West Oberland Haute Route

Western Oberland High Level Route: Medium Grade Ski Tour
Dates:  (6 days guiding)
Price : on enquiry

A superb ski tour, from Diablerets (near Gstaad) to Kandersteg, in the heart of the Bernese Oberland, that compares favourably to the Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route. The tour has a truly remote, ‘high mountain’ feel, keeping to the spine of the range for most of the way so that the views are magnificent and mostly full panoramas. Small, friendly huts and a summit on each day make this a really great tour.
Ski ability required: Prior hut to hut ski-touring experience, effective turns off-piste, ability to do kick turns, secure skinning technique, good crampon skills and a good level of fitness. Steepest slopes skied: 30∞.
Equipment: All usual ski touring kit – Haarscheisen / couteaux, crampons, ice axe essential.
Maps: Swiss 1:50 000 ski touring maps: Diablerets, Montana, Wildstrubel

Chilling out at the hut in the afternoon.

Itinerary
Day 1 – Chamonix – Diabelerets - Prarochet Hut
Travel from Chamonix to Diabelerets (90min drive), and take the cable car to 3000m, from where the tour begins with a ski ascent of Les Diablerets (3209m- about 1-1.5 hours skinning from the lift system, 250-300m ascent) then a straightforward run down the Glacier de Tsanfleuron to the small Prarochet hut.

Day 2 – Prarochet Hut – Arpellistock - Gelten Hut
Ski down from the hut to the Col de Sanetsch and then climb the fine crest of the Arete de L’Arpille. The crest is quite sharp and steep so probably carry skis up some of this, although in good conditions it is possible to skin all the way. Also there are some rocks to negotiate. The ridge gains the summit plateau of the Arpellistock (3035m). The descent from the Arpelistock to the Geltenhutte has some steep sections. 6-8 hours/ 1000m ascent total. Overnight at the Geltenhutte (awesome hut and showers available!).

Day 3 – Gelten Hut – Wildhorn - Wildhorn Hut
A big day over the summit of the Wildhorn (3247m) and down to the Wildhorn hut. From the Gelten hut climb to the Col (3 hours – some exposed traverses) then traverse round Mont Pucel before making the final climb up to the summit of the Wildhorn. 1400m ascent total, 900m descent, 8-9 hours)


Day 4 – Wildhorn Hut – Schneidehorn - Wildstrubel Hut
The Schnidehorn (2937m) is lower but can be more technical and require cramponning, and you can climb it en route to the Wildstrubel hut. Superb ski descent to the big snow plateau of the Alpage du Rawil. Bit of a sting in the tail with a 500m climb up to the hut at the end of the day! About 1200m ascent total 6-7 hours.

Day 5 – Wildstrubel Hut – Wildstrubel - Lammeren Hut
From the hut make a short climb up to the col overlooking the high plateau of the Glacier de Plein Mort. Cross the plateau and then make the 500m ascent up the West ridge to the summit of the Widstrubel (4-5 hours) Fine descent off the other side to the Lammeren hut. Total ascent 750m/ 5-7 hours.

Day 6 – Lammeren Hut – Rote Totz - Kandersteg
Leave the Lammeren hut at 7 am and make the short 350m / 90 mins climb to the Roter Totz-Lucke (2800m). An intricate descent with some steep traverses takes us down into Kandersteg (3-4 hours) to arrive at about midday. The train ride back from Kandersteg gets us to Chamonix late afternoon, in time for a shower and a celebratory meal out!

Price Includes:
6 days mountain guiding
Hotel B&B in Chamonix - 2 nights
Mountain huts - 5 nights
Travel from Chamonix to and from the start and finish of the tour
Hire of safety equipment