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Trip

Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa Ski Descent

Overview

Ski off the two highest peaks in the Alps: Mont Blanc (4808 meters) to Chamonix (1030 meters) and Pointe Dufour of the Monte Rosa (4634 meters) to Zermatt  (1600 meters). The vertical drops from the summits of Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa to the towns of Chamonix and Zermatt are enormous. We will attempt to ski from these summits in some of the most spectacular scenery the Alps have to offer.

$3,200 Per Person
6 Days
Difficulty
Ratio:
2:1

Trip Information

$3,200
Price based on 2 skiers per guide. Please contact us directly for scheduling this trip. 425-888-6397 x2 | info@proguiding.com

Ski off the two highest peaks in the Alps: Mont Blanc, 4808 meters to Chamonix, 1030 meters and Pointe Dufour of the Monte Rosa, 4634 meters to Zermatt, 1600 meters. The vertical drops from the summits of Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa to the towns of Chamonix and Zermatt are enormous. We will attempt to ski from these summits in some of the most spectacular scenery the Alps have to offer.

Duration: 6
Ratio: 2:1
Difficulty Level:
Click here to learn more about difficulty ratings.

Overall Difficulty Level: Very difficult

Skills Required:  Advanced skiing ability and prior ski touring experience . Prior use of crampons recommended.

Fitness Level: Very strenuous due to climbing and ski touring at high altitude


Private Trips Available

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Itinerary

We will meet on Sunday afternoon in Chamonix and go through a thorough gear check.
Day 1: There is not much of a warm up this week. We will start by skiing the super- classic Couloir Cosmique from the Aiguille de Midi if it is in condition. We might also ski across the Plateau du Geant and ski down to Le Pavillon in Italy via the Glacier de Toule. We will cap off the day with a run down the famous Vallee Blanche and return back to Chamonix for the night. It is important to be ready for this day.
Day 2: We will take the gondola back up to the Plan de l'Aiguille and tour up to the Refuge les Grands Mulets at 3057 meters. This day is not that strenuous.
Day 3: We will be getting up in the dark and start skinning up towards the summit of Mont Blanc via Point Bravais, Col du Dome and the Refuge-Bivouac Vallot (4362 meters). We should reach the summit of Mont Blanc (4808 meters) in about 6 hours. The descent from the summit will take us past the famous Grand Plateau and from there down the Glacier des Bossons to Chamonix or back to the Plan de l'Aiguille. The descent will certainly cover 8,000 feet of vertical, possibly more. Time to relax in Chamonix.
Day 4: After a leisurely start we will transfer to Zermatt. A well deserved rest day.
Day 5: We will summit the Breithorn (4164 meters) or the Pollux (4092 meters) before we ski the super-classic Schwarztor down to the Gornerglacier and ascend for about 2 hours to the Monte Rosa hut (2883 meters).
Day 6: Another early start will get us underway up the Monte Rosagletscher and up to the Satteltole at around 4300 meters. From here we will climb the easy but somewhat exposed summit ridge to the Dufourspitze (4634 meters). It might also be possible to skin up to the Silbersattel and climb directly to the summit from there. The descent back down to Zermatt will cover right around 10000 feet of vertical. Unforgettable.
Day 7: This day is reserved as a weather day. Having this extra day simply ups our chances of success for this ambitious week. If weather and conditions are on our side, we might just go corn skiing on the Cervina side for the day.

 

Of course, this itinerary is condition-dependent. Please be aware that this trip is a full-blown ski mountaineering trip in high alpine terrain. Excellent fitness, excellent skiing ability, and prior ski mountaineering experience are prerequisites.

Private Trips

Pro Guiding Service proudly offers the most diverse ski touring and ski mountaineering programs of any guiding service in the Northwest. Smaller, more intimate custom itineraries or instructional tours are available for any of our destinations. Tell us what you want to do, and we can create a customized plan for you.
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Pricing

$3,200
per person
Price based on 2 skiers per guide. Please contact us directly for scheduling this trip. 425-888-6397 x2 | info@proguiding.com
View Dates & Availability
Payment Policy
If booking a domestic trip that is over 60 days away or an international trip that is over 90 days away, you can book your trip by paying a 20% deposit.  View Full Policy
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel for any reason 60 or more days before domestic trips or 90 or more days before international and Alaska trips, we will refund everything you have paid minus half of your deposit. No refunds will be provided if you cancel your trip for ANY REASON (this includes but is not limited to illness including CoVid-19, injury, or work-related issues) within 60 days of the start of domestic trips or 90 days of international and Alaska based trips.  View Full Policy

