Ski touring the Zinal Haute Route

One of the best technical ski mountaineering weeks in the Alps, the Zinal Haute Route traverses through the ‘Imperial Crown’ of 4000m peaks circling the head of the Zinal Valley.

This is a technical ski mountaineering week in a less visited corner of the Swiss Valais. We will do there in March or April, and sometimes even in May. I will take max 3 skiers with me.

This ski tour involves the ascent of a 4000m peak, a lot of complicated glacier terrain and steep climbs on foot. Roped climbing is involved on several days, together with a night at a remote unmanned hut. Stable conditions are required to complete certain sections of the tour.

You’ll find here the day to day program :

Day 0
Travel to Brig (Switzerland), to arrive in time for the evening briefing. I will run through safety routines and kit checks, as well as hand out rental equipment for the week, before we go on to a detailed discussion of everyones ambitions for the week, together with the current weather and mountain conditions and how these affect our planning.

I will also have maps and guidebooks to show you, so if you’ve any further questions or last minute requests, then this is the ideal time to bring them up before we head on to dinner. PM Overnight in the valley.

Day 1
Drive up to Saint Luc, from where we make a big skin up to the Meidpass or Turtmannspitze (3080m) before skiing down to the Weishorn Hotel or Bella Tola hut.
– 1150-1400m ascent
– 500-750m descent
– 5-6hrs.
Overnight in the hut.

Day 2
Skin up to the Forcletta Col taking in L’Omen Rosso (3031m) en route, in order to ski down to the Turtmanntal and on up to the Turtmann Hut .
– 1300m ascent
– 1100m descent
– 6-7hrs
Overnight in the hut

Day 3
Morning skin up to the Bruneggjoch (3365m) in order to get a good no rth facing descent down the Brunegggletscher, before joining and skinning up the Turtmanngletscher to the Tracuit Hut. 1250 m ascent, 550 m descent ~5-6 hrs. Overnight in the hut.

Day 4
Morning ascent of the Bishorn (4153m) to get a great ski back down past the hut, then traverse the Col de Milon on to the unguarded Arpitetta Hut.
– 1200 m ascent
– 1650m descent
– 6-7hrs
Overnight in the hut.

Day 5
If conditions are good, we will traverse the Blanc de Moming (3657m) to the Mountet Hut – this is considered one of the finest days ski mountaineering in the Alps (if the traverse isn’t in condition, we can still reach the Mountet Hut via a great descent into the Val d’Anniviers).
– 1100m ascent
– 1050m descent
– 7-8hrs
Overnight in the hut.

Day 6
Early departure from the hut – ascent to the Col Durand 3443m (ski depot) – climb of the Mont Durand 3611m and return to the Col – descent south facing along the Howanggletscher to the Schonbiel hut 2694m.
– 725m ascent
– 917m descent
– 6-7hrs
Overnight in the hut.

Day 7
Early departure from the hut – ascent to the Tete Blanche 3710m along the Stockjigletscher – depending on the glacier conditions from here two different possibilities:
(A) with really good conditions descent along the Glacier del Ferpecle to Ferpecle and finally to Les Hauderes;
(B) descent to Arolla crossing the Col del Bertol. 1016m ascent,
(A)1910m (B)1710m descent ~6-7hrs.
Drive down to Brig.
Overnight in the valley. End of program.

Day 8
After a night of well-deserved rest, departing from Brig for your destination.

Please get in touch with me if you are interested about this awesome ski tour. It will be my pleasure to guide you there and allow you to live a unique time in the mountains.

Extra details

Travel

Brig is easily reached by reliable Swiss public transport direct from Geneva, Zurich or Basel airports – check out the Swiss Federal Railways website for timetables and information. If you are arriving by public transport, then you may be able to save money on this tour by purchasing a swiss travel pass (various options are available – click on the English version of the website). Including the transfer up and down from Brig to St Luc.

Food & accommodation

I run all of my programs in the Alps on a guiding & instruction only basis. Food and accommodation must be paid for separately. You are free to make other accommodation arrangements if you choose (Brig has hotels and rental apartments available at a wide variety of prices). I will book all Hut accommodation – you pay for these direct as we we go along.

The price doenst include

– Accommodation

– Lunch in the mountain

– Transfer from/to airport

– Airfare and anything not specified.

The price includes

– Services of the Mountain Guide

– All transfers as shown in the program

– The cablecars tickets as shown in the program

– Half board in the hut.

Price

Euro 1240 per person.

Duration

Seven days in the Mountain