guided mountain adventure
The Imperial Crown Haute Route derives its grand name from the range of 4,000m peaks that encircle the Val d’Anniviers, including the Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn and Dent Blanche. This is stunning ski touring terrain which is more remote than other better known Haute Routes but is every bit as spectacular. Travelling with a guide will give you the opportunity to reach higher into the mountains and experience the Imperial Haute Route in a truly unique way, away from the 'regular' visitors.
Day 1
Travel to Zinal and meet in Chalet Edelweiss. Evening briefing with the guides.
Day 2
We start with a warm-up day on the slopes above Zinal. There are several easy day touring options to get us ready for the week ahead. We return to Chalet Edelweiss for a second night.
Day 3
From Zinal it's a short road transfer to St Luc where we use the lift system to gain altitude before ascending towards La Tsa du Touno via the Pointes de Nava to reach the Col de la Forcletta. Descend into the Frilistafel and walk the length of the Turtmann lake dam to get to the Turtmann hut. 6-7 hours skiing.
Day 4
The traverse from the Turtmann hut to the Tracuit hut (3256m) with possible extension above Tracuit to the Tete de Milon. 6-7 hours skiing.
Day 5
One of the highlights of the tour – the ascent of the Bishorn(4153 m). The ascent itself is relatively straightforward and the panoramic views from the summit are sublime. Likewise the descent back to the hut which is one of the best ski descents on the route. 5-6 hours skiing.
Day 6
Superb ski descent into the Zinal valley via the Roc de la Vache (2581m) before ascending again to the Grand Mountet hut (2886m). 6-7 hours skiing.
Day 7
From the Grand Mountet hut there are plenty of route options for our final day. For example the climb from the Mont Durand glacier to the Col Durand (3451m.) Stunning views of Matterhorn and Dent d’Herens. From here we have the choice to climb Mont Durand (3671m) or the Pointe de Zinal (3789m). Excellent ski descent back to Zinal via the Zinal glacier. Stay the last night back in Chalet Edelweiss.
Day 8
Departure following breakfast.
| Dates | Accommodation | Price | Availability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Sat 12 Apr 14 - Sat 19 Apr 14 |
7 nights |
£1,095 |
Day 1
Travel to Zinal and meet in Chalet Edelweiss. Evening briefing with the guides.
Day 2
We start with a warm-up day on the slopes above Zinal. There are several easy day touring options to get us ready for the week ahead. We return to Chalet Edelweiss for a second night.
Day 3
From Zinal it's a short road transfer to St Luc where we use the lift system to gain altitude before ascending towards La Tsa du Touno via the Pointes de Nava to reach the Col de la Forcletta. Descend into the Frilistafel and walk the length of the Turtmann lake dam to get to the Turtmann hut. 6-7 hours skiing.
Day 4
The traverse from the Turtmann hut to the Tracuit hut (3256m) with possible extension above Tracuit to the Tete de Milon. 6-7 hours skiing.
Day 5
One of the highlights of the tour – the ascent of the Bishorn(4153 m). The ascent itself is relatively straightforward and the panoramic views from the summit are sublime. Likewise the descent back to the hut which is one of the best ski descents on the route. 5-6 hours skiing.
Day 6
Superb ski descent into the Zinal valley via the Roc de la Vache (2581m) before ascending again to the Grand Mountet hut (2886m). 6-7 hours skiing.
Day 7
From the Grand Mountet hut there are plenty of route options for our final day. For example the climb from the Mont Durand glacier to the Col Durand (3451m.) Stunning views of Matterhorn and Dent d’Herens. From here we have the choice to climb Mont Durand (3671m) or the Pointe de Zinal (3789m). Excellent ski descent back to Zinal via the Zinal glacier. Stay the last night back in Chalet Edelweiss.
Day 8
Departure following breakfast.
Private group departures available on request from mid-March until end April.
