The Bernese Oberland is a magical part of the Alps. It’s vast glaciers feel more arctic than alpine in scale and provide the ski mountaineer with some truly impressive terrain to tour through. The peaks lend themselves perfectly to either logical ski ascents or ski mountaineering summits – where you travel to a high mountain ridge on skis and then tackle the final climb in crampons. This is the method used for our Oberland 4000ers course. Your hard efforts will be well rewarded by this areas huts which are rightly famous for their comfort, hospitality and good food. Enjoying a cold beer on the sunny terrace of the Konkordia Hut, with a majestic view, after a great days skiing, will make you think you have struck the perfect holiday balance of effort and relaxation!
April 2023 Course Booking Now
There are no upcoming courses at this time.
Bernese Oberland Ski Mountaineering
Ski Oberland 4000m Peaks
Ski Bernese Oberland Latest Conditions
Bernese Oberland Ski Mountaineering
The ski mountaineering visitor to the Bernese Oberland has a wealth of appealing ski peaks, cols and hut to hut glacier journeys to plan their trip around. Our creative programme makes great use of the terrain and excellent Swiss Alpine Club huts. We link together these hospitable hut nights with a series of fine ski peaks & glacier tours to create an inspiring journey and memorable week in the high Swiss Valais Alps.
Bernese Oberland Ski Mountainering – Course Aims
- Enjoy 6 days ski mountaineering in the high mountains on varied terrain featuring long glacier journeys, peaks & cols
- Complete some good ski mountaineering training & acclimatisation during the first ‘shakedown day’ with further training throughout the week
- Spend 4 nights in superb Swiss Mountain Refuges, enjoying the ambiance & cuisine of high mountain hut life
- Meet up with like other like minded ski mountaineers for a memorable & sociable spring ski journey
Bernese Oberland Ski Mountainering – Course Itinerary
Please note: This itinerary is flexible and may change according to weather, conditions & team fitness & aspirations.
- Pre Course. As with all our ski courses, we recommend you prepare as much as possible in advance with relevant ‘ski fit’ preparation and then arrive at least a day or two early to both warm up your ski legs & check equipment. This is especially important if you will be renting boots or skis & bindings. Please also make sure your skis are well serviced & bindings correctly adjusted.
- Day 1 – Course Intro & equipment checks followed by a ski mountaineering ‘shakedown day’. Location will be one of the high lifts of the Mt Blanc Massif eg. the high ‘Punta Helbronner’ lift with a day spent around 3300m skiing, refresher training, acclimatising and enjoying the truly spectacular views of the Italian side of ‘Monte Bianco‘. Return to Chamonix in the afternoon & an opportunity to do any last minute shopping before going ‘on tour!’
- Day 2 – An early start is made for the journey to Grindlewald. Often we use this day as an opportunity to drop a car at the Goppenstein train station and complete the onward journey to Grindlewald by train. This then allows a fantastic final descent down the mighty Lotschental and out of the mountains after the Oberland traverse. In Grindlewald we ascend the spectacular Jungfraujoch railway & enjoy the remarkably swift access to the the high Oberland. Ski down huge Jungfraufirn Glacier to the superb Konkordia Hutte. Enjoy a drink on the high sunny terrace at Konkordia….Welcome to the heart of the Bernese Oberland!
- Day 3 – Our Oberland journey now heads East to explore and skin up the Grunegfirn Glacier over the shapely Grunhornlucke (3280m). After carefully descending the often crevassed easterly slopes of the pass we ascend the classic ski peak of the Weisnollen (3590m) & descend to the impressively smart & modern Finsteraarhorn Hutte. Spring ski touring often gives quite early arrival times at the hut and plenty of time for a hearty Swiss Rösti, quality technical training & even the odd afternoon nap!
