Haute Route – Chamonix to Zermatt

Day 1: To the Argentière Hut
We meet early in the morning at Visp railway station, fully kitted out. A taxi then takes us to Argentière and the valley station of the Grands Montets cable car, which we ride up to the Aiguille des Grands Montets. Straight away comes the first descent, over the Rognons Glacier to the Glacier d'Argentière. After a short climb back up, we reach our first stage destination: the Argentière Hut.
Total time: 3 h | ↑ 200 m | ↓ 600 m | Difficulty: ZS (ski tour)
⌂ Argentière Hut (2,760 m)

Day 2: Over three cols
On the second day we have no fewer than three cols to cross. First we go over the Col du Chardonnet, where we abseil around 60 metres to reach the Saleina Glacier. The route then continues over the Fenêtre de Saleina, past the Trient Hut and up to the Col des Ecandies. As a reward for all the climbing, a long descent awaits us down to Champex. Once in the valley, a taxi takes us on to Bourg St. Pierre, where we spend the night in a hotel.
Total time: 7 h | ↑ 1,000 m | ↓ 2,000 m | Difficulty: ZS (ski tour)

Day 3: Into the Valsorey valley
Having covered more metres of descent than ascent so far, on the third day we face a stage that is all ascent. We make our way through the impressive Valsorey valley up to the Cabane de Valsorey, which shares its name. The day is calmer in pace but not to be underestimated in terms of stamina – exactly the right stage to settle into the rhythm of this traverse.
Total time: 5.5 h | ↑ 1,400 m | Difficulty: ZS (ski tour)
⌂ Cabane de Valsorey (3,030 m)

Day 4: Plateau du Couloir
The next morning we continue up from the hut to the Plateau du Couloir. The last few metres in particular are very steep, so we tackle them in crampons. A short descent brings us to the Col du Sonadon. What follows is a dream descent down to the Cabane de Chanrion.
Total time: 6 h | ↑ 900 m | ↓ 1,900 m | Difficulty: S, 45° (ski tour)
⌂ Cabane de Chanrion (2,462 m)

Day 5: Over the Pigne d'Arolla
Today's stage takes us to one of the most beautifully situated huts in the Alps. But first we have to earn that setting: from the Cabane de Chanrion we head across the Brenay Glacier to the Pigne d'Arolla, the highest point of the Haute Route. The views over the surrounding mountains are correspondingly far-reaching. Then we carve our turns down to the Cabane des Vignettes and see for ourselves why this hut has such a reputation.
Total time: 7 h | ↑ 1,400 m | ↓ 700 m | Difficulty: ZS (ski tour)
⌂ Cabane des Vignettes

Day 6: Grand finale to Zermatt
The final stage – and probably the highlight of the whole trip – leads us between the great peaks of the Valais Alps all the way to Zermatt. Via the Collon Glacier we reach the Col de l'Evêque. After a descent and another climb, we arrive at the Col du Mont Brulé. The Tsa de Tsan Glacier then leads us on to the Col de Valpelline and the Tête Blanche. With three cols behind us, the grand finale awaits: the long descent past the Matterhorn and the Dent d'Hérens all the way down to Zermatt. Along the groomed pistes we of course stop off for a drink and toast a successful ski traverse. From Zermatt we take the train back to Visp.
Total time: 8 h | ↑ 900 m | ↓ 2,400 m | Difficulty: ZS (ski tour)