Zermatt-Chamonix ski touring: the Haute Route reinvented

Description

The Haute Route, historical and mythical itinerary linking the two capitals of mountaineering, Chamonix and Zermatt, is very traveled. Its legitimacy is easily justified by the variety and the beauty of the environment, by this route which makes live the wealth of the roaming, with its lot of uncertainties, discoveries and surprises! Every day is lived in the present, and every day is immensely rich.

And like all that is successful, the attendance goes hand in hand and sometimes the magic of the mountain fades against that.

Zermatt-Chamonix is ​​the ideal way to go on this exceptional route that every person practising ski touring dreams to achieve at least once in his life, with the following advantages:

• The tranquility during the climbs, the pleasure of the descents in front of the climbing groups, and the majority of the refuges more peaceful.
• To be able to benefit from the "logical" direction of the mountain: the east climbs to enjoy the morning sun, and the west descents for a better quality snow.
• Once in Chamonix, no need to come back by taxi or train: you are ready to go back home!

If you're in the mood for other adventures on skis, I also offer a ski touring trip in New Zealand's Mount Cook Park, an ascent of Mont Blanc with touring skis or the complete Mont Blanc tour on skis.

Program

D1: Train journey from Chamonix to Zermatt.
Meet in Chamonix at 7.30am for a trip longer than with a taxi but which has a lesser impact on our environment. After crossing Zermatt by walking, we take the ski lifts that drop us at the foot of the Matterhorn. From there a descent allows us to gain the flat kilometers before the climb to Schönbiel hut where we spend our first evening in a breathtaking environment.

D2: Tête de Valpelline and Stöckli glacier.
Today we follow a path between crevasses and under the majestic peaks overlooking us!
We start early to reach the Stöckli glacier and climb to the Tête de Valpelline, then dive into a beautiful descent to the foot of Mount Brûlé, where we climb to the same name pass. From here a steep descent makes it possible to reach the high glacier of Arolla and by Collon Pass, to find the evening stop, the Italian refuge of Nacamulli.

D3: Pigne d'Arolla crossing.
You have a beautiful day via the Eveque and Ottema Passes that offers the ascent of Pigne d'Arolla and a superb descent on the refuge of Chanrion!

D4: Crossing the Durand window to Italy.
We leave Switzerland by the Durand window, and go down in the beautiful Ollomont valley. When being at the Balme de Bal, we climb to the Savoie bivouac: it will be an authentic night in high mountains with the splendid view!

D5: Back to the Swiss Valais to the Grand-Saint-Bernard Hospice.
After the start, a climb and the Valsorey pass, we enjoy again a beautiful descent to the Plans, below the refuges of Valsorey and Vélan. Here we climb to the "secret" pass of Montorge which switches on the west side of the Petit Vélan and allows us to join the Grand-Saint-Bernard Hospice for the night.

D6: Italian Ferret valley.
The route will be chosen at the last moment according to the conditions. By different possible passes, we will join the Ferret valley. From there we reach the Torino refuge at the altitude of 3375 meters using the Skyway cable car.

D7: Back to Chamonix.
End in apotheosis with the "Vallée Blanche" just for us, before the crowds! Separation at the Montenvers train station.

The price includes

• Supervision by the mountain guide, specialist of this route.
• Loan of avalanche beacon, shovel, probe.
• Logistic budget (to be paid separately) corresponding to the costs of the itinerary: half-boards in the refuges, picnics for 5 lunchs except D1 and D7, skipasses in Zermatt and Helbronner, train from Chamonix to Zermatt, Montenvers train if needed. Total cost is around 800€.

The price does not include

• Transport to and from Chamonix.
• Drinks in the refuges.
• Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".

Accommodation

• Refuges: Schönbielhütte, Nacamulli, Chanrion, Torino.
• Bivouac: Savoie.
• Grand-Saint-Bernard hospice.

• Share on twitter
• Share on Facebook
• Send by e-mail