Equipment List

Clothing
Base Layer
  • 1-2 Lightweight or midweight tops (avoid cotton)
  • Lightweight or midweight long underwear bottoms
  • 2 pairs warm ski socks
  • 2 pairs liner socks
  • non cotton underwear
Mid Layer
  • Fleece or wool or similar warmth layer
  • Wind shirt or soft shell jacket - wind & water resistant, breathable
Outerwear
  • Waterproof/breathable jacket with hood
  • Soft shell ski pants
  • Waterproof/breathable pants
  • Down or synthetic puffy-type jacket
  • Warm hat - should cover ears
  • Sun hat - baseball type or visor
  • Lightweight gloves
  • Ski gloves or mittens
Personal Gear
  • Day pack – large enough to fit everything inside (around 30-40 liters) - dedicated shovel pocket preferred
  • Water bottles - enough for a full day - wide mouth best to prevent freezing shut
  • Sunglasses - adequate for snow travel
  • Goggles
  • Sunscreen - SPF 25+, waterproof
  • Lip Balm - SPF 15+
  • Headlamp - lightweight LED recommended
  • Face mask/covering - for when close contact is unavoidable
  • Hand sanitizer (there is no running water in the huts)
  • Earplugs - essential for sleeping
  • Personal toiletries - keep it simple: toothbrush, tiny toothpaste, bath wipes
  • Small personal first aid kit - just the basics: blister care, ibuprofin, prescription meds, etc.; your guides will have a substantial group first aid kit
Technical Gear

Snow Travel Gear

  • Snow travel equipment - alpine touring or telemark skis or splitboard
  • Boots - touring ski boots or snowboard boots
  • Poles - adjustable poles are ideal so you can adjust the length when going uphill/downhill
  • Climbing skins
  • Ski brakes or removable ski leashes
  • Ski or splitboard crampons - ensure they are compatible with your bindings and ski/board width

Safety Gear

  • Avalanche Beacon
  • Shovel - compact, lightweight, metal blade preferred
  • Probe - dedicated probe only (240cm or longer strongly recommended)

Technical Gear

  • Ice Axe - lightweight, 55-70cm is fine
  • Boot Crampons – ensure they fit your boots (steel required for Bernese Oberland and Monte Rosa, all other trips aluminum okay)
  • Anti-ball plates for crampons
  • Climbing Harness - lightweight, (no padding; ex: Petzl Altitude, Black Diamond Couloir)
  • Glacier Travel Kit:
    • 2 Locking Carabiners - at least 1 large HMS style and 1 regular locker
    • 2 Non-locking Carabiners - any style, we recommend wire gates
    • 1 Single Length Dyneema/Dynex Runner/Sling (60cm/24in diameter loop)
    • 1 Double Length Dyneema/Dynex Runner/Sling (120cm/48in diameter loop)
    • 1 Cordelette - 6 mm cord, 6 meter length

 

Optional Items
  • Notebook and writing utensil
  • Compass - adjustable declination a must
  • Altimeter watch
  • Helmet - recommended (not required)
  • Maps - contact guiding office for appropriate quadrangles
  • Map case - large Ziploc bags work well
  • Camera
  • Skin wax
  • Sleep sack - lightweight silk or cotton
  • warm socks - to sleep in
  • Thermos - vacuum type is best
Equipment Sales & Rental

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FAQs

How do I get to Chamonix?

It is best to fly into Geneva and take the bus. Once you leave the baggage claim area, look across the hall. The counter is located on the other side of the hall. The bus is called Chamonix Bus and leaves from just outside the baggage claim area.

Should I change dollars into Euros in Geneva?

It is better to wait until you get to Chamonix. That way you pay the change rate only once (as opposed to US dollars to Swiss Francs then to Euros).

How do we get to Zermatt?

This will be organized by Pro Guiding Service and is included in the trip. Please make sure to keep your extra luggage to a reasonable amount.

Do you speak the local language?

Yes, we speak French, German and Italian. Martin Volken grew up in the Zermatt Valley, and knows many locals in Zermatt and the surrounding area.

This trip features some serious skiing. Should I bring my heavy stuff?

This is definitively a ski mountaineering trip with big physical pushes. There is a lot of everything going on during this trip: technical skinning, hard skiing, and big vertical gains. It is very important that you have your gear completely dialed for this week. We generally recommend a classic ski touring setup like a K2 Wayback 88 and a solid tech binding.

What about fitness?

You have to be in excellent physical condition for this trip. You will do 2 days that boast over 6500 feet of vertical gain at a high altitude.

Should I tip my guide?

Although tipping is not a requirement, it is considered standard practice in the guiding industry and is appreciated by our guides. We generally recommend roughly 10%-15% of your course or trip cost or a flat amount that you are comfortable with.

Why Book With Us? 

Certified Professional Guides & All Access
All of our guides have the highest quality training and certification in the industry, and you can be sure that we have the permits, licenses and insurance in every location we operate.
Safe, Well-Planned Tour Design
Every tour has a carefully thought-out guide-to-customer ratio. You always get a safe, high-quality trip or learning environment with us.
Pioneers In The Industry
You will travel and learn from experts. We've pioneered several alpine climbing routes, ski descents, and traverses and we've written books on skills and routes in the industry. 
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