- Day 4 – An early start & enjoyable Swiss Alpine Hut breakfast leads to an initial ski descent of the grand upper Fieschergletscher. Our route leaves this at around 2900m for the 1000m climb up the glacial east flank of the Gross Wanenhorn (3905m). A brilliant ski peak and, in good conditions, superb descent. To safely manoeuvre our way around the Oberland, the best route now takes us back over the Grunhornlucke for another night at Konkordia
- Day 5 – The ski ascent of the Kranzberg (3666m) is an Oberland classic and gives an interesting series of south facing pitches in descent. If conditions and our timing are right, this will hopefully be on perfect spring snow. After this 1000m ski journey we commence the steady ascent of the huge Grosser Aletscherfirn with magnificent views of the impressive Aletshchorn North Face. The Hollandia Hut (3240m) provides our Base Camp for the night in a commanding position between the upper Glaciers of the high Oberland and the awesome valley descending to the West…
- Day 6 – An early start from Hollandia leads directly in to the steady skinning ascent all the way up the shapely Abeni Fluh (3962m). An excellent south facing ski descent takes us back to the hut for a café & to pick up equipment before the famous long westerly ski descent of the Lotschental. A suitably grand exit from an amazing week of touring in the high Oberland. The onward journey is then taken via bus / train & car either back to Chamonix or directly to Geneva via the train.
Bernese Oberland Ski Mountainering – Fitness, Ski & Mountaineering Experience Pre-Requirements
- Good off piste skiing ability. Confident in a wide variety of mixed snow conditions, from powder to crust or hardpack, on steep slopes up to the equivalent of black runs. Able to link short radius turns under control on these slopes at altitude as part of a mountain day.
- Existing ski touring experience with a minimum of 5 days using skins / touring bindings and a reliable and effective kick turn
- Good level of mountain fitness with the ability to complete multiple back to back 7-8 hour days without any problems and maintain an overall ascent rate of 300m+ / hour
- Willingness to be part of a team and ski as an open group
Course Notes & Equipment List
Please note that the detailed kit list, given via the link below must be followed and all hire kit including boots, skis, skins, ski crampons, poles, transeiver, shovel, probe must be hired in advance or arranged in advance with us.
Ski Haute Route Equipment List
2023 Bernese Oberland Ski Mountaineer Dates & Prices
There are no upcoming courses at this time.
6 days, Monday to Saturday, with 4 nights in mountain huts, 22,23,24,25 April 2019
£1495 Per Person (see details of inclusions & exclusions below)
Maximum guiding ratio 1 Guide to 4 guests
Option to join our Chamonix off piste & mountain skills, progression course the week before, to warm up for this demanding high altitude programme. There is also a Spring Ski Summits and Ski Gran Paradiso course the week following this one plus a Ski Mont Blanc ascent the week after that.
What’s included in the Price?
- 6 days ski mountaineering with an International Mountain Guide (IFMGA)
- Return travel to the Oberland from Chamonix during the course
- Ski programme planning and booking of mountain huts during the course
- Car parking in Grindlewald
- Guides ski lift fees
- Trip planning & booking of mountain huts
What’s not included in the price?
- Accommodation, please see our recommended list for places to stay in Chamonix.
- The Hotel Pt Isabella in Chamonix is very central and near the ski hire shops, our meeting areas and ‘apres ski’ area of Chamonix!
- Mountain huts & lift passes, for you and the guides. Allow about 85 euros / Swiss CHF per night half board accommodation for each person and around 50 CHF for the Guides nightly hut fees (shared between all guests on the team).
- Any other expenses like taxis etc arising from a change in itinerary
- Train journeys and any public transport during the course
- Food and drink during the course
- Ski equipment. Check the kit list above.
- More details and up to date expenses eg for the Jungfraujoch railway on our alpine expenses page here.
Ski Bernese Oberland 4000m Peak Course
The ski mountaineering visitor to the Bernese Oberland has a wealth of appealing peaks and hut to hut options to plan their trip around. Our physically tough but creative programme makes great use of the terrain and excellent Swiss Alpine Club huts. We link together these hospitable hut nights with a series of BIG peaks to create an inspiring journey and memorable week in the high Swiss Valais Alps.
Ski Bernese Oberland 4000m Peak – Course Aims
- Enjoy 6 days ski mountaineering in the high mountains on varied terrain featuring long glacier touring journeys, technical mountaineering peaks & some brilliant skiing.
