The twilight scene—PDG. Photo: Pascal Gertschen
If you’re thinking of a European ski-mo trip, here are the race basics from three classics: the PDG , Mezzalama, and Pierra Menta. All three races are part of the La Grande Course.
Here ye Here ye!
Perhaps at the peak of a sweltering summer or a drizzly October, one might imagine the town crier in an Alpen village bellowing crucial details for the upcoming ski mountaineering race (ski-mo). The race deets grabbing your attention are not necessarily the type of “mo” we typically associate with ski-mo, say, here in the States or Canada. The “mo,” here in the States, often means uphilling at a ski area or participating in a ski-mo race within the area’s on-piste confines. The races we’ll grab your attention with here are of the big vert in glaciated terrain variety—taking place in the Alps and, despite some markings delineating the course and safety infrastructure (these are organized races, after all), move through some big-time terrain.
In the spare moments you have between work, mountain adventures, eating, and other life obligations, it might be worth considering how a ski mountaineering race in Europe could fit your 2024-2025 ski plans. We’ll run through the basics of some classic races, provide links, and perhaps inspire you, dear THR readers, to sport some Lycra and skinny skis.
PDG—Patrouille Des Glaciers (Switzerland)
If you choose to take the PDG challenge, you have until September 2026 to commit. The Swiss race runs every other year, with the most recent race a weather-mired affair this past April. The PDG is a single day event where racers participate in teams of three,
The PDG has two versions. There’s a full length race/tour from Zermatt to Verbier running ~56km with ~4386m of vert. No need to Google-convert, we’ll do the lifting: that’s 34.7mi and 14,390ft., respectively. Stopwatch watchers, according to the PDG site, the fatests time runs 5h35’27”.
For those slightly less ambitious, the PDG offers a ½ course option running from Arolla (the long course mid-point) to Verbier. This course extends 29.6km (18.4mi) with 2,200m (7,218ft.) of vert.
PDG course profile.
There are many other details to consider. We suggest you start with Dave Riggs’ three-part series on the PDG to get a lay of the land. Again, you’ve got plenty of time to consider the PDG; roughly 13 months, but know the race fills up.
The cost is CHF 1500/team for the full race. Interactive PDG map below.
Trofeo Mezzalama (Italy)
The ski-mo scheduling gods have your Lycra clad back. If you covet a Euro race in 2024, the Trofeo Mezzalama may fit your scheduling needs. Like the PDG, the Mezzalama is held every other year—with the next race scheduled for April 2025. (Watch the Trofeo Mezzalama site for registration details.) Like the PDG, the Mezzalama quests through big terrain and requires teams to carry sufficient gear to deal with Alp-style emergencies. Similar to the PDG this is a team race, requiring three members/team.
The route begins in Breuil Cervinia and ends in Gressoney La Trinité, Italy with 45km. (30mi.) and 3,272m (10,735ft.) of vert. Gear nerd alert—each team must carry a 20m of 8.5mm diameter dynamic rope, sorry RAD Line and 6mm rope enthusiast. Same applies for the PDG, but it appears you’ll haul 30m of 8.5mm dynamic single rope.
Like the PDG, you’ll want to acclimate for this jaunt—several points on the course bump above 4,000m, with some referring to the Mezzalama as the highest ski mountaineering race in the world.
Last heads up, the organizers do have some published guidelines relating to an athlete’s conditions of participation. If you have not participated in Euro based ski-mo races, we suggest you contact race organizers to determine how flexible (or inflexible) they may be regarding qualifying standards for North American athletes.
The cost is € 900.00/team.
Pierra Menta (France)
This storied race takes place in the Auvergne-Rhône Alps in France. The Pierra Menta is a four-day stage race, held annually, involving teams of two. According to the race organizers, the total elevation gain over the four stages is 10,000m. The 2024 iteration of the race involved the following vert: Day 1 2700m of climbing, 3280m on day 2,400m on day 3, and concluding with 1,800m on the final stage. As one might expect, there are standings for each stage, and a general classification for total elapsed time.
The next Pierra Menta is scheduled for March 12-15, 2025. It appears registration closes 1/31/25. The rules also state participants must purchase separate rescue insurance—so expect some additional costs. The race limits the number of teams to 210, with a base fee of € 1300/team.
Race organizers provide a tidy list of five items one must consider before registering.
1) Be able to climb 800 m per hour at 2800m in altitude during 5 or 6 hours each day of the race in any kind of ground, during 4 days
2) To be able to hike (skis attached on rucksack) on narrow and breathtaking ridges recovered with snow or ice where you’ll may have to use crampons and to get belayed with harness and 2 slings on settled ropes
3) To be able to ski down in any kind of snow (crusted, wet etc …) on steep slopes at about 35 – 40 °
4) To be able not to lose time, taking off skins, putting them again
5) To be able to brave wind, coldness and every bad weather you may face.
Pierra Menta Stage 1 2024
Pierra Menta Stage 3 2024.
Pierra Menta Stage 2 2024.
Pierra Menta Stage 4 2024.
