France's Lionel Claudepierre has set a new record on the Chamonix - Zermatt Haute Route ski mountaineering traverse in a record 18 hours and 35 minutes. Mountain Guide Paolo Tombini shares his views ...

Chamonix - Zermatt, from France to Switzerland across one of the most fascinating Haute Route ski mountaineering traverses in the Alps, by Italian Mountain Guide Nicolò Berzi.

Mostly Americans and Brits, from the sound of it, walking from Chamonix to Zermatt on the summer version of the Haute Route, about half of which coincides with the Matterhorn Tour.

Hillary won, and I came in second. We were waiting for the awards ceremony after the race and my partner, Ben, heard her talking about how she wanted to set a record on the Chamonix-Zermatt route.

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