Marie Pollet-Villard & Laurie Renoton claim women's record on Chamonix - Zermatt Haute Route

The Queen of all ski mountaineering traverses, the classic Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, continues to attract some of the finest – and fastest – ski mountaineers in the world. Four days after Italy's William Boffelli and France's Mathéo Jacquemoud set the new fastest known time on the world-famous traverse, France's Marie Pollet-Villard and Laurie Renoton made the most of superb spring conditions to claim the women's record.

The pair set off from the church in Chamonix on Friday 10 April at 14:27 and completed the approximately 100km and 8,200m D+ crossing in a total of 20 hours and 34 minutes. In doing so, they beat the previous best, set by Valentine Fabre and Hillary Gerardi, who only three days earlier had completed the traverse in 22 hours and 35 minutes.

Writing after her impressive feat, Renoton explained: "The idea dates back to 2025, inspired by the crossing by Valentine and Hillary – forever pioneers who paved the way for a women's traverse. First and foremost, it was a personal adventure. The main goal was to complete it together as friends, the numbers already making your head spin without even thinking about a record.

We scouted the first half of the route the week before. The ideal conditions made us jump at the opportunity, even though we hadn't been able to recce the second part. The route was completed with logistical support."

The Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt was first carried out by the famous Italian mountain guide Toni Gobbi in the 1950s. Providing what can only be described as "regal ski mountaineering", it is usually completed in 5 or 6 stages. The route crosses Col du Chardonnet, Col de la Grande Lui, La Fouly, Col du Basset, Bourg Saint Pierre, refuge de Valsorey, Plateau du Grand Couloir, Col de Sonadon, Glacier d’Ottema, col de l’Evêque, Col du Mont Brulé and Col de Valpelline.

CHAMONIX - ZERMATT FASTEST KNOWN TIME
WOMEN
04/2021 - 26:21 - Valentine Fabre & Hillary Gerardi
04/2025 - 23:36 - Clara Masserey & Gaëlle Perrier
04/2026 - 22:35 - Valentine Fabre & Hillary Gerardi
04/2026 - 20:30 - Marie Pollet-Villard & Laurie Renoton

MEN
05/2008 - 21:11 - Lionel Bonnel & Stéphane Brosse
04/2010 - 20:28 - Yann Gachet & Laurent Fabre
04/2011 - 18:50 - Jean-François Premat, Alain Premat & Sébastien Baud
04/2013 - 18:35 - Lionel Claudepierre
03/2016 - 16:35 - Bastien Fleury & Olivier Meynet
04/2023 - 14:54 - Samuel Equy & Benjamin Védrines
04/2026 - 13:27 - William Boffelli & Mathéo Jacquemoud