Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt: the story of an epic crossing through perfect snow and unique views

The Chamonix-Zermatt crossing needs no introduction. It’s the most famous and iconic ski mountaineering Haute Route in the Alps. It’s much more than an itinerary: it’s a journey into the heart of the Alps, through immense glaciers, iconic refuges, and descents that will remain in your memory forever.

I just completed it, guiding Luca, Bea, Davide, and Deborah, and it was simply incredible.

I’ll leave you with a brief description of the route we took and the wonderful (I hope) photos that tell the story of what we found better than a thousand words.

Day 1 – Vallée Blanche: A Dream Start

Day 2 – Adverse Weather and a Smart Choice

From Argentière, the plan was to ascend towards the Col du Passon and the Albert Premier refuge. But the weather had other plans: strong winds and snow forced us to change course.
The idea of ​​reaching the Tour Glacier in bad weather wasn’t exactly appealing… the beauty of this crossing is that the options are truly endless, and depending on the conditions and weather, you can conjure up fantastic outings for any eventuality.
We headed for the Col du Bérard on the Aiguille Rouge range, finding good snow and a route protected from the wind. Nothing Better!

Day 3 – Dreamy powder in Val d’Arpette

Day three begins with a lingering aftertaste of bad weather but ends in incredible style. We return to the Haute Route, passing through Val d’Arpette to the Col d’Escandies, climbing up and down from Champex.
The result? Half a meter of fresh snow, occasional sunshine, and completely alone. One of the most beautiful days of the trip, and perhaps the entire season… Check out the photos to get an idea.
From there, we moved to Verbier to continue the original tour.

Day 4 – Verbier and the Rosablanche ascent

From Verbier, we use the lifts to gain altitude, with some off-piste sections towards Bec des Rosses.
Then we begin to skin: a long climb between cols and glaciers (Col de la Chaux, Col de Momin, and the Grand Desert Glacier) to the Rosablanche summit, the first true summit of the tour, at 3,336 meters.
From the summit, a spectacular descent to the Prafleuri refuge.
A complete, intense, and incredibly rewarding day.

Day 5 – Dix Hut and the La Luette Peak

We begin with a short ascent to Col des Roux, then continue with the endless traverse above Lac des Dix, perhaps the least beautiful stretch of the entire tour… After putting our skins back on and crossing the Pas de Chat, we return to enjoying the wonders of the Haute Route…
With Mont Blanch de Cheillon as a backdrop, we ascend to Cabane des Dix.
We leave some of our gear to lighten our load, grab a bite to eat at the hut, and then climb the 600 meters of elevation gain to the 3,548-meter La Luette peak. A panoramic summit that offers fantastic skiing with still incredible snow.
We spend the night at the Dix Hut.

Day 6 – The Legendary Pigne d’Arolla

It’s the day of the Pigne d’Arolla, one of the symbols of the traverse.
We find very good conditions on the Serpentine, which we tackle with crampons on our feet.
The night wind has slightly damaged the snow, but the sunny day makes up for it.
The descent to the Vignettes refuge is no longer on perfect snow like the previous days, but an epic rösti as a reward gives us a big smile to end the day.

Day 7 – The grand finale to Zermatt

We set off in the dark, and a treacherous fog accompanies us all the way up to Col de l’Evaque, only beginning to lift when we reach the Arolla Glacier towards Col de Mont Brulé… San GPS, nothing else to add.
The climb to Col Brulé is the key passage of the traverse. Skis on our backs, crampons on our feet, and ice axe in hand (we finally use it), we reach the top of the pass, where we put our skis back on and begin to be kissed by the sun again.
We cross the Col de Valpelline and climb to the top of Tete Blanche, a spectacular balcony overlooking the Matterhorn and the Dent d’Hérens. What a spectacle!
From Tete Blanche, a breathtaking descent begins towards Zermatt… The wind of the previous two nights hasn’t affected us here, and we enjoy the last (perhaps) powder of the season (never say never).
A perfect finale to an unforgettable trip.

A Trip That Will Stay With You

Seven perfect days, incredible snow, unique views, new friendships, and unforgettable moments.
One of those trips that reminds you why you love the mountains.
Well done Luca, Beatrice, Davide, and Debora!
What a fantastic trip.