Trient Hut to Champex
A big descent down the Val d'Arpette and out to Champex
Moderate Ski Touring
- Distance
- 8.2 km
- Ascent
- 41 m
- Descent
- 1.7 km
For the purists out there, this variant is the best way to do the Haute Route and combines some quiet days with the epic Plateau du Couloir route.
Ski Touring Moderate, Difficult, Severe
Also in Haute-Savoie, France • Valais, Switzerland
Of the 3 main ways of doing the Chamonix - Zermatt Haute Route, this is considered the toughest and most ethically pure option. It involves 7 days of touring and takes you from the Chamonix valley to Zermatt via some charming huts, a truly unique mountain monastery and the awe-inspiring Plateau du Couloir crossing.
The only parts of the trip that require any motorised transport are the initial ascent up the Grands Montets lift system and the short road journey from Champex to La Fouly. This is best done by taxi, and can be easily arranged in Champex village.
Other than those 2 brief leg-ups, the whole route is human powered. It takes the ideal combination of conditions and weather to complete this route but if you get it right, the rewards are huge.
If you're trying to figure out which of the 3 main Haute Route line to take, check out our guidebooks to the Verbier and Plateau du Couloir Haute Routes.
A big descent down the Val d'Arpette and out to Champex
Moderate Ski Touring
The first day of the Alps' most famous ski tour
Difficult Ski Touring
A committing day crossing the 'Plateau du Couloir'
Severe Ski Touring
A modern variation via Les Portons and Pigne d'Arolla
Difficult Ski Touring
The purists approach to linking La Fouly with the Valsorey Hut
Difficult Ski Touring
St. Bernard Hospice to Valsorey Hut: the purists approach to linking La Fouly with the Valsorey Hut.
Difficult Ski Touring
THE big day on the classic Haute Route all the way to Zermatt
Difficult Ski Touring
5 routes · Freeride Skiing · Ski Touring
5 routes · Freeride Skiing · Ski Touring
5 routes · Ski Touring
7 routes · Ski Touring
7 routes · Ski Touring
5 routes · Ski Touring
5 routes · Ski Touring
6 routes · Ski Touring
5 routes · Ski Touring
5 routes · Ski Touring