- Make ascents of some famous OBerland 4000m peaks including the Grünhorn (4044m), Finsterarhorn (4274m), Fiescherhorn (4049m) and either the Monch (4107m) or Jungfrau (4158m) to finish.
- Spend 4 nights in the superb Swiss Mountain Refuges, enjoying the ambiance & cuisine of high mountain hut life
- Meet up with like other like minded ski mountaineers for a memorable & sociable late spring ski journey.
Ski Bernese Oberland 4000m Peak – 6 Day Course Itinerary
Please note: This itinerary is flexible and may change according to weather, conditions & team fitness & aspirations.
Pre Course. As with all our ski courses, we recommend you prepare as much as possible in advance with relevant ‘ski fit’ preparation and then arrive at least a day or two early to both warm up your ski legs & check equipment. This is especially important if you will be renting boots or skis & bindings. Please make sure you are fit and skiing well for the start of the course as well as skis being serviced & bindings correctly adjusted.
Evening Meeting. We have a pre course informal evening meet to welcome guests and meet the rest of the team as well as reviewing the current conditions and weather forecast and discussing the inspiring week ahead…
Day 1. Course Intro & final equipment checks followed by a ski mountaineering ‘shakedown day’. Location will be one of the high lifts of the Mt Blanc Massif eg. the Aiguille du Midi or Skyway Monte Bianco lift with a day spent around 3300m skiing, touring, mountaineering, acclimatising and enjoying the truly spectacular views of the spring conditions in the Mont Blanc Massif. Return to Chamonix in the afternoon & an opportunity to do any last minute shopping before going ‘on tour!’
Day 2. An early start is made for the journey to Grindlewald from where we ascend the spectacular Jungfraujoch railway & enjoy the remarkably swift access to the the high Oberland. There is usually still time for a warm up glacier tour en route to the superb Konkordia Hutte eg over the high glacier col between the Jungfrau and Gletescherhorn. Enjoy a drink on the high sunny terrace at Konkordia….Welcome to the heart of the Bernese Oberland!
Day 3. Our Oberland 4000m peaks project starts with an early departure heading East up the Grunegfirn Glacier and on to the SW ridge of the Gross Grünhorn (PD+). At 4044m this is the lowest of the weeks 4000ers so provides a good altitude progression before the even bigger peaks to come! After a ski descent of the South facing glacier, hopefully on fine spring snow, and short ascent to the shapely saddle of the Grünhornlücke, we carefully descend the often crevassed easterly slopes of the pass en route to the impressively smart & modern Finsteraarhorn Hutte. Spring ski touring often gives quite early arrival times at the hut and plenty of time for a hearty Swiss Rösti, quality technical training & even the odd afternoon nap!
Day 4. An early start & another enjoyable Swiss Alpine Hut breakfast leads to a direct ski ascent of the slopes behind the hut leading on to the glacier and high on the NW ridge of the Finsteraarhorn (4274m) where we leave skis and proceed upwards with crampons in mountaineering mode. This NW ridge of the mountain is a classic and very enjoyable PD+ alpine route, with sustained easy mixed ground and some short steps and mini pitches of II. After reversing both the climbing and ski routes back to the hut, to safely manoeuvre our way around the Oberland, the best route now takes us back over the Grunhornlucke for another night at Konkordia Hut.
Day 5. The ski ascent of the Gross Fiescherhorn (4049m) is an Oberland classic and gives a big climb as part of our last hut to hut journey linking Konkordia with the Monchsjoch Hut which, at 3650m is the final and highest night of the week. There are long and steady glacier skinning ascents both to get to the peak and to get to the hut after skiing off the peak. The fine ascent from Fieschersattel along the SE Ridge (PD) provides the highlight in-between and has inspiring views around the Oberland including to all the other 4000m peaks on this programme.
