Ski tour Haute Route "Plaisir"
This compact Haute Route takes you from Arolla in the Val d'Hérens (Sion, VS) through the heart and the most beautiful passages of the famous Ski Haute Route, all the way to Zermatt. The best north-facing runs, where powder snow can still be found until late in the spring, and a tremendous high-mountain landscape await you! From our home area Arolla (see ski film with BR 3 above) we start to spend four days in the glaciated high mountains of sunny Valais. The stage to Refugio Nacamuli in Valpelline gives a shot of "Viva Italia". Look forward to the breathtakingly beautiful and long descent down to Zermatt, past the Matterhorn.
BERIE Plus points
- the best part of the Haute Route
- Start from Arolla at 2000 m
- Ski summit: Pigne d'Arolla
- comfortable cabins
- Trip to Italy to Valpelline
- long descent to Zermatt
- View of Matterhorn and Dent Blanche
The facts
Requirement level: Advanced
You should be able to control your skis in all kinds of snow. Experience in the glacier terrain is an advantage. You should already have experience with easier ski touring (e.g. BERIE level I) in order to have no problems even with steep climbs. Condition for medium-heavy ski mountaineering in the high mountains from 4 – 6 hours in the ascent and enough breaks.
4 - 6 participants
CHF 1150.-4 days guided ski mountaineering tours with certified mountain and ski guide UIAGM/IFMGA (5 days)
3 x overnight stays + half board / marsch tea / sandwich as lunch in SAC huts in MBZ / camp
Complete organization of the trip
Day 1: Meeting point in the morning at 10:00 am in Arolla, Hotel "Pigne". (bus stop Arolla-Poste, arrival by post bus at 9.55 for example) After the welcome and a second coffee at the Hotel Pigne (2000 m) you get on your skis and start the ascent via Glacier de Pièce to Cabane des Vignettes (3157 m). In the afternoon you will reach the hut through dreamlike high forest, a steep moraine and over the gentle glacier. Like an eagle's nest the big building is enthroned above the Col. Start this tour slowly and use the time for a good acclimatization. Overnight stay and dinner. Ascent time approx. 4 h.
Day 2: A great tour awaits you over to Valpelline! Early in the morning you ascend to the summit of the Pigne d'Arolla (3790m). A breathtaking viewpoint with views of many Valais 4000m peaks and even Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. The descent to the Col de Chermontane (3053 m) will delight you. Now you are on course "Haute Route" and ascend to the Col d'Evéque (3386 m) to Italy. The second descent leads you through velvety firn down to the Rifugio Nacamuli (2818 m). Enjoy the delicacies on the sunny hut terrace. Dinner, overnight stay.
Day 3: Today you leave the Aosta region and return to Col Collon. Now you can look forward to the north-side descent over the wild Glacier d'Arolla. On more than 700 hm you descend the glacier on the east side of Mont Collon. A long, scenic ascent leads up to the next imposing hut. The Cabane de Bertol can only be reached via metal ladders and is also enthroned like an eagle's nest. Apéro with sensational view is guaranteed! Dinner and overnight stay.
4th day: The long stage to Zermatt is again very impressive! One last time you remove the skins to enjoy one of the most scenic descents in the Alps. Past the north face of the Matterhorn and the Dent d'Hérens you glide over the Stockji and Tiefmatten glaciers down to Furri (Zermatt). In April the snow often reaches as far as the village or we take the cable car from Furri. A long weekend with fantastic moments ends at the station buffet in Zermatt. Farewell and journey home from Zermatt railway station. (Arrival with OV is therefore highly recommended)
