It’s snowing. A thick, slow snowfall that covers everything and muffles all sound. On Monte Rosa, winter still has the final say. But beneath that fresh blanket lies a glacier preparing itself. The stage is set, the scene is ready, and mountaineering can begin anew.
For those who approach the mountains with both mind and muscle, it’s now clear: June is the key month. Despite the persistent belief that July is the best time for high-altitude climbs, recent years tell a different story. In June, glaciers remain well-covered in snow. Temperatures are stable, meltwater channels haven’t yet carved through the snow, and crevasse bridges hold firm. The environment is white, untouched, and readable.
Global warming isn’t just a theoretical concept for debate. It’s tangible on every outing. July, once the ideal month, has become problematic. Temperatures rise too high, too quickly. Rockfalls increase, seracs shift, and climbing parties either set off at night or not at all. Good weather windows are narrowing.
June, on the other hand, still offers leeway. Nights are colder, there’s more snow, and less stress. It’s merely a matter of changing habits. Recalibrating the calendar. Focusing on the present, not the past. Acknowledging that the new beginning is now.
With the 2nd of June bank holiday, lifts open from both Alagna and Gressoney. It's time to return to the heights, whether on skis or with tightly laced boots. The outings are taking shape.
Indeed, in certain sheltered spots, some ski mountaineering routes will still be possible in early June.
The starting point for almost all ascents of Monte Rosa is the Passo dei Salati, at 2,971 metres. From there, you enter the heart of high altitude. You can choose to ascend from the south or the west, from Alagna or Gressoney. But remember: the two locations are separated by just a pass, yet reaching them by car requires a 170-kilometre drive. Better to go on foot. Or by cable car.
Is Monte Rosa in Piedmont or the Aosta Valley? In Italy or Switzerland?
The answer is simple: it’s everywhere.
From Gressoney, your gaze opens onto the severe, imposing west face, with the Vincent Pyramid in the foreground. From Alagna, you admire the broader, brighter south face: the skyline traces the lines of the Gnifetti, the Parrot, and, of course, the Margherita Hut.
And it doesn't matter if the hut is still closed in June (official opening is on the 21st): you can’t sleep there, but you can enter the winter room, step onto the balcony, and look down. Feel the air. Understand where you’ve arrived.
On the 1st and 2nd of June, we ascend with the alpine guides of Alagna and Gressoney to attempt reaching the highest hut in Europe over two days: one night at altitude, step by step towards 4,554 metres. If your legs are ready, we go. But in the mountains, she’s in charge. If the weather or snow alters the plans, we aim for another 4,000-metre peak.
Because mountaineering isn’t about conquering; it’s about listening. Adapting, reading, deciding. Taking a step back if needed. One forward, if it’s time.
We want to open the summer with the right spirit. With the desire to be moved without overdoing it, chasing that lost normality made of good effort, clear horizons, and true silence. Two days to rediscover the mountain's rhythm. Want to try? Write to us for this special event.
For those looking to start, this is the place. The Giordani (4,046 m) is the southernmost summit of Monte Rosa, and the most accessible. A 750-metre elevation gain, a progressive ascent on snowy slopes, without open crevasses at the season's start. The glacier is gentle, but the environment is authentic. High mountain. Rope, ice axe, crampons. Steady steps.
It’s not a walk in the park, but it’s within reach. And above all, it’s a school. Here, you learn to move in a rope team, to breathe slowly when the air is thin, to place one foot after the other with care.
The ascent is short but intense. And the view from the summit reveals a new world.
The Vincent Pyramid (4,215 m) is one of Monte Rosa's iconic peaks. You ascend along the Lys Glacier, as engineer Jean-Nicolas Vincent did in 1819. From there, you overlook everything: Valsesia, the Lys Valley, the Ayas Valley. As far as the eye can see.
Then, you detour onto the rocks of the Balmenhorn (4,161 m), where you encounter the Cristo delle Vette. A massive statue, placed among the rocks by Alfredo Bai as a thank-you for returning from the war. Powerful gesture, surprising presence.
The ascent to the Vincent is progressive but longer and more structured than the Giordani. More elevation gain, higher altitude, deeper breaths. Yet, it remains an early-season climb, perfect for testing oneself, training, and learning.
It can be done in a day, but it's also ideal to split over two, staying overnight at the Mantova or Gnifetti huts.
If you feel you still have energy, there are other names to jot down in your notebook.
Castor peak, perfect for a first ridge thrill. The Pollux, more technical, more vertical. Soldier's Ridge, a slender line to tackle with a clear mind. The Lyskamm Nose, flowing gracefully at the base of Monte Rosa's giants.
All objectives to be approached intelligently. It's not about strength but about pace, method, and attentiveness.
And it all begins now, in June, when the mountain is still silent, and its spaces are emptier.
No heroic reasons are needed. Mountaineering isn't a challenge; it's a language. It requires only desire, consistency, a certain patience. And then listening. To the mountain, to the body, to the group.
Climbing brings order to thoughts. It enforces slowness. Builds focus. Eliminates the superfluous.
And June is the time when everything is still possible. No summit has yet been "conquered." No trail is beaten. It's just you, the guide, the untouched snow. Time to step off the beaten path, yes. And without leaving a trace.
Start here. To go wherever you wish.
1–2 June
The first ascent of 2025 – A special event for those who don't want to wait.
An exclusive outing for those eager to start immediately. Few spots, plenty of opportunity.
👉 Write to us if you want to join.
6–7 June
Margherita Hut with skis – The last great ski mountaineering of the season.
For those dreaming of skinning up the glacier and removing skis... only at the summit.
👉 View the programme
7–8 June
Classic Margherita Hut – High altitude, crampons, and steady pace.
A genuine ascent that never disappoints. The highest hut in Europe, for the first.
👉 Book online
14 June (two options)
• Vincent and Cristo delle Vette – The most panoramic route to climb above 4,000 metres. Click here
• Parrot and the 4,000s of Monte Rosa – For those seeking more. A traverse, a test, a journey. Call us if you want to discuss
21 June
Punta Giordani – The perfect start. High mountain within reach, but no shortcuts.
Learn, listen, climb. And see if you're ready to go further.
👉 Book now
👥 Have your own group?
Perfect. Call us and choose the best date for you.
We'll tailor the ascent to your pace, your goals, your desire for altitude.
