals, lift tickets, etc).
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