Mont Blanc to Gran Paradiso Ski Traverse

Mont Blanc to Gran Paradiso Ski Traverse
Intermediate/ Advanced Level        
Start and Finish: Argentiere
Dates:  March/April

This is a 7 day tour which traverses from Chamonix through the Gran Paradiso National Park in Italy, culminating in a ski ascent of the Gran Paradiso itself (4061m). It is an amazing traverse following a logical line through some amazingly unspoilt country using minimum road transport.

It is aimed at intermediate/advanced level ski mountaineers with hut to hut experience. You need to be a steady off piste skier, able to ski confidently in a range of snow conditions.  A good level of fitness is needed.  As a guideline, you should be capable of ascending at approx 350-400m per hour for 3-4 hours during the course of a day.(That’s about 6m /min!)

Fine skiing near the Benevolo hut

9 Day Itinerary

Saturday
Arrive at Hotel in Argentiere anytime after 2pm. Arrive early if you need to hire skis. etc. Late afternoon meeting to check equipment.

Sunday
We make an early start to drive through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Courmayeur. From the top of the Courmayeur lift system we ski off piste down the Vallone de Youla. A short transfer takes us to the village of La Joux, near the ski resort of La Thuile from where we climb to the refuge Deffeyes (2494m) Descent 1000m / Ascent 850m

Monday
The first major climb of the trip to the summit of the Testa del Rutor (3486m), followed by a big descent into Valgrisenche – where we stay in a small hotel in Bonne. Ascent 1000m/ descent 1600m

Tuesday
From Bonne we make the ascent from the end of the lake to the Becca de Giasson (3215m) and then ski down to the Rifugio Bezzi (2284) where we spend the night. Ascent 1500m/ Descent 1050m

Wednesday
We climb from the Bezzi hut (2284m) via the Becca Traversiere (3334m) to the Benevolo hut (2285m). Approx 1100m of ascent & descent.

Thursday
From the Benevolo hut we make an ascent of the impressive Punta Basei (3338m) before descending via the Chivasso refuge to the hamlet of Pont where we stay in a hotel. Ascent 1200m / descent 1400m

Friday
From Pont we climb to the Col Gran Etret (3150m) at the head of Valsavaranche before making making a descending traverse to the Rifugio Vittorio Emmanuele.(2775m). Ascent 1200m/ descent 400m

Saturday
Climb from the hut (2775m) to the top of the Gran Paradiso (4061m)and ski back to the valley. Ascent 1300m/ descent 2100m. Travel back to Chamonix – hotel.

Sunday
Depart

Total ascent Approx 8150m
Total descent approx 8650m


Included in the price
Guiding and Instruction
Transport to and from the venues.
Hire of avalanche equipment (transceiver, shovel, probe)
Hire of ice axe and crampons
8 nights accommodation. (B&B in Argentiere, half board elsewhere)

Excluded from the price
Flights
Insurance (medical, rescue, cancellation)
Transfers to/from the airport
Hire of skis, poles, boots, skins, couteau for ski mountaineering
Lunches
Evening meals in Chamonix
Lift passes and cost of any other public transport used (trains, additional taxis,buses)


Dates. TBC. Any week from 2nd week March til Mid April
Price: Contact us

There's a bit of uphill too!