The "Classic" Haute Route - April, 2017
7 day ski traverse from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland
Photo Gallery
← Swipe to scroll images →
Start: Argentière, France
A colourful group ready to start their big adventure!
A colourful group ready to start their big adventure!
Grand Montets lift station (3200m)
Getting ready to ski down to the Argentière Glacier. Mont Blanc is hiding in the cloud in the background.
Getting ready to ski down to the Argentière Glacier. Mont Blanc is hiding in the cloud in the background.
Mountaineering Skills
Cramponing practice above Refuge d'Argentière.
Cramponing practice above Refuge d'Argentière.
Col du Tour Noir - acclimatization day tour
Enjoying a powder run back to Refuge d'Argentière.
Enjoying a powder run back to Refuge d'Argentière.
Day 1: Chardonnet Glacier
An early start and steep skin up to the Col du Chardonnet.
An early start and steep skin up to the Col du Chardonnet.
Col du Chardonnet
Side slipping on belay down the steep couloir.
Side slipping on belay down the steep couloir.
Col du Chardonnet
Side slipping on belay down the steep couloir.
Side slipping on belay down the steep couloir.
Fenêtre Saleina
Carrying skis up the final steep slope to the col.
Carrying skis up the final steep slope to the col.
Cabane du Trient
Skinning across the Trient Glacier towards the hut.
Skinning across the Trient Glacier towards the hut.
Trient Hut
Enjoying a beer in the sun after a great day.
Enjoying a beer in the sun after a great day.
Day 2 - Col des Ecandies
Due to glacial recession, the col now sits above an awkward rock step.
Due to glacial recession, the col now sits above an awkward rock step.
Col des Ecandies - rock climbing
Some ropework is required for the short climb to the col.
Some ropework is required for the short climb to the col.
Col des Ecandies
Looking back towards the Trient Glacier Plateau.
Looking back towards the Trient Glacier Plateau.
Val D'Arpette
Enjoying a long ski run down.
Enjoying a long ski run down.
Val D'Arpette
Picturesque chalets near Champex-Lac.
Picturesque chalets near Champex-Lac.
Day 3 - Valsorey Valley
Spring conditions on the long climb up to the hut.
Spring conditions on the long climb up to the hut.
Valsorey Valley
Enjoying lunch and a rest on the hot climb up to the hut.
Enjoying lunch and a rest on the hot climb up to the hut.
Cabane Valsorey
Studying the map and relaxing in the sun outside the hut.
Studying the map and relaxing in the sun outside the hut.
Day 4 - Plateau du Couloir
Arriving at the top of the steep climb up from Valsorey Hut.
Arriving at the top of the steep climb up from Valsorey Hut.
Glacier du Mont Durand
Enjoying powder turns on the long ski run down.
Enjoying powder turns on the long ski run down.
Glacier du Mont Durand
A short skin up to access the Grand Chermontane basin.
A short skin up to access the Grand Chermontane basin.
Old Chalet
The final skin up to Chanrion Hut.
The final skin up to Chanrion Hut.
Cabane de Chanrion
Arriving at the hut after another enjoyable day.
Arriving at the hut after another enjoyable day.
Day 5 - Les Portons (non-standard route)
Arriving on the Col de la Petite Lire after a long, steep climb.
Arriving on the Col de la Petite Lire after a long, steep climb.
Les Portons (non-standard route)
A quick belay up rock to the Col Nord des Portons.
A quick belay up rock to the Col Nord des Portons.
Cabane des Vignettes
Skiing down the final steep slopes of the Pigne d'Arolla to the hut (just visible on the bluff center left).
Skiing down the final steep slopes of the Pigne d'Arolla to the hut (just visible on the bluff center left).
Day 6 - Cabane des Vignettes
A dawn start for the final big day to Zermatt.
A dawn start for the final big day to Zermatt.
Matterhorn
Ski tourers are dwarfed by Switzerland's famous peak on the final long descent to Zermatt.
Ski tourers are dwarfed by Switzerland's famous peak on the final long descent to Zermatt.
A successful traverse!
A happy group in front of the Matterhorn.
A happy group in front of the Matterhorn.