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Haute Route | ||||||||
Dates: 6-11 April Price: £875 Ratio: 1:6 | ||||||||
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This classic ski tour is ideal for you if you have done some day-touring before or are an experienced ski mountaineer. You should be capable of skiing in all snow types (powder, porridge, crust, hardpack). We get straight into it, so it is important that you are sure your equipment is working well before we set off.
Included in the price: guides fees and expenses, 5 nights half board accommodation in mountain huts/Champex. Not included in the price: Travel to and from Chamonix at the start/end of trip, accommodation in Chamonix, equipment rental, insurance, lunches and drinks, any skilift tickets, transfers (eg Zermatt-Chamonix, Champex-Verbier), any extra valley accommodation. Meet: We meet Saturday evening (day 0)at 6pm in Chamonix to deal with any equipment rental and run through the plan for the week. We return to Chamonix Friday afternoon and recommend you book your return flight on Sunday morning, in case of delay in the mountains. | Kit List skis with touring bindings - we reccommend skis that you will enjoy skiing on, but are not too heavy, eg Rossignol B2 with fritschi bindings. With skins and ski crampons. Poles - NOT collapsable Boots - these must fit and be comfortable. We feel it is best not to rent boots. Rather buy some and have them fitted professionally - this will make your week much more comfortable, fun and blister free! 'Fit' is more important than whether a boot is 'stiff enough' or not. I use a touring boot that is designed to ski well, rather than ultra light. Rucksack - 40-50l. with ski straps Waterbottle - not platypus type - they freeze and leak. Transciever, probe, shovel, crampons, ice axe, harness, 1 screw gate karabiner, head torch 2 pairs sunglasses, goggles, sunhat, sunscreen, lip salve/block 3 sets socks and light coloured thermal tops Lightweight goretex top/bottoms, warm hat, thick gloves, thin gloves (when skinning) Insulating layers. I use a thin '100' weight fleece and a synthetic duvet jacket (thin). Personal first aid - blister kit, ibuprofen. Book/iPod for spare time in huts. Remember kit should be lightweight but functional - you have to carry it! We can help with equipment rental in Chamonix. | ||||
Typical Itinerary Day1 - Warm up skiing, avalanche transceiver training and kit checks followed by descent to the Argentiere glacier and short skin to the Argentiere mountain hut (45mins). Day2 - An early start and ascent to the col du Chardonnet, followed by skiing past the Trient hut and down the stunning Arpette valley to Champex (4-5hrs uphill). A night in the valley. Day3 -We start with road transport to Verbier. We then use the lift systems and a short ski to reach the Mont Fort hut and from there we skin and ski to the Prafleuri hut (3-4 hours uphill). Day4 - We travel over the col des Roux and then traverse and climb to the Dix hut (5-6hours total). Day5 - Climb up the Pigne d'Arolla and ski down to the superbly positioned Vignettes hut. A long skin up followed by stunning views and a great ski descent... Day6 - An early start. We cross 3 cols before skiing down the stunning slopes leading under the Matterhorn to Zermatt. One of the best days skiing inn the Alps. (10 hours total). | |||||
What to expect from mountain huts They are basic but comfortable. They can cater for vegetarians. Food is usually on a set menu basis (3 course in the evening, hot drink and bread/jam/cereal for breakfast). Often there is no running water and so you have to buy water to drink and wash with (no showers). You can usually buy tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks, chocolate bars and snacks. Sleeping arrangements are normally dormitory style bunkbeds (eg 6 people on the bottom, 6 on the top) with blankets or duvets. There is certain 'hut etiquette'. On arrival we leave our boots and metal ware in the entrance bootroom before going inside. Huts can be economical on space, and so staying tidy helps everyone! In the morning, breakfast will be early. We need to make sure the bedrooms are left as we found them (no rubbish, blankets/duvets folded). You can expect a good atmosphere and a stunning view! See links page for Chamonix accomodation and airport transfers from Geneva. | |||||
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