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Grand Lui Haute Route

"This much sort after version of the Haute Route makes the entire traverse between Chamonix and Zermatt on foot, by taking the intricate Grand Lui variation via the St Bernard monastory. The tour takes at least a day longer than the standard routes and requires higher levels of fitness and ski ability in order to deal with the increased length and difficulties. "
  
8 days
Advanced
3:1
Dates: By Arrangement
Price: Private Guiding Rates
Ski Ability: 4-5
Fitness: 4-5
Experience: Previous multiday ski touring experience is essential to join this tour. Roped climbing or cramponing experience is also required.
Included: Guiding Fees.
Other Costs: Hut nights, food, travel and uplift during the tour ~ £400
 
Summary
This is a harder version of the haute route that allows the full traverse to be done on foot. Increased climb and higher technical difficulties make the route more demanding. Settled weather and conditions are required to complete this tour.
We offer this itinerary as a private guiding special - with dates by arrangement from late March to late April. Prices are as per our private guiding rates, up to a maximum of 3 skiers per guide.
 
Starting Point
The famous ski capital of Chamonix. The resort can be reached easily via airport transfer from Geneva.
 
Sample Itinerary
Subject to weather and snow conditions, we aim to follow the Grand lui route as follows:
grand lui haute route itinerary
Day 0 PM, meet in Chamonix - discuss plans, sort food and kit, overnight in valley.
Day 1
Catch the first lift up the Grand Montets before traversing the Col du Passon and on to the Trient hut.
Day 2
An early start to traverse the Col de Saliena and then ski the huge 1900m descent down to La Fouly.
Day 3
A long climbing traverse up and over the Fenetre de Ferret to the famous Grand St Bernard monastory where we stop for the night.
Day 4
Descend to Bourg St Bernard, before making the intricate traverse around Mt Velan to the Valsorrey hut.
Day 5
Climb on foot over the Plateau du Couloir before descending the Mt Durand Glacier to the Chanrion hut.
Day 6
Ascent of the Otemma Glacier - or if conditions allow - a traverse of the Pigne d'Arolla to the Vignettes hut.
Day 7
The final day - in 30km of skiing we cross 3 cols, 7 glaciers and climb 1100m, before skiing down past the Matterhorn to Zermatt.
Day 8
A spare day in case of poor weather is strongly recommended. (Having a day in hand greatly increases our chances of completing the route).
grand lui haute route
 
Food and Accommodation
We run all of our ski tours on a guiding & instruction only basis. Our recommended hotel in the Chamonix valley is the friendly Hotel Les Lanchers** in Chamonix Les Praz. You are however free to make other accommodation arrangements if you choose (Chamonix has numerous hotels and gites available at a wide variety of prices - click on 'reservation' at the Chamonix website for more details). The guide will book all hut accommodation for the tour - you pay for these direct as we we go along.
 
Travel
Chamonix is easily reached via airport transfer from Geneva (bookable online). Again, we will arrange all transport needed during the tour, including the return transfer back from Zermatt to Chamonix - you simply pay for these items direct as we go along.
 
Ability and Experience
You need to be a strong off piste skier (see ski ability level 4-5) with previous multiday ski touring experience already under your belt in order to do this trip. Some climbing or cramponing experience is also required. The Grand Lui Haute Route is a demanding week, which requires excellent levels of fitness (see fitness level 4), as the route involves regular 8-10 hour days with 1000-1400m of ascent a day - so you can expect to be skinning 4-6 hours a day.
 
Acclimatisation
Due to the altitude of much of the route, arriving a couple of days in advance to acclimatise can definitely be useful (Chamonix has high altitude glacier skiing at this time of year). 
 
Equipment
We will supply you with a full kit list. You are responsible for bringing personal clothing, a rucsac and ski mountaineering skis, boots and kit (local hire is available). We are delighted to be working on this tour with Backcountry UK, who provide excellent service and advice as a leading retailer of ski mountaineering equipment in the UK.
 
     
 
 
 
         
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