Available trips
| Thu 24th Mar 11
- Mon 28th Mar 11 |
5 Days |
| Guide TBC | £ 549 |
| Book Now | |
| Wed 13th Apr 11
- Sun 17th Apr 11 |
5 Days |
| Guide TBC | £ 549 |
| Book Now | |
Skill: ***/*
To participate in our 3 and 4 day hut-to-hut ski tours you should have completed plenty of day ski tours and have proficiant
ski touring experience – e.g. familiarity with using skins and skinning technique and uphill kick-turns. You need to be able to
walk uphill on some steep and exposed slopes with boot crampons while carrying your skis on your rucksack.
You need to be a competent off-piste skier capable of skiing 15 - 20 continuous turns off-piste on most slopes and with the confidence to tackle steeper pitches in tricky conditions.
Stamina: ***/*
Stamina-wise, you need to be able to ski all day for 4 consecutive days at a steady pace. Ski touring is hard work and we do
find most newcomers are surprised by just how physically demanding it can be! You need to be able to carry a rucksack with all
you need for 4 days skiing & staying in mountain huts.
To get maximum enjoyment from these trips you need to be working on your fitness well in advance of the tour which means plenty of aerobic exercise like running/cycling/swimming.
This is a short 3-day version of the most famous ski tour in the Alps - the high alpine traverse between Chamonix and Zermatt. We start in Verbier and enjoy 3 great days hut-to-hut touring through fabulous mountain scenery.
Itinerary
Even on a 3 day tour between Verbier and Zermatt here are a few route options and the chosen route will depend on the
weather and snow conditions, the recommendations of the guides and the preferences of the group.
This tour will be guided on a maximum 1:6 ratio.
Day 1
Arrive in Verbier by 2pm. Meet up with guide for welcome meeting and kit check. Head up to the Mont Fort hut for the
first night.
Day 2
Early start from the Mont Fort hut over the Rosa Blanche past Prafleuri hut and onto the Cabane du Dix.
Day 3
A very spectacular day. Beginning from the Dix refuge there is a long skin (4 hours) up to the Pignes d'Arolla (3,790m)
which is the highest point on the Haute Route. From the Pigne d'Arolla, a good ski descent leads us to the Vignettes refuge
(3,160m).
Day 4
There are few days in alpine ski mountaineering to match this one. You have to cover 30km, cross three cols and seven
glaciers and climb 1100 metres. You stay overnight in Zermatt.
Day 5
Group disperses after breakfast.
Additional Information
Private group tours are available from mid-March to mid-May on request.
Price
The tour price: guide fees and expenses, 3 nights HB in mountain huts, 1 night B&B in Zermatt
The price does not include: evening meal in Zermatt, lunches, beverages, personal insurance, hire of ski equipment,
travel to and from Verbier and Zermatt, transfers, uplift costs
Group Sizes
Minimum group size is 4. Maximum group size is 12 with 2 guides.
Accommodation and meals
For the first 3 nights you will stay in alpine huts run by the Swiss Alpine Club. These are operated as basic hotels and
are comfortable and warm. Facilities are limited. Generally they do not have running water or showers. Food is plentiful.
Limited menu options for vegetarians. The last night will be spent in one of our preferred hotels in Zermatt - all have ensuite
twin rooms.
Equipment
A copy of our
recommended kit list will be sent to you at the time of
booking.
Ski touring skis, boots, bindings, skins and ski crampons are essential for this tour. Confused about what skis, boots
and binding combination to bring with you, then read our
Ski Equipment page to find out more.
You will also need boot crampons, ice axe and a harness for this trip.
All skiers will need to carry a pack (max 30 - 40 litres) with safety gear, a minimal change of clothes and personal
items.
Everyone is expected to ski at all times with the three essential items of avalanche safety equipment: transceiver,
shovel and probe. If you ski off-piste regularly we recommend you purchase your own set and we have a special offer on BCA’s
excellent DTS Tracker.
Insurance
It is a condition of booking that you are insured for ski touring covering personal accident, rescue and third party
risks. You are strongly advised also to take out cover against cancellation and curtailment.
If you are looking to purchase insurance for your trip we recommend
SNOWCARD. They specialise in travel insurance for adventure sports particularly skiing
and snowboarding. Their rates for both single trip and annual policies are very competitive.
For details on their policies and to get a quote CLICK HERE or contact our office for further details.