This day offers one of the best descents on the Haute Route, that of the Val d'Arpette. From the Trient hut a quick, steep descent down the Trient Glacier leads to the Col des Ecandies and to the Val d'Arpette and Champex. The Val d'Arpette usually offers an incredible run down cold, north facing slopes. The total descent from the Col des Ecandies to the town of Champex is almost 4400 vertical feet.

From Champex we continue by taxi to the ski resort of Verbier. We'll grab a quick lunch before we ride the lifts to the Col des Gentianes, then ski down piste to the point where we leave the ski area. First we climb up over the Col de la Chaux, descend the back side, then another climb over the Col du Momin before we reach the Grand Désert Glacier on the northwest side of the Rosablanche. Ascending this glacier to near its head (with the option for a quick climb to the Rosa Blanche summit, we ski down the Glacier de Prafleuri to the hut.

As you can see, there is a lot of downhill on this day.

The Mont Fort hut in the morning. You can see the poor weather engulfing the Mont Blanc massif in the background. Normally we pass by this hut on our way to the Prafleuri hut. However, if the conditions are particularly difficult, we may elect t to stop here for the night.

Crossing over the Col de Momin. The Rosablanche in the background.