Seven Summits – Alps

Block 1: Triglav + Großglockner (5 days)

Slovenia - Triglav

Day 1: Arrival in the Vrata Valley
The first day is for travelling to Slovenia, where we meet in the late afternoon at the Aljazev Dom Hütte in the Vrata Valley. The hut can be reached directly by car via an unpaved gravel road. We check our equipment and have time to talk through the project ahead.

Day 2: Triglav
The next day starts early and is a long one right from the outset: we climb through the beautiful Vrata Valley up to the Luknja Pass and follow the Bamberg Route, with its recurring via-ferrata-like sections, towards the summit of Triglav. From the highest point in Slovenia we descend via the via ferrata on the other side to the Kredaricahütte, where we spend the night.
Total time: 6.5 h | ↑ 1,850 m | ↓ 350 m | Difficulty: B/C (via ferrata)
⌂ Kredaricahütte

Day 3: Descent and onward journey
The next morning there's no rush. We head back down into the Vrata Valley via the long, steep Prague Route and drive straight on towards the next of the Seven Summits: the Großglockner, Austria's highest mountain. We spend the night at a hotel in the valley.
Total time: 3.5 h | ↓ 1,500 m | Difficulty: A/B (via ferrata)

Austria - Großglockner

Day 4: Erzherzog Johann Hütte
From the Lucknerhaus at the end of the Kalser Glocknerstraße we head towards the Stüdlhütte and then on to today's destination: the Erzherzog Johann Hütte. At an altitude of 3,454 metres, it is Austria's highest mountain hut.
Walking time: 5.5 h | ↑ 1,550 m
⌂ Erzherzog Johann Hütte (3,454 m)

Day 5: Großglockner
Only a few hundred vertical metres remain to the summit, but almost all of them are in demanding terrain. Still, we will master this challenge together and reach Austria's highest point by early morning. Afterwards we descend to the valley and set off home. Two of the seven highest summits of the Alps are done. Only five to go.
Total time: 6.5 h | ↑ 350 m | ↓ 1,900 m | Difficulty: WS+, UIAA II

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Block 2: Zugspitze + Grauspitz + Dufourspitze (6 days)

Germany - Zugspitze

Day 1: Reintalangerhütte
We meet right at the Olympic Stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and, after a quick equipment check, start our ascent through the impressive Partnach Gorge. After a first break, our route continues along the Partnach through beautiful scenery to the Reintalangerhütte, our destination for the day.
Walking time: 5 h | ↑ 650 m
⌂ Reintalangerhütte

Day 2: Zugspitze
We have an early breakfast at the Reintalangerhütte and set off towards the summit. We pass the Knorrhütte and continue onto the steep and partly barren Zugspitzplatt. Then comes the most difficult section of the ascent, the south face. A path, secured in places with steel cables, leads us to Germany's highest summit. We take it easy on the descent and ride the cable car down – after all, we have two more of the Seven Summits on the programme over the next few days. We spend the night at a hotel near Garmisch.
Total time: 5.5 h | ↑ 1,600 m | Difficulty: A/B (via ferrata)

Liechtenstein - Grauspitz (2 days)

Day 3: Pfälzerhütte
We drive to the tiny state of Liechtenstein. Here the lowest of the Seven Summits awaits us. A short but steep ascent takes us up to the Pfälzerhütte, which enjoys a wonderful location. It is our destination for the day.
Walking time: 4 h | ↑ 850 m
⌂ Pfälzerhütte (2,108 m)

Day 4: Grauspitz
Soon after the hut, the previous day's wide trail fades out, and we follow faint tracks over loose scree to the narrow summit ridge, which leads us over the Schwarzhorn to the highest point in Liechtenstein. Afterwards we descend to the valley and set off towards Zermatt. We spend the night in Herbriggen at the Hotel Bergfreund.
Total time: 7.5 h | ↑ 550 m | ↓ 1,400 m | Difficulty: UIAA I

Switzerland - Dufourspitze (2 days / 3 days)

Day 5: Monte Rosa Hütte
After a lovely breakfast we head straight to Zermatt. We take the Gornergrat Railway to Rotenboden station. From there, the newly built panoramic trail takes us to the Monte Rosa Hütte.
Total time: 4 h | ↑ 450 m | ↓ 400 m | Difficulty: L (alpine tour)
⌂ Monte Rosa Hütte

Day 6: Dufourspitze
The next day starts early with breakfast at the hut. Then, by the light of our headlamps, we set off towards the Monte Rosa Glacier. Here we have to cross an exciting system of crevasses. We continue over the glacier up to the Sattele. This is where the final climb along the west ridge begins, leading to the highest point on Swiss soil. We descend along the ascent route and then continue past the Monte Rosa Hütte to Rotenboden station, from where the train takes us back down to the valley – tired but overjoyed. That makes five of the Seven Summits done.
Total time: 13 h | ↑ 2,200 m | ↓ 2,150 m | Difficulty: WS+, UIAA III

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Block 3: Gran Paradiso + Mont Blanc (5 days)

Italy - Gran Paradiso (2 days)

Day 1: Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II
We meet at the large car park in Pont at the head of the Valsavarenche or travel together to the Aosta Valley. After a quick equipment check, we begin the ascent to the Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II.
Walking time: 2.5 h | ↑ 750 m
⌂ Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II

Day 2: Gran Paradiso
After a hearty breakfast we head for the summit. Apart from the summit ridge, the route to the highest summit lying entirely in Italy is technically easy. At the top, the snow-white Madonna statue awaits us. We return along the ascent route to the Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II and on down to Pont. We spend the night at a hotel in the valley.
Total time: 8 h | ↑ 1,350 m | ↓ 2,100 m | Difficulty: WS-, UIAA II

France - Mont Blanc (3 days)

Day 3: Goûter Hütte
We drive to Les Houches and take the cable car to Bellevue, where we continue on the Mont Blanc Tramway to the terminus at Nid d’Aigle. From here we begin our approach to today's stage destination: the Goûter Hütte.

Total time: 5.5 h | ↑ 1,450 m | Difficulty: PD, I
⌂ Goûter Hütte

Day 4: Mont Blanc
We set off from the hut early in the morning. After the long ascent we finally stand on Mont Blanc, the roof of the Alps. The descent then takes us back to the Goûter Hütte, where we spend another night at almost 4,000 metres.

Total time: 6.5 h | ↑ 1,000 m | ↓ 1,000 m | Difficulty: PD, I

⌂ Goûter Hütte

Day 5: Descent to the valley
Right after breakfast we set off again so that we cross the Grand Couloir at a good time of day. The rest of the descent follows the familiar route past the Tête Rousse Hütte to Nid d’Aigle, and the tramway and cable car take us down to the valley.

Walking time: 4.5 h | ↓ 1,450 m