Dates
Tour #1via Verbier
April 14-21, 2007

Tour #2 via Plateau du Couloir
April 25-May 2, 2007

8 days skiing for either trip

Maximum Group Size
8 skiers:2 guides-Verbier
6 skiers:2 guides-Plateau

Required skills

Booking info

Fees - Verbier route

Fees - Classic route

Equipment list

Day to day detail

See also:
Ski programs overview
Ortler Tour, Italy
Silvretta Tour
Berner Oberland
Private programs
Alps skiing advice

Col des Portons	photo info

The Haute Route is an unique experience. There are few places in the world where skiers can travel unencumbered, in the heart of the mountains, over high cols, hidden valleys, and immense glaciers. The complex system of huts in the Alps permits us to enjoy the skiing as only traveling light can. And the Haute Route, with its logical start and finish gives us a goal and a line to follow, both improbable and impressive. For all the times we have done this tour, we are continually fascinated by its endless variation. The changing snow, sky, and company bring a freshness to each passage.

On this page we describe both of the trips we run, one via the Plateau du Couloir and the other via Verbier.

Plateau du Couloir Route

This is the "Classic" Haute Route, closely following the original line taken by Marcel Kurz and Professor Roget in 1911. The crux section, where the route passes high over the Grand Combin via the Plateau du Couloir, is quite steep and, when the route was first done, presented a considerable obstacle. Now, with the comfort of the Valsorey Hut and modern lightweight equipment its fearsomeness is somewhat lessened. It remains, however, an occasionally intimidating slope and is suitable only for those comfortable on steep snow. We climb this section on foot with skis on our back.

The crux of our route, the climb to the Plateau du Couloir requires reasonable weather and fairly stable snow conditions. If the weather and avalanche forecast looks questionable, we may need to alter our plans to another alternative, most typically the route via Verbier.

Verbier Route

The Haute Route via Verbier is a bit more of a "skiers" tour. There is slightly less mountaineering, with a bit more emphasis on skiing. It has a less remote feel than the Plateau du Couloir route, but is more practicable in marginal weather. It remains, however, a serious challenge, and all the potential difficulties (and fantastic rewards) of high alpine touring can be found.

Climbing to the Plateau du Couloir. photo info

Both routes require a high level of fitness and excellent skiing abilities. The first day of touring, from the Grands Montets to the Trient hut is long and complex. And the last day of both routes, from the Vignettes hut to Zermatt is equally challenging. On the Plateau du Couloir route, the climb up to the Valsorey Hut is over 4400 feet and must be climbed by early afternoon to be safe from potential avalanche risk. Very early the following morning we climb an additional 2100 feet to the Plateau du Couloir. In order to have enough remaining energy to manage the long descent which follows (it is great fun as well!) you need to be in good shape.

Skiing skills need to be at an advanced to expert level. The reason for this has more to do with the conservation and expenditure of energy over a long day than the absolute technical difficulty of the skiing. There are a few steep sections, such as the descent off the Plateau du Couloir on Day 5 and the descent to the Col des Ecandies on Day 3, but for the most part the slopes are not overly steep. The challenge comes in managing poor snow conditions (heavy wet snow, crud or breakable crust) and not losing too much energy in the process. Great skiers look like they are hardly working, and this is in fact the case. If your skiing is not up to par you will spend far, far more energy than a better skier.

Ski skills required;

• Ability to turn comfortably through the fall line in difficult deep, heavy snow, or bad breakable crust.
• Ability to execute hop parallel turns or pedal-hop turns on 35° firm snow.
• Ability to ski the fall-line with short-radius, rhythmic parallel turns in deep light snow.
• Ability to side-slip, both forward and backward, on firm 40° slopes.
• Ability to skate on level ground.

Skiers who regularly enjoy black or double black runs in most western American ski areas should do fine. If you like to get off the piste and into the crud, ski the trees, and in general look for the steeper shots, you'll probably have a great time on this tour. If you tend to stick to the groomed slopes and find the wild untracked a bit intimidating this is probably not a good tour for you. We will likely encounter all different kinds of snow, from the best to the worst, and you need to have sound energy efficient strategies to cope with them.

A good gauge of you ability is found in mogul skiing. If you are good in the bumps and seek them out, then you most likely have developed the rhythm and balance needed for steep or difficult snow. You must be able to ski fairly steep bumps in good conditions, skiing rhythmically and fluidly, following a line near the fall line with good speed control. If you have any doubt about your ability to manage the skiing on this classic route, please join us in the Alps for a shake-down training session. You may want to consider a Private Haute Route Program.

You need to be able to do quick and easy kick turns, facing into the mountain. We will review these skills en route, but you'll have to be expert at them by the second day!

Previous mountaineering skills are useful, but not required. If you are an expert skier, you will not have difficulty picking up these new skills, as you will already be comfortable on very steep slopes.

Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route

This itinerary is suitable for advanced/expert skiers in excellent condition. The two itineraries we offer are both described below.

For more detailed information and maps and photos, see the day-to-day description.

Day 1

Vallée Blanche ski descent. Night in Chamonix

Day 2

From the Grands Montets, over the Col du Chardonnet, Fenêtre de Saleina, to the Trient Hut.

Day 3

Over the Col des Ecandies to Champex

Verbier Route - From Champex we continue to Verbier by taxi, ride the lifts, then ski down to the Mont Fort hut, where we spend the night.

Plateau du Couloir Route - Taxi to Bourg-St-Pierre. We spend the night in our hotel in Bourg-St-Pierre

Day 4

Verbier Route - From the Mont Fort hut we cross high on the Rosa Blanche and descend to the Prafleuri hut.

Plateau du Couloir Route - Climb up to the Valsorey Hut.

Day 5

Verbier Route - Prafleuri hut to Dix hut.

Plateau du Couloir Route - Over the Plateau du Couloir, the Col du Sonadon and down to the Chanrion hut.

Day 6

Verbier Route - From the Dix hut we ski up over the Serpentine and the Pigne d'Arolla and down to the Vignettes hut.

Plateau du Couloir Route - To the Vignettes hut. A number of option are available for this day, with our favorite being the traverse of Les Portons.

Day 7

The two route converge. A great day's skiing to Zermatt. First up over the Col d'Evêque, then over the Col du Mont Brulé, the Col de Valpelline, and finally a fantastic run down the Stockji Glacier to Zermatt

This is our extra day, which if not needed for weather during the tour gives up one more day of skiing to enjoy in the Zermatt area. Three possible options include

Schwartztor, a great glacier descent from the Klein Matterhorn.

Continue to Saas Fee, over the Adler Pass and down into the Saas valley.

Over to Cervinia for lunch and back again to Zermatt. A day skiing the pistes of Zermatt and Cervinia.

Kathy Cosley & Mark Houston
UIAGM Internationally Licensed Mountain Guides

AMGA Certified • SNGM members
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