MONTE ROSA & GRAN PARADISO
4,000ERS ON SKIS:
WHICH ASCENT
IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Four ascents. A window of roughly 30 days. One choice worth getting right.
Compare four 4000m ski ascents: Punta Giordani, Piramide Vincent, Capanna Margherita and Gran Paradiso. Find the route that best suits your experience and fitness.
different routes.
A short season
About 30 days from late March to late April
IFMGA Mountain Guides
Experience, safety, sound decisions
Small groups
Maximum 5 people
Conditions come first
We choose the ascent to suit the conditions
4000m ski ascents: how to choose yours
START WITH HOW YOU SKI
We look at your experience, your skiing ability and your goals.
DECIDE HOW FAR
YOU WANT TO GO
One day or two, more ascent or higher altitude, a classic route or a bigger alpine objective.
PICK THE RIGHT WINDOW
The season lasts about 30 days. Together, we choose the timing and summit that make sense for the conditions.
IS THE EXPERIENCE
There is the right 4,000er for you, right now.
Tell us how you ski, what you are looking for and what you hope to experience.
We will help you choose an ascent that makes sense in the conditions we actually find.
WHICH 4,000ER IS FOR YOU?
Three ways to get started, plus a major Monte Rosa objective.
I WANT TO GET STARTED
Your first Monte Rosa 4,000er on skis.
PUNTA GIORDANI
ON MONTE ROSA
A one-day ascent of your first Monte Rosa 4,000er on skis: from the lift to the summit, then back down on skis.
EXPLORE THE TRIP →I WANT TO GO FURTHER
More ascent, more altitude, a two-day objective.
PIRAMIDE VINCENT
Two days to climb higher, gain more vertical metres and experience a more involved ski mountaineering trip on Monte Rosa.
EXPLORE THE TRIP →I WANT A BIGGER CHALLENGE
Two days, a mountain journey and a major summit.
GRAN PARADISO
Two days from valley to summit, with around 900 m of ascent on day one and 1,300 m on summit day. An ascent that unfolds step by step.
EXPLORE THE TRIP →CAPANNA MARGHERITA
ON SKIS
Ski mountaineering on Monte Rosa up to 4,554 m: two days, a night high in the mountains and a long descent towards Alagna.
FOUR ASCENTS, SIDE BY SIDE.
Altitude, duration, vertical ascent, climbing time, mountain hut and starting point on skis: the key details for all four routes in one table.
| ROUTE DETAILS One detail per row |
MONTE ROSA
PUNTA GIORDANI |
MONTE ROSA
PIRAMIDE VINCENT |
GRAN PARADISO
GRAN PARADISO |
MONTE ROSA
CAPANNA MARGHERITA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIGHEST POINT | 4.046 m | 4.215 m | 4.061 m | 4.554 m |
| DURATION | 1day | 2days | 2days | 2days |
| ASCENT ON SUMMIT DAY | 770 mfrom Indren | 700-750 mfrom Rifugio Mantova | 1.330 mfrom Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II | 1060 mfrom Rifugio Mantova |
| ASCENT TIME | 2,5–3 hours | 2–3 hours | 4.5–5 hours | 4–5 hours |
| HUT OVERNIGHT | NO | YES | YES | YES |
| STARTING POINT ON SKIS | Punta Indren 3.275 m | Punta Indren 3.275 m | Pont, Valsavarenche 1.960 m | Punta Indren 3.275 m |
The right route depends on your fitness, technical ability and the conditions assessed by your IFMGA Mountain Guide.
FOR THESE GREAT ASCENTS.
From late March to late April comes the window we wait for: the chance to ski the great 4,000ers. Snow cover, overnight freeze, weather and glacier conditions change every year. That is what makes this season so special.
ASK US ABOUT THE BEST TIME →- PLAN
WITH US - WE TRACK
THE CONDITIONS - WE CHOOSE
THE RIGHT ASCENT - SKI YOUR 4,000ER
BUILD YOUR SKI MOUNTAINEERING SKILLS
A 4,000er is a goal you work towards. Technique, pace and stamina over several days develop on the mountain. Choose the experience that helps you prepare for your summit or keep progressing afterwards.
Ski touring course
Learn to use skins and equipment, read the terrain and build solid technical foundations with an IFMGA Mountain Guide.
EXPLORE THE COURSES →Day tours
One-day ski tours to gain vertical metres, explore different terrain and build consistency before a 4,000er or between bigger objectives.
EXPLORE THE DAY TOURS →Multi-day tours
Consecutive days on skis, mountain huts and long traverses: the next step towards a true ski mountaineering journey.
EXPLORE THE TOURS →
