Col des Portons	photo info

Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route - Plateau du Couloir Route

This version of the Haute Route is the hardest ski tour we offer. It includes the difficult passage of the Plateau du Couloir, the crux key to the persistent efforts fo the ski pioneers a hundred years ago.

Because of its difficulty this tour is recommended for very advanced to expert skiers only, in very good condition. If you are not sure you are up to it, please contact us, or consider the Verbier version instead.

This is the "Alpine" Haute Route, closely following the original line taken by Marcel Kurz and Professor Roget in 1911. The crux section, where the route passes high over the Grand Combin via the Plateau du Couloir, is quite steep and, when the route was first done, presented a considerable obstacle. Now, with the comfort of the Valsorey Hut and modern lightweight equipment its fearsomeness is somewhat lessened. It remains, however, an occasionally intimidating slope and is suitable only for those comfortable on steep snow. We climb this section on foot with skis on our back.

The crux of our route, the climb to the Plateau du Couloir requires reasonable weather and fairly stable snow conditions. If the weather and avalanche forecast looks questionable, we may need to alter our plans to another alternative, most typically the route via Verbier.

Our other versions of the Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route

Skier's Haute Route via Verbier
Summer Haute Route Glacier Trek
Summer Walker's Haute Route

Climbing to the Plateau du Couloir. photo info

As we mentioned before, this is our most difficult tour. Skiing abilities need to be very good, and fitness at an equally high level. Every day of this tour is fairly long. Unlike other versions of the Haute Route, no day can really be considered a rest.

Skiing skills need to be at a high-advanced to expert level. The reason for this has more to do with the conservation and expenditure of energy over a long day than the absolute technical difficulty of the skiing. There are a few steep sections such as the descent to the Col des Ecandies on Day 3, but for the most part the slopes are not overly steep. The challenge comes in managing poor snow conditions (heavy wet snow, crud or breakable crust) and not losing too much energy in the process. Great skiers look like they are hardly working, and this is in fact the case. If your skiing is not up to par you will spend far, far more energy than a better skier.

There are sections on this tour where we will be skiing slopes of up to about 40 degrees in steepness. This is quite steep, and usually in this terrain we will be traversing or perhaps side slipping down to easier ground. However, we also need to be able to do turns on these very steep slopes, usually parallel hop turns, or other quick turns where little momentum is generated. On slopes of this steepness, if the snow is firm (as it often is) a fall will most likely result in a slide, and, with hazards such as rocks or crevasses below, such a slide will lead to potentially very serious injurly. If you fall on these slopes you will get hurt!

Ski skills required;

• Ability to turn comfortably through the fall line in difficult deep, heavy snow, or bad breakable crust.
• Ability to execute hop parallel turns or pedal-hop turns on 40° firm snow.
• Ability to ski the fall-line with short-radius, rhythmic parallel turns in deep light snow.
• Ability to side-slip, both forward and backward, on firm 45+° slopes.
• Ability to skate on level ground.

Skiers who regularly enjoy double black runs in most western American ski areas should do fine. If you like to get off the piste and into the crud, ski the trees, and in general look for the steeper shots, you'll probably have a great time on this tour. We will likely encounter all different kinds of snow, from the best to the worst, and you need to have sound energy efficient strategies to cope with them.

A good gauge of you ability is found in mogul skiing. If you are good in the bumps and seek them out, then you most likely have developed the rhythm and balance needed for steep or difficult snow. You must be able to ski steep bumps in good conditions, skiing rhythmically and fluidly, following a line near the fall line with good speed control. If you have any doubt about your ability to manage the skiing on this classic route, please contact us to discuss options.

You need to be able to do quick and easy kick turns, facing into the mountain. We will review these skills en route, but you'll have to be expert at them by the second day!

Previous mountaineering experience is very useful, but not required. The traverse of the Col de la Gouille on Mont Vélan includes some steep snow and rock, climbed in crampons. You'll need a good head for heights here. If you are an expert skier, you should not have difficulty picking up these new skills, as you will already be comfortable on very steep slopes.

Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route

This itinerary is suitable for advanced/expert skiers in excellent condition. The two itineraries we offer are both described below.

For more detailed information and photos, see the day-to-day description.

Kathy Cosley & Mark Houston
UIAGM Internationally Licensed Mountain Guides

AMGA Certified • SNGM members
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