The European Alps offer some of the finest and most accessible ski mountaineering in the world. A combination of magnificent and varied terrain, an enviable snow record, excellent public transport, unrivalled hut system and long ski season make them a focus for mountaineers and skiers throughout the world.

This first volume of the Ski Mountaineering series describes The `Classic Haute Route`, the traverse between Chamonix and Zermatt, and also brings together a selection of the finest high-level ski tours in the Western Alps in areas as diverse as the Ecrins, Vanoise, Haute Maurienne, Gran Paradiso, Mt Blanc, Valais and Urner Alps. Volume 2 covers the Central and Eastern Alps.

The routes described will provide a lifetimes ski mountaineering for the average ski mountaineer, with rewards and challenges for all levels of ability.