Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route

2008 DATES Click Dates To Book.... Week 30: 19 Jul - 26 Jul Full Summer Programme Click Here COURSE DURATION 6 days, 7 nights ALL INCLUSIVE PRICE £920 Your course price covers: • Guiding + guides expenses • Full board + accommodation • All picnic lunches/snack food • All course transportation • All mechanical uplift • Loan of technical equipment Click here for Full Details RATIO 7:1 COURSE GRADE Difficulty: 1 Fitness: 4 Click Here for Grading Details

The Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route is the most famous and popular of all the alpine high level routes. It links the Chamonix valley in the west to the Zermatt valley in the east and runs through an amazing variety of mountain scenery - the jagged granite peaks of the Mont Blanc massif, the wild region around the Grand Combin, the beautiful Arolla valley, and finally to the magnificent 4000m peaks surrounding Zermatt (passing directly beneath the north face of the Matterhorn).

A fit, seasoned mountain walker can complete the route in 6 days and this is how we tackle it, alternating long strenuous sections with more relaxed days. The route we follow should not be confused with the 'Hikers Haute Route' which makes a similar journey but keeping below glacier level. This is a true 'high level route' across glaciers and high passes requiring the use of crampons, ice axe and rope (but no prior experience - we give instruction as needed) and using alpine huts. It is one of our more challenging High Alpine Treks.

Day 1 Arrive Leysin. Meet at the Hotel le Grand Chalet at 7.00pm for a welcome drink and meeting with the guide and other course members. We talk through the days ahead, check equipment and answer any questions you may have.

Day 2 We drive over to the village of Le Tour in the Chamonix valley in just over an hour. From here a cable car ride then a 1.5 hr ascent leads to the Albert Premier Hut (2702m) where we can practice the skills required for glacier travel next day.

Day 3 We make a dawn start and ascend the Glacier du Tour to a high pass - the Col Superior du Tour (3289m) - which takes us into Switzerland. Ahead is the vast snowfield of the Trient Plateau which is crossed in an hour to the Col d'Orny (3098m) on the far side. We now descend the Orny glacier to the Orny hut, a very pleasant place for a break before carrying on down the valley of Combe d'Orny to a superb level traversing path giving panoramic views of the Grand Combin (4314m) and the peaks of the eastern Swiss Valais. A chairlift takes us down to the charming village of Champex where we overnight in a hotel.

Day 4 After a more relaxed start we take a taxi around to the Val des Bagnes and up to the massive dam at Mauvoisin. Ous ascent path gently rises to the east of the Lac de Mauvoisin and gives fine views of the eastern flank of the Grand Combin massif. In about 4 hours we reach the Chanrion Hut at 2462m where we overnight.

Day 5 An 'alpine start' is required to leave around dawn and ascend to the Glacier du Gietro which takes us beneath the impressive and rarely climbed summit of La Ruinette (3875m) and the far more popular Mt Blanc de Cheilon (3870m). A col leads through to the lower and rockier Glacier de Cheilon and we may descend for a break at the Cabane des Dix before crossing the spectacular Pas de Chevres (fixed ladders) and taking the track down through pastures to the pretty mountain resort of Arolla at 2000m. Hotel.

Day 6 A later start is welcome today with a walking time of just four hours to reach the Bertol hut at 3311m. The hut occupies a precarious-looking perch on a narrow rock ridge and is reached by a series of ladders. Views from the hut balcony are fantastic with the narrow crest of Les Bouquetins stretching away to the north and the massive bulk of the Dent Blanche across the glacier to the east.

Day 7 A pre-dawn start then an hour of glacier travel by headtorch takes us to a col beside the Tete Blanche (3724m.) for breathtaking views of the north faces of the Matterhorn and the Dent d'Herens which catch the early morning light. The complex and crevassed Stockji glacier must now be descended to the Schoenbiel hut, from which a well-marked trail around the base of the Matterhorn takes us into Zermatt. Taxi or minibus back to Leysin and the Gd Chalet hotel.

Day 8 Breakfast at the hotel is included before departure. .

Maps: Martigny 282, Arolla 283, Mischabel 284 or Matterhorn - Mischabel 5006.

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