Day 6. An early start from Monchjoch Hutte is generally a chilly experience due to it’s high altitude and glacial location. But it’s a spectacular place to start the day and the classic routes on both the (Monch 4107m) or (Jungfrau 4158m) are SE facing, so there is no time for late and lingering breakfasts on this last day! We choose whichever peak is in the best condition and suits the needs of the group best according to how tired folks legs are at the end of the week! Both are classic snow ascents with a spectacular mountaineering summit ridge on the Monch and sustained steep & exposed snow slope on the Jungfrau.
The return journey to Jungfraujock train station is short from either peaks and all that remains is a suitably grand trundling train journey down giving time to reflect on an amazing week of ski mountaineering in the high Oberland. The onward car journey is then taken either back to Chamonix or directly to Geneva via the train from Martigny train station.
Ski Bernese Oberland 4000m Peaks – Fitness, Ski & Mountaineering Skills Required
- Strong, confident and technically competent skier able to deal with variable off-piste snow conditions on steep slopes. An ability to maneuver skis around crevasses with precision and ski swiftly yet with control under seracs. An ability to do all this after a long, tough and tiring ascent at altitude.
- A high level of fitness, stamina and mental toughness is required for this series of 4 tough summit days, which with hut approaches could be up to 10-12 hours. Ability to maintain an ascent rate of 400m / hour for 4-5 hours during the day. Good organisation of equipment and efficient transitions with your ski gear whilst on the mountain.
- Mountaineering experience is required and whilst this does not need to be on steep and difficult ground you should have some winter or alpine / cramponing experience up to Scottish grade II or Alpine PD routes; a head for heights and the ability to concentrate and climb carefully on steep snow for around 1.5 hours between breaks.
- Willingness to be part of a small team and ski as an open group
- Good off piste skiing ability. Confident in a wide variety of mixed snow conditions, from powder to crust or hardpack, on steep slopes up to the equivalent of black runs. Able to link short radius turns under control on these slopes at altitude as part of a mountain day.
- Existing ski touring experience with a minimum of 5 days using skins / touring bindings
Ski Bernese Oberland 4000m Peaks – Course Notes & Equipment List
Please note that the detailed kit list, given via the link below must be followed and all hire kit including boots, skis, skins, ski crampons, poles, transeiver, shovel, probe must be hired in advance or arranged in advance with us.
Ski Mountaineering Equipment List
2022 Ski Bernese Oberland 4000m Peaks – Booking, Dates & Prices
There are no upcoming courses at this time.
6 days, Monday to Saturday, with 4 nights in mountain huts
Maximum guiding ratio 1 Guide to 2 guests
Option to join our Ski Mont Blanc summit period after this course to take advantage of your hard won skills and acclimatisation….after a rest day or 2!
What’s included in the Price?
- 6 full days ski mountaineering with an International Mountain Guide (IFMGA)
- Return travel to the Oberland from Chamonix during the course
- Car parking in Grindlewald
- Guides lift fees in Chamonix
- Trip planning & booking of mountain huts
What’s not included in the price?
- Accommodation. Please see our Chamonix accommodation notes. The Hotel Pt Isabella in Chamonix is very central and near the ski hire shops, our meeting areas and ‘apres ski’ area of Chamonix!
- Mountain huts & lift passes, for you and the guides. Allow about 85 euros per night half board accommodation for each person and just over half this for the shared cost of the Guide (shared between all guests on the team).
- The guides discounted Jungfraujoch train expenses are split between the group members. All lift fees for the Guide outside the Chamonix valley are split between the guests.
- Any other expenses like taxis etc arising from a change in itinerary
- Food and drink during the course
- Ski equipment. Check the kit list below
- Based on 2 nights 2* hotel accommodation in Chamonix half board single room (approx 110€ per night), 4 hut nights, jungfraujoch return and share of guides huts total additional costs will be about 550 CHF + hotel in Chamonix (approx. 220€).
Ski Mountaineering Equipment List
Ski Bernese Oberland – Latest Conditions
Please check the latest snow & skiing conditions info below for the Bernese Oberland and let us know if you have any recent info we can add it here as a resource for other teams heading out…
Bon ski, bonne route!
