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Splitboarding week from Chamonix to Zermatt
Join IFMGA-certified mountain guide Massimo on a unique 7-day splitboarding tour along the famous Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route, across the French and Swiss Alps. This is a program for advanced riders.
Description
The Haute Route (High Route) is one of the most famous alpine skiing trails in the world.
This route runs from the commune of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in France to the village of Zermatt in Switzerland. It’s also a classic alpine route that every experienced mountaineer should take at least once!
There are three main tracks to do the Haute Route. But we’ll take the Grand Lui path, considered the most complete one. It involves technical sections, such as the Grand Lui pass and the Plateau du Couloir (3,600m). Hence, I will take a maximum of 3 people on this trip. So, participants need to be in good shape, and have previous splitboarding experience. They’re also required to know how to use ropes, crampons and ice axes.
We’ll meet in the picturesque mountain village of Argentière (1,252m). Then, we’ll head for an amazing adventure, in which we’ll traverse long distances at high elevations. We’ll also splitboard through snow-capped mountains. And some of the beautiful glaciers we’ll visit are:
- The Argentière
- The Otemma
- The Saleina
- The Mont Durand,
- The A Neuve
- The Stockjigletscher.
Moreover, we’ll climb stunning peaks that include the Aiguilles Dorées (3,519m), the Mont Vélan (3,727m), the Grand Combin (4,314m), the Pigne d’Arolla (3,796m), and the Tête de Valpelline (3,798m).
Additionally, we’ll spend the 6 nights in different huts or guesthouses in the mountains, so as to remain at high altitudes. And, we’ll end our tour in Zermatt (1,608m), a village lying at the base of the legendary Matterhorn.
You can find more details in the itinerary below. Nonetheless, please note it can change, depending on weather and snow conditions.
Don’t miss this memorable, challenging splitboarding adventure in the heart of the Alps! Send me your booking request now.
If you are looking for other splitboarding outings in the Alps, I recommend this 4-day trip in Val Formazza and Alpe Devero.
Details
Accommodation Mountain huts and guesthouses |
Meeting point Argentière (Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France) |
Photos
Itinerary
Day 1: Argentière - Cabane du Trient
We will meet at Argentière (1,252m). And then we’ll take the Grands Montets cable car uphill (3,300m). Then we’ll descend to the Glacier d’Argentière. After that we will climb the Col du Chardonnet pass (3,323m) and the Fenêtre de Saleina. Finally we will arrive at the Cabane du Trient hut (3,170m).
Cumulative elevation gain: +1,100/-1,200m
Ascent/descent time: 7-8hs
Day 2: Aiguilles Dorées - La Fouly
I’ll take you to the summit of the Aiguilles Dorées (3,519m), and then traverse across the Bivouac de l’Envers des Dorées (2,983m) to the Glacier de Saleina. We’ll also skin through some steep sections, take the Grande Lui pass, and access the A Neuve Glacier. We will then descend to the village of La Fouly (1,600m), where we will spend the night in a guesthouse.
Cumulative elevation gain: +850/-2,400m
Ascent/descent time: 7-8hs
Day 3: Val Ferret - Grand Saint Bernard
We’ll climb up the Val Ferret, on the Swiss side, and traverse along the Lacs de Fenêtre, to finally descend to the Grand St Bernard pass (2,469m), in the Pennine Alps. And, we will stay at the famous Great St Bernard Hospice, an operational monastery close to the border with Italy.
Cumulative elevation gain: +1,300/-400m
Ascent/descent time: 5hs
Day 4: Lac des Toules - Valsorey Hut
On this day, we’ll take the route down to the Lac des Toules (closed in winter), arriving at Bourg St Bernard. After passing the Mont de Proz and the Croix de Tsousse (2,821m), a beautiful descent will lead us to the Grand Combin (4,314m). From Les Grands Plans, we will head to the Valsorey hut (3,030m), where we will spend the night.
Cumulative elevation gain: +1,800/-1300m
Ascent/descent time: 8-9hs
Day 5: Plateau du Couloir - Chanrion Hut
Using crampons and ice axes, we will climb a steep slope to the Plateau du Couloir (3,600m), near the Biagio Musso (3,664m). Once we cross the Sonadon hill, a long descent will take us to the Chanrion hut (2,462m), where we will spend the night.
Cumulative elevation gain: +950/1,500m
Ascent/descent time: 6-7hs
Day 6: Otemma Glacier - Vignettes Hut
A long climb on the Otemma glacier will take us to the Vignettes hut (3,160m), from where we will ascend to the Pigne d’Arolla (3,796m). We will then return to the Vignettes hut for the night.
Cumulative elevation gain: +1,500/-850m
Ascent/descent time: 6-7hs
Day 7: Col de l’Evêque - Zermatt
Via the Col de l’Evêque (3,382m), the Col du Mont Brulé (3,585m) and the Col de Valpelline (3,562m) passes, we will ascend the Tête de Valpelline (3,798m). Soon after, we will descend along the Stockjigletscher glacier to Zermatt (1,608m), from where we will head back to Argentière.
Cumulative elevation gain: +1,200/-2,500m
Ascent/descent time: 8-9hs
About the guide
We are inMont, a group of IFMGA Alpine Guides from Venezia Giulia Region.
We offer all range of mountain activities: mountaineering, rock to ice climbing, high mountains, ski mountaineering, expeditions in and outside Europe, and we organize courses.
We are Massimo Candolini, Guido Candolini, Gianni Dorigo and Andrea Fusari. In addition, some Alpine Guides of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region collaborate with us.
What people are saying about INMONT
Nico Vanderhauwaert
3.00
March 2018
Prices per person
Group of 2 | EUR 980 each |
Group of 3 | EUR 980 each |
Want a different number of travellers?
Price includes
- Guiding fee
- Mountain guide's expenses (lifts, meals, accommodation, etc)
Price details
The price does not include the guide´s expenses (accommodation, meals, lift tickets, etc).
For booking assistance
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The Concierge service is a great tool for when you still haven't decided what kind of Adventure you're looking for and you're open to suggestions
poor weather limited the experience. We had hoped for a guide more familiar with the area, our first and last night were in a remote place requiring an hours walk. We only learnt about this on the day of departure. otherwise no problems