Ski Haute Route

Overview

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Saturday to Sunday, 7 full days skiing (1 more than a 'standard' Haute Route)

Introduction

The Haute Route is arguably the most famous ski journey in the world. It is a traverse of the western Alps from Chamonix Mt Blanc to Zermatt. It finishes with a stunning ski descent underneath the magnificent north face of the Matterhorn and of course a well-earned beer in Zermatt! It is about 115km long and includes around 6,000m ascent and descent.

The Haute Route is a suitable follow on for those who have completed the Ski Touring Introduction course, or for strong off piste skiers who have some experience in Ski Touring, preferably including some multi-day ski tours. It is a strenuous trip with a minimum of 700m vertical ascent and 15km of horizontal every day, so a high level of fitness is required.

There are many different options in terms of routes and which mountain huts are used for the Haute Route. The Jagged Globe Haute Route goes via Verbier. You will have a preparation day in Chamonix (with a planned descent of the Vallée Blanche) and then take six days to complete the route. This allows flexibility if we lose a day due to very bad weather, as several of the days in the middle can be combined if necessary. It is also worth mentioning that because of its popularity and the short ski touring season (late March - mid May) the hut bookings can be difficult to get and tricky to rearrange. So this can also influence the exact programme. The outline programme given below is our favoured choice, but this will vary slightly according to the availability of huts, weather and conditions.

Start point: Chamonix La Chaumière Mountain Lodge

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Outline Programme

Day 1:	Course Meeting 7pm. Overnight Chamonix Hotel Course participants meet at the course base at 7pm. Briefing on the week's activities in the evening. Check avalanche gear and climbing gear for fit and function.
Day 2:	Ski the Vallée Blanche - Overnight Chamonix Hotel Preparation day with descent of the Vallée Blanche. This gives you a chance to check that your equipment and clothing is up to the job and gives the Guide/s a chance to see that you have the necessary ski ability and ski touring skills to safely complete the tour. There will be a chance to do some training on tricky skills (like uphill kick turns) and some Avalanche safety training. We will also do a thorough kit check, because it is really important to carry exactly what you need and not a lot more!
Day 3:	Ski Les Grands Montets to the Refuge Albert Premiere (2,702m). 6 hours We ski up and over the Col des Rachasses from the Grand Motets ski area, to access the Argentiere Glacier. This is followed by a 900m descent to the glacier d'Argentiere. This can be one of the best skis on the trip, or the worst! It all depends on when it last snowed. Then we start the steep skin up to the Col du Passon (3,028m). This is a 700m ascent, which saves the best for last. For the last 100m it is necessary to take the skis off, put crampons on, possibly a rope and climb straight up a snowy gully. From the col it is possible to see the Refuge Albert Premiere (2,702m), which will be our resting place for the night. 6 hrs.
Day 4:	Ski to Champex via Col Superior du Tour (3,332m) and Col des Ecandies (2,797m). Overnight Cadane du Mont Fort (2,457m). 6 hours Breakfast is worked off with 600m of ascent to the Col Superior du Tour (3,332m). This will take about 2 hrs. Then we ski across the amazing Plateau du Trient and down a steep section of glacier with some slightly worryingly big crevasses. From here it's a short steep climb, with skis off and crampons on to reach the Col des Ecandies (2,797m). We are rewarded with the long and varied ski descent to Champex (1,486m). Once in Champex you are transferred to the lifts at Le Chable and ride up to Verbier for lunch and a restock of snack food for the trip. After this we can take the Jumbo lift to the Col des Gentianes and ski down to the Cabane du Mont Fort (2,457m). Any spare time here can be spent working on crevasse rescue skills, ski touring skills or Avalanche awareness. There is nothing better than watching the sunset over the Trient Plateau with a beer on the hut terrace. 6 hrs.
Day 5:	Ski to the Cabane Praflueri Refuge (2,642m) via Rosablanche (3,336m). 6 hours Again we start with a uphill section, this time up a piste, but very quickly we are out of the ski area and at the Col de la Chaux (2,920m). It is 450m ascent to the first col, then we ski and skate as far as we can before changing back to skins and travelling up to the Col de Momin (3,003m) and then on to the summit of the Rosablanche (3,336m). After 600m ascent we can enjoy amazing views and of course a lovely 600m descent to the Cabane Prafleuri (2,624m). 6 hrs.
Day 6:	Ski to the Cabane des Dix (2,928m) via the Col des Roux and the Pas du Chat (2,385m) 6 hours We are rewarded by a very short ascent this morning to the Col des Roux (2,804m), only 200m or about 30 minutes. Then we make a very long traverse in ski mode towards the Pas du Chat (2,385m). How far we get depends on how much avalanche debris gets in the way and how strong your left leg is! Somewhere near the Pas du Chat we change into uphill mode and skin the final 3km and 500m up to the very scenically positioned Cabane des Dix (2,928m). If we arrive early enough and with sufficient energy it is possible to go for an afternoon ascent/skin of la Luette (3,548m), which is a great ski peak near the hut. 6 hrs (without la Luette).
Day 7:	Ski over the Pigne d'Arolla (3,790m) to the Cabanne des Vignettes 5 hours Today we make the ascent of the Pigne d' Arolla (3,790m) and then continue down the other side to the last hut of the tour, the Cabane des Vignettes (3,160m). This is a stunning day tour in its own right and the highest point on our journey. It is a 900m ascent from the Dix, but the undulating nature of the terrain makes it feel OK. Also we are starting to build up some touring fitness by now. It's nice to end the day with a ski for a change. If the weather is very bad it is possible to make an alternative approach to the Cabane des Vignettes via the Pas du Chèvre. 5 hrs.
Day 8:	Ski to Zermatt over the Cols de L'Eveque, du Mont Brule (3,232m) and de Valpelline (3,557m). 9 to 10 hours. Overnight Zermatt After breakfast we make an early start on the long journey to Zermatt. This is the most stunning day scenically of the trip, but also the most arduous. We start with a ski in the dark down onto the flat area on the Glacier de Mont Collon. Then we change over (very efficiently by now) for the skin to the first of our three cols, the Col de L'Eveque (3,382m). This involves about 400m of ascent and a few Kms of horizontal, so will take 2-3 hours. Then we ski down the Haute Glacier d'Arolla for about 500m vertical, until we can cut the corner and start the ascent to the second col. It is often tempting to keep skiing too low as this is a little secret powder bowl, but we still have a long way to go. Skinning again we head for the Col du Mont Brule (3,232m). Sometimes it's necessary to take the skis off for the last bit of this 300m ascent, as it gets quite steep, so this can take 1-2 hrs depending on conditions. We need to ski down and across before changing over for the final climb to the Col de Valpelline (3,557m). About 450m vertical and a few Kms will take a further 2 hrs. From the Col or Tete de Valpelline (3,799m) it is over 2,000m of vertical descent and 15 Kms horizontal into Zermatt. This is the ski descent of a lifetime and it often holds excellent snow. Don't forget to stop and take some photos of the huge crevasses in the Stockji Glacier and the North Face of the Matterhorn! 9-10 hrs. Time to relax with a beer beneath the Matterhorn before your final night in Zermatt.
Day 9:	Depart after breakfast

