Just across the way from Zermatt , these less crowded tours are ideal for the alpine climber wanting success on high peaks and great days out! Also a perfect level for your first visit to the Alps.

Sass Fee/Sass Almageller

Alallinhorn - Strahlhorn - Rimpschihorn - Alphubel - Nadelhorn - Lenspitz - Dom - Tasch

Our rendezvous is in Argentiere, and we have this great location to get acclimatised on the classic routes of the Aiguille Rouge and in the Mont Blanc range. When we’re ready we make the short journey to Switzerland and our base for the Sass peaks. From there, we will climb as many of the peaks (below) as conditions and time allows.

About the peaks…

The Alphubel (4206 meters) - A straightforward ascent but giving excellent glacier and crevasse experiences before embarking on more serious peaks. We use the cable car to Langflue and depart for the summit in the early hours, when the snow is safer, firm and cold.

The Alallinhorn (4027 meters) - A superb summit, from the Britannia Hut, via the holbograt. a great acclimatisation aid to further peaks. The rocky finish to the lovely snow approach gives access to the peak, and an easy descent.

The Strahlhorn (4190 meters) - The lengthy approach from the same alpine refuge is more than compensated by the immaculate summit ridge.

The Rimpfischorn (4199 meters) - The rock arête on this great peak makes for an exposed and exciting finish. A little more difficult than most of the other peaks we will hope to climb.

The Dom (4545 meters)-With several other routes behind us, we can go for the famous Festigrat, a notable prize on this, the highest peak wholly in Switzerland, returning to the refuge by the normal route.

The Tasch (4490 meters) - As a major sole target, the peak provides the biggest challenge of the Sass valley courses, with considerable difficulties on snow and rock.

When combined with a traverse of the Dom from the Mischabeljoch bivouac hut, one of the great alpine ridges is achieved. David on the summit of the Dom

And... (opposite side of the valley/range)

Sass Grund/Sass Almageller

Weismeiss, Lagginhorn, Fletschhorn

These three peaks are available individually and are very accessible from the valleys or from the new and superb Hohsass hut, itself reached without effort by the cable car from Sass Grund.

As an ‘integral’ challenge, our relaxed itinerary would start with a trek up to the Almageller Hut, followed next morning by acclimatising with superb alpine (multi-pitch) rock climbing on the face of the long and rising ridge of the Dri Horlini which stretches from 3096m to 3209m. Reaching the top of the wall (4c/5a/5b), we follow the fabulous north-east ridge (AD-) of this peak to finish a great day off before returning to the hut.

The ascent of the Weismeiss is made from the Almageller Hut by the South-South East ridge, and from the summit we descend to the new Hohsass Hut.

After a brief rest here we descend to the much larger, yet wonderful Weismeiss Hut .

The ascent of the Lagginhorn is completed by following the track rising from the hut into the amphitheatre and continuing up icy tracks to a fine summit.

If conditions are suitable, we would finish our Sass Grund/Sass Almageller adventures with an ascent of the Fletschhorn, just seven meters short of the magic 4,000 meter mark. The west flank and north-west ridge lead us through superb snowy scenery to the summit at 3,993 meters.

Course dates - 5 to 7 days programmes - available from June to mid-September

Ratio - One guide to four clients (Max.)

Course fees and to find out more details, get in touch with Smiler