Ski Tour Dufourspitze

Private Tour

Day 1: From Klein Matterhorn via Schwarztor to the Monte Rosa hut at 2883m

We meet at the train station in Zermatt, hike through the village and catch the cable car up to Klein Matterhorn. After a short descent we put on our skins and start hiking across the Breithorn plateau. We enjoy another few turns and re ascend to the Schwarztor at 3726m. The Schwarztor descent is famous for its spectacular glacier scenery, we ski all the way down to the vast Gornergletscher. Having arrived at the bottom of the valley, we put our skins back on and hike up to the Monte Rosa hut at 2883m. From the sunny terrace of the hut we look up and across at all the glaciated peaks and faces of the mighty Monte Rosa massif.

Day 2: Summit ski tour to Dufourspitze 4634m

This day requires an early start, many meters are waiting to be climbed. We start in the dark, the beams of our head lamps illuminating the track in front of us. Step by step we head up the Monte Rosa Glacier, the air getting thinner making breathing harder the higher we get. Slowly but steadily is our mantra here. Shortly below the saddle we swap from skis to crampons. We follow the west ridge to the summit, climbing on snow and solid rock in an exposed position. The summit marks the highest point of Switzerland, we enjoy the views and a well-deserved drink from our thermos and a bite to eat. We retrace our steps, fully focused along the west ridge and arrive back at our ski depot. The ski descent back to the Monte Rosa hut makes us forget the tiring ascent. After some food and drink at the hut we continue skiing down, either all the way to Furi through the Gornergletscher gorge or with a re ascent to Rotenboden. At the start of the ski touring season and conditions depending it’s possible to ski all the way to Zermatt. Towards the end of spring the route via Rotenboden is the only practicable route.

• Guiding from a licenced mountain guide/ aspirant guide
• His or her expenses
• 1 night in bunk room with half-board
• Tea for the next day
• Summit Certificate

• Your expenses
• Snacks
• Rental equipment
• Costs for a taxi if needed (guests pay for the guides share)

Backpack

• 25-30l

Clothing

• Warm, functional clothing
• Rain jacket
• Rain pants
• Mountaineering or hiking pants
• Sunhat
• Gloves (ideally one thin and one thick pair)
• Beanie or headband
• Extra underwear and socks
• Thermal underwear 

Footwear

• Ski touring boots or snowboard boots

The basics

• Sunglasses (category 3 or 4)
• Sunscreen lotion and lip balm (minimum factor 30, 50 better)
• Thermos flask, drink bottle
• Silk sleeping bag liner
• Headlamp
• Toiletries
• Identity card
• SAC/DAV permit (if you have one)
• GA or Half Fare Travelcard (if you have)
• Earplugs (optional)
• Camera and binoculars (optional)

Technical Equipment

• Harness
• Crampons with anti-snow plates
• Ice axe
• Helmet
• Ski touring skis or splitboard with skins and tele crampons
• Ski poles (preferrably telescopic)
• LVS (avalanche transceiver)
• Avalanche probe
• Avalanche shovel