Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route 6-day splitboarding tour

We will meet in the town of Courmayeur, in the Italian Aosta Valley, where we will go over the equipment and the itinerary. We will travel to the village of Argentière, in Chamonix, from where we will take a cable car to the Col des Grands Montets pass (1,461m). We will then begin a steep descent on the Rognons Glacier to the massive Argentière Glacier (2,168m). Overnight at the Argentière Hut (2,691m).

Ascent time: 3 hours

Cumulative elevation gain: 200m

We will begin the day riding down the Argentière Glacier. We will then skin up to a 200-meter gully, which we will climb with ropes and crampons up to the Col du Passon pass (3,028m) and on to the Le Tour Glacier (2,150m). We will traverse towards the Col Superieur du Tour (3,288m), arriving at the Trient Plateau on the Trient Glacier, which we will descend up to a point below the Col des Ecadies. We will ride down the Val d’Arpette valley up to a mountain hut in Champex-Lac, where we will spend our second night.

Ascent time: 6-8 hours

Cumulative elevation gain: 1,000m

A transfer will take us from Champex to Le Châble village, from where we will take a lift up to the Verbier ski area, followed by two more lifts to the Col des Gentianes pass (2,906m). After a 200-meter descent, we will skin to the Col de La Chaux (2,940m). After another descent, we will climb to the Col du Momin (3,005m), up to the Rosa Blanche peak (3,336m). Soon after, we will begin a descent to the Cabane de Prafleuri hut (2,657m), where we will spend the night.

Ascent time: 6 hours

Cumulative elevation gain: 800m

We will traverse to the Col des Roux (2,804m) and then begin a long descent above the reservoir of the Grande Dixence Dam (285m). At the end of the lake, we will ascend the Pas du Chat, up to the Cabane des Dix (2,928m), where we will spend the night.

Ascent time: 7-8 hours

Cumulative elevation gain: 800m

We will start the day with an ascent on the Cheillon Glacier up to the Col du Brenay pass, heading to the Pigne d’Arolla (3,796m). A long descent on glacier will take us to the Cabane des Vignettes refuge (3,160m), where we will spend the last night.

Ascent time: 6-7 hours

Cumulative elevation gain: 850m

We will ride down to the Col de Charmontane. From the Arolla Glacier, we will ascend the Col de l’Eveque (3,716m), followed by the Col du Mont Brulé. A descent will drive us to the Tsan Glacier, and the following ascent will take us to the Col de Valpelline. From this point, we will be able to enjoy a beautiful view of the Dent d’Herens mountain (4,174m) and the Matterhorn’s west face (4,478m). Finally, we will begin the descent to Zermatt, with a 2,500-meter vertical drop, down the Stockji Glacier, below the Matterhorn’s north face.

Ascent time: 8-10 hours

Cumulative elevation gain: 1,000m