Pre-Course Skiing Ability

Grade: 10C [ Ski Grading ]
To join our Intermediate level hut-to-hut tours, you need to be a competent off piste skiers/ski tourers capable of skiing slopes up to 35° and ascending for 4 hours with a 10kg pack. On the Haute Route crampons are required on the Col du Passon and Pigne D'Arolla when it's icy. A foundation course such as the Ski Touring Introduction would be ideal preparation for the Haute Route. Alternatively, those who have joined our Ski Silvretta week might also like to attempt the Haute Route.

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the ski or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Dates & Prices

Date	Meeting in		Availability
Sat 13 Mar – Sun 21 Mar 2027	Chamonix		Available Book now »
2 places left with £75 early booking offer	£1,795 £1,720
Sat 20 Mar – Sun 28 Mar 2027	Chamonix		Available Book now »
2 places left with £75 early booking offer	£1,795 £1,720
Sat 27 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027	Chamonix		Available Book now »
2 places left with £75 early booking offer	£1,795 £1,720

This course is available to book in GBP, USD and EUR.
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Group size: 3 – 6 people.

Single room supplement: £120

For comparison, this course starts from £224 (GBP) per day (price Without Flights).

What the price includes

• 2 nights' hotel accommodation in Chamonix on a twin-sharing (occasionally triple/quad), half-board basis
• 5 nights' mountain hut accommodation in a shared dormitory bunk, half-board basis
• 1 nights' accommodation in Zermatt in a private dorm (Swiss youth hostel), on a bed and breakfast basis
• 7 days' ski guiding (including all the IFMGA Guide's fees and expenses). Ratio 1:6 maximum
• Transfer from Champex to Le Chable
• Luggage transfer from Chamonix to Zermatt
• Loan of Avalanche Safety Gear (digital transceiver, metal shovel, 240cm + avalanche probe)
• Loan of ice axe, crampons and harness

What the price does not include

• Travel from home to Geneva Airport
• Road transfer from Geneva Airport to Chamonix (can be arranged by Jagged Globe - see 'Travel and Venue')
• Train from Zermatt to Geneva Airport at the end of the tour
• Ski passes/uplift to fulfil the published programme
• Lunch
• Dinner on the final evening of the tour
• Skis, skins, ski crampons, boots and equipment hire
• Additional ski passes if weather/conditions mean the published programme cannot be followed
• Travel Insurance
• Tips
• Tourist taxes collected locally by the hotel / accommodation provider

Photos & Videos

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• Ski Touring with Jagged Globe
• Ski Haute Route April 2012

Reviews

Have you been on this trip? If you'd like to contribute a trip report then we'll post it up on the site.

Team Member Reviews

• ‘Many thanks once again for the best ski touring week I have experienced.’ JO, 2002

Travel & Venue

Fly to Geneva. A 1-hour return airport transfer to Chamonix can be booked via Jagged Globe (price £40). You will need to travel back to Geneva Airport by public transport (cost not included).

Valley accommodation in Chamonix is in La Chaumière Mountain Lodge. The accommodation is provided on a twin-share (or occasionally, triple/quad), half-board basis. A single room supplement is payable should you want to have a room to yourself.

Valley accommodation in Zermatt is in the Youth Hostel in a private dorm.