The price includes: all guiding fees & expenses, 3 nights half-board chalet accommodation, 4 nights half-board accommodation in mountain huts
The price does not include: local transfers and uplift costs, equipment hire, personal insurance, travel to/from Zinal, lunches and beverages.
All our ski tours are led by our team of IFMGA Mountain Guides. The team is led by Olly Allen, Matt Dickinson and Nick Parks. The maximum ratio for this tour is 6 skiers with 1 guide. The minimum group size is 4. The maximum is 12 with 2 guides.
We spend the first, second and last night in Chalet Edelweiss in Mottec near Zinal. Our hosts Penny and Eric renovated the old building themselves, providing us with a luxurious stay and great facilities for skiers - a range of Scott freeride skis to test, ski-room with boot dryer, warm booting-up space and a stop for the free ski-bus right outside. Our groups have loved this home from home, with its huge double-sided fireplace, ample seating and extensive library, as well as vin chaud evenings around the outdoor firepit. Penny’s delicious food is a highpoint, not just the cakes, evening meals and local wines, but extensive breakfasts designed for you to get the most out of your ski day.
The other 4 nights are spent in traditional alpine mountain huts. The Swiss huts are renowned for good food.
You should aim to arrive at the chalet in the afternoon on the first day. There will be an initial briefing with your Mountain Tracks guide on the first evening around 7pm. This is an opportunity to meet the guide and the rest of the party, to discuss the plans and objectives for the trip and to ask any questions you may have relating to the itinerary.
I can ski red and black runs on piste without a problem. I am new to off piste skiing or maybe I have skied a little on the sides of the piste, or even attended a previous off piste specific course. I would like to ski powder snow with confidence and learn to link turns off piste. Learning to vary turn radius and control speed is an important goal. Gaining confidence in a variety of terrain would move my skiing to the next level.
I have at least a couple of weeks off piste skiing experience and/or received some previous instruction on an off piste specific course. I can link at least 8 – 10 turns together in reasonable control, speed and style, following the fall line in most snow conditions. I would like to improve my skiing in deep powder, heavy crusty snow uneven terrain and trees. I am happy to hike or ski tour for short distances to get to the best snow and terrain. I aspire to ski fluidly off piste and to ski steeper slopes. At this level all ski tourers must have some previous experience of using a touring set up, skinning and kick-turns.
I am confident skiing challenging terrain and steeper slopes. I can sideslip forward and backwards, side-step up and downhill and traverse steep slopes with no problems. I am happy to ski tour and hike for 1 – 2 hrs to reach the best snow and terrain. I aspire to ski the best snow available, push myself to ski steeper slopes and extend my ski touring experience. At this level all ski tourers must have some previous experience of using a touring set up, skinning and kick-turns.
I can ski fluidly and autonomously on all terrain. I often ski couloirs and gullies and seek out steep slopes to ski. I can jump turn in narrow couloirs and have experience of abseiling and side-slipping on steep terrain. I dream of skiing powder snow, I can ski fast, fluid “freeride” style turns, I can jump off small rocks, ski trees and challenging terrain with no fear or problems. I will often hike and ski tour to reach the best snow and terrain. I am familiar with using ice axe and crampons and some basic rope techniques. My aim is to push my skills and challenge myself further.
This is an extensive list of the recommended clothing and equipment you will need if you are coming on one of our Alpine Ski Tours.
During the tour you will be staying most nights in catered high mountain huts and will need to carry all the equipment and clothing you require for the duration of the tour. The huts are comfortable but basic with limited facilities – running cold water, European-style toilets, dormitory-style accommodation. All the huts provide ‘hut slippers’ – these days they are usually crocs - and so you will not need to carry additional footwear.
Any clothing or other items not required on the tour can be left in a travel bag at your first hotel ready for your return on the final night.
We recommend keeping the weight of your pack as light as possible. If you are new to alpine multi-day ski touring, try taking your pack out on the slopes before the tour to see how it feels. You quickly realise the benefit of ‘skiing light’.
