Ski Touring to Le Sommet des Diablerets: The Highest Peak in Vaud

 

Overview

• Starting point: Col du Pillon (1,546m)
• Lift dropoff: Scex Rouge, (2950m)
• Arrival: Le Sommet des Diablerets (3,210m)
• Altitude gain: 300m
• Duration: 3h (loop)
• Difficulty: Medium
• Technical difficulty: Moderate

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Le Sommet des Diablerets is the highest peak in Vaud, the canton where I live. I had wanted to climb it for some time, but it’s one of those places that’s too easy to take a guide for yet too challenging to tackle alone. Fortunately, a colleague with much more mountain experience than me agreed to guide me!

This trip was particularly exciting because, for the first time, I would be doing it on skis. Last year, my dad gave me his old ski touring skis, but I hadn’t yet had the chance to use them. Earlier this season, I tested them on a short tour at Le Chasseron. They were old but functional—good enough for Les Diablerets.

The Ascent

The tour began at the cable car in Col du Pillon, which took us straight up to 2950m at Glacier 3000. This area is known for its Mario Botta-designed restaurant and high-end shops catering to international tourists. You can also go on a suspended bridge between 2 mountain peaks, which is pretty cool. But that wasn’t our focus.

The day was sunny—perfect for our climb. We skied down the slopes to reach the lift up to the Dome, where the real ski tour started. The first 15 minutes were spent traversing a slope to the right of the lift, going around the Dome. 

That’s where we got our first view of the glacier, white and smooth. However, we also encountered the first challenge: a rocky descent where we had to remove our skis and climb down about 20-30m to a col.

It wasn’t particularly difficult, but descending with ski boots added an extra challenge. Thankfully, my colleague had a backpack designed to carry skis, while mine was not. I managed the descent, though at one point, my boot got wedged between some rocks. For a brief moment, I worried that pulling too hard might send me tumbling down the cliff. Eventually, I freed myself and made it down. The unexpected climb had caught me off guard and didn’t put me in the best mood.

Our group consisted of my colleague, his girlfriend—who, like me, struggled a bit but managed fine—and his parents, who decided this route wasn’t for them and returned to the slopes.

Once at the col, we put our skis back on and stepped onto the glacier. The first 50 meters were the toughest—a steep slope where I felt like I was sliding down rather than climbing up. I took tiny steps, hoping the entire ascent wouldn’t be like this. Fortunately, it wasn’t. After the initial steep section, the glacier leveled out, making the climb more manageable. However, I began to feel the effects of the altitude, and every step required more effort than usual.

The Summit

We proceeded at a steady pace, stopping occasionally to catch our breath. Unfortunately, clouds rolled in, blocking the panoramic views, but the misty atmosphere gave the climb an adventurous feel.

After 30-40 minutes, we reached the ridge and continued along it to the summit 10 min later—3,210m! From time to time, the clouds parted, revealing glimpses of the breathtaking landscape below. We took selfies with the summit cross and had a quick snack. We also attempted to sign the summit book, only to find that the pencil was broken. We joked that a pencil should be part of every mountaineering equipment checklist!

The Descent

With our skis back on, we began the descent. The initial section was quick—just a few minutes down the glacier. However, the weather had changed significantly. The clouds had thickened into a dense fog, creating a complete whiteout. The lack of contrast between the snow and the sky disoriented me so much that I felt seasick every time I stopped. At times it was difficult to tell whether I was moving or standing still.

Thankfully, my colleague’s bright yellow vest gave me something to focus on, and by following him, we navigated our way down. The steep section was challenging again, but descending is always psychologically easier than climbing. After trhat we climbed back on the rocky part and within 15-20 minutes, we were back on the slopes and headed toward the hut for a well-earned treat.

A Well-Deserved Reward

At the hut, I indulged in an “Indecent” dessert at Cabane des Diablerets. Called like this because of the delicious mess of cream and other toppings. It was exactly what I needed after the climb. My friends continued skiing, but I was satisfied with the day’s adventure and decided to head home early to avoid the inevitable Sunday evening traffic back from Valais.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t so lucky—I still ended up stuck in a 30-minute traffic jam. But it didn’t matter. I had finally conquered Les Diablerets, and that made it a day.