Ski Touring Route Index 2026

The Haute Route from Chamonix (France) to Zermatt (Switzerland) is the most famous ski tour on earth. 6 days, 120 km, ~7,500 m of climbing, traversing 9 named glaciers via 6 huts (Cabane du Trient, Cabane du Mont Fort, Cabane de Prafleuri, Cabane des Dix, Cabane de Bertol, Schönbielhütte). Best window mid-March to mid-May. Most parties hire a UIAGM guide. The 'Verbier Variant' adds 2 extra days for fitness training before crossing the high glaciers. The slightly easier 'Classic Trient' route avoids the highest cols.

The two standard grading systems are French Toponeige and North American NACS. Toponeige uses a 4-axis grade (Ski difficulty 1.1–5.5, Exposition E1–E4, Engagement I–V, Approach grade) — a tour graded 3.3/E2/II is intermediate. NACS uses a simpler 1–4 scale plus terrain rating. In Austria/Germany, SAC grades (L–WS–ZS–S–SS–AS–EX) align roughly with Toponeige. A useful rule: 'beginner' tours have slope angles under 30°, glaciers absent, and clear terrain features; 'expert' tours involve 45°+ couloirs, rope work, and committing terrain with limited bail-outs.

For non-glaciated tours (Wapta-class non-icefield, most Tetons, most Wasatch, all of the Beaufortain, Norway's Jotunheimen DNT huts, all marked Slovenian routes, Mt Shasta below Helen Lake): no, AIARE Level 1 or equivalent avalanche training is sufficient. For glaciated tours (Haute Route, Wapta Traverse, Stubai Höhenweg, Spearhead, Ortler Round, Vallée Blanche, Aiguille Verte, Großvenediger): yes — at minimum, glacier rope-team protocol, crevasse-rescue (z-pulley + ice screws + ascenders), and the judgment to read crevassed terrain. Either hire a guide or complete a 5-day glacier-skills course (Petzl Foundation, AMGA, AIARE Pro, ÖAV).

The Patrouille des Glaciers (PdG) is the world's most famous ski-touring race, organised by the Swiss Army every 2 years (even-numbered years) in late April. The Long Course is 53 km from Zermatt to Verbier with ~8,000 m of climbing on glaciated terrain — done in a single 24-hour push by teams of 3. The Short Course is Arolla to Verbier (~26 km, 4,400 m). Both courses have qualifying times. The PdG is the benchmark event for ski-mountaineering racing (skimo) and inspired most modern lightweight touring gear. Register Sept–Nov for the following April; lottery system, ~5,000 finishers per edition.

Three globally accessible options: (1) Wasatch Powder Park (USA — 700 m gain, 30 minutes from Salt Lake City, low-angle gladed terrain, dense AIARE 1 course availability); (2) Wattener Lizum (Austria — 1,100 m gain, no glaciers, OeAV beginner-friendly day tours from Innsbruck); (3) Beaufortain Traverse short version (France — 1-day refuge-supported intro). All three combine: 30-minute access from a major airport/train station, low-angle terrain (sub-30°), reliable snowpack reports, abundant rental shops with light touring kit, and English-speaking guide services for first-day mentoring.