If you are uncertain or need further information, don't hesitate to contact us.
When choosing clothing for ski touring you want to think lightweight, comfortable and versatile. During the trip weather conditions will change and you’re likely to go from icy-cold mornings when you’re wearing everything to keep out the chill to warm afternoons where you’ll be carrying most of your gear in your rucsac. Getting hold of the best and lightest kit available is always worth it and most of the major brands have suitable clothing for backcountry skiing.
to include warm hat and sun-cap or wide-brim hat for extra protection from the sun. Although we do recommend helmets for off-piste skiing, for ski touring they are not essential and actually can be a hindrance – they are hot, heavy and you can’t hear very well when wearing it
a light, stretchable tube. Excellent despite the name!
made of breathable material (Gore-tex or equivalent) with an excellent hood. The lighter the better and so a shell is recommended rather than a padded jacket and you supplement this with some good quality thermal base and mid layer tops following the principle of layering – i.e. allowing you to easily add/remove layers depending on the temperature and the activity
For the lower half it’s essential that you have a pair of thermal base layer pants (longjohns). These can then be combined with either
in a goretex fabric (such as the Berghaus Couloir pant) or
together with a pair of lightweight, breathable overtrousers with long side zips
Very popular at the moment are the wool based layers from companies such as Icebreaker and Smartwool. They are comfy, breathable and warm when needed and can be worn for days without your friends catching a whiff!
2-3 thin fleeces rather than fewer thick layers between your skin and the outer shell
an approach which gives better heat retention and good flexibility
good quality goretex gloves or mitts and a thin pair of softshell gloves for when it is hot and for skinning in
if you feel the cold
Investing in good quality ski socks will improve fit, warmth and feel when skiing for long periods. Bring along a few pairs
a light and comfortable shirt to change into once you get to the huts. Most huts sell their own t-shirts, so save weight and have a souvenir at the same time!
For our alpine ski tours we recommend an all-mountain touring ski that isn’t too heavy. A really lightweight ski comes at a cost to performance on the descents so are only recommended for really good off-piste skiers with a strong interest in ski touring.
There are plenty of great skis to choose from and here are 4 recommendations
a light touring ski which skis well in all conditions, 80mm underfoot
very easy to ski, lightweight for the uphills! 80mm underfoot
a very light uphill ski for expert ski tourers, 75mm underfoot
a good all round touring ski, 88mm underfoot
If you are planning on buying skis for ski touring and general skiing then these are great recommendations. If you are going to be renting skis then these models are not always available in every shop but you will be able to rent something similar by another manufacturer that will work just as well.
Garmont and Scarpa lead the field in touring boots and we recommend
Lightweight Touring Boots (ideal for good skiers)
both 3 buckle boots which are light but good to ski in
very light, great to walk in but you lose a bit of performance - dedicated tourers only!
top choice! Awesome performance for skiing and pretty light. Particularly suitable for a narrow foot
this is the very light, 3 buckle version and is equally good to ski in but 400g lighter
Heavier Ski Tourers
both great downhill performers but not that light – ideal for fit but less adept skiers!
again both great downhill but rather heavy for the uphills
These days many manufacturers offer ‘thermo-fit¹ liners as standard equipment. You may also want to consider a custom liner. Heated and moulded to your foot and boot for a perfect fit, they can make all the difference especially if you have trouble finding really comfortable ‘off-the-shelf¹ boots. Zipfit liners are a great option for anyone seeking total customisation in fit and comfort. They will replace the original liner.
Fritschi lead the way here with their Diamir bindings, Marker have produced 2 touring bindings the Duke and the Barron which both work very well but are quite heavy. Many more people are seeing the advantage of the Dynafit “pin” binding system; they are very light, offer excellent security despite their minimalist looks!
We recommend telescopic poles. They must have wide powder baskets (4-5 inches/100-120mm diameter) otherwise you’ll be up to your armpits on the ascents. Go for an alloy rather than carbon poles which are lighter but have a nasty habit of snapping near the basket due to ski edge nicks.
cut to fit exactly to your skis. Bring some duct tape in case of sticking problems
general lightweight mountaineering / alpine pick, keep it short (50cm)
lightweight aluminum alloy crampons are suitable for this tour and are a great weight saver compared to steel crampons
most ski touring bindings have ski crampons specifically designed for the binding.
a simple lightweight harness. The key feature should be that it has fully adjustable leg loops for putting on over ski boots and crampons
most of our guides use and recommend the BCA Tracker although other digital models are entirely suitable
now compulsory in most huts
good quality with a lens for low light is essential in the event of snow and poor visibility
good quality with 100% UV protection
35-40 litre (2100-2400 cubic inches) with straps for carrying skis
we don’t recommend hydration systems (e.g. camelbak) in winter as they have a tendency to freeze
with small personal first aid items ie any medications, wet wipes, blister kit. The guide will carry comprehensive set for all other needs
Most huts have limited washing facilites
lightweight and carry spare batteries
optional. Your guide will have these
with a large capacity memory card
most hotels, shops and restaurants accept credit cards, but not the alpine huts. You should allow about 25-30 Swiss francs or €15-20 per day for lunch and drinks
for gear that is not required on the tour – can be left in your first hotel and collected on return
Please note that your guide will have a few “spares” and other saftey items that he or she will ask the group to carry between them; so leave a small space in your sack for an item e.g. spare skin, spare ski pole, emergency shelter
The Val d'Annivièrs is a typical Walliser area valley with five idyllic and picturesque villages: St. Luc, Chandolin, Zinal, Grimentz and Vercorin. Each is a ski area in its own right and stretch between 1200m – 3000m in altitude. With skiing on all aspects of the compass the valley is renowned for its variety of snow and the scope of its freeriding.
We rate Zinal and the Val d'Anniviers as one of the best areas for off-piste and backcountry skiing in the Alps.
For more insight on the wonders of Zinal and the Val d'Anniviers read Nicky Holford's article in the Daily Telegraph on skiing with Mountain Tracks' guide Nick Parks: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/switzerland/740327...
For our weeks in Zinal we stay in the newly renovated Chalet Edelweiss.
Our good friends Eric and Penny Kendall have created a fantastic chalet in the village of Mottec just 2 minutes from Zinal.
Find out more about the Auberge at www.skizinal.com
The area has a large network of lifts servicing 200km of pistes up to an altitude of almost 3,000m. The whole area is characterised by stunning high alpine terrain, deep valleys and charming villages. The main ski domains of Zinal, Grimentz, St Luc-Chandolin and Vercorin are well-connected by local buses. The area also has the advantages of being relatively unknown (and therefore not so busy) and easily accessible from Geneva, Zurich or Sion airports.
You should arrange to arrive in Zinal by late afternoon on Day 1.
At the end of the week the course finishes after breakfast on Day 5. We recommend that you arrange your return/onward flight for mid to late afternoon to give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport without having to rush!
The most convenient airports are Geneva or Zurich airport, from where you can take the train to Sierre (Geneva 2 hrs, Zurich 2.5 hrs). At Sierre catch the yellow Post Bus to Zinal (you may need to change in Vissoie). Ask the driver for Mottec (as it’s a request stop) and the bus stops right outside the Auberge Edelweiss. This is the large balconied house alongside the road. Train and bus timetables can be found at www.sbb.ch/en Alternatively, you can hire a car at the airport: driving time to the Auberge is approximately 2 hrs from Geneva, and 2.5 hrs from Zurich.
250 York Road, London
SW11 3SJ, United Kingdom
info@mountaintracks.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 8123 2978
Fax: +44 (0)20 7905 0921
