Trip Details and Small Print - Haute Route Glacier Trek
Can I do it?
Strenuous alpine trekking. Although technically
not very difficult, the trip requires up to 9 hrs of hiking
- mostly uphill and at times on rough, steep trails and on glaciers,
where you will be roped up with fellow hikers and your guide.
The use of crampons might sometimes be required (Introduction
and training day on the first day of the trek!).
Relative
to multi-day treks in North America, your backpacks will remain
relatively light, as we don't have to carry food (other than
snacks), a light sleeping bag liner instead of a full sleeping
bag and no cook ware or fuel. We recommend a backpack size of
35 - 45 liters (2100 - 2700 cubic inches).
The
Haute Route Glacier Trek is also referred to as the Mountaineer's Route and should
not be confused with the so called Hiker's Haute Route, which is a low level traverse
on hiking trails with lodging mainly in hotels rather than high altitude huts.
Should you be interested in this less demanding Haute Route, we recommend the
trip of our friends Karin & Louis at wwww.alpineinterface.com
Optional Ascent of Mont Blanc (two
additional days):
The Mont
Blanc ascent is technically more difficult than the Haute Route,
implies more objective dangers and requires a client to guide
ratio of two to one. This trip extension is very popular with
our clients! Please refer to our Mont
Blanc page for further details.
Please note that for participants of our Haute Route Trek, we
offer for the Mont Blanc extension our lower price assuming
a client to guide ratio of 2 : 1 we can match our clients up
in teams of two or not.
Meeting
Point:
Either Geneva International (closest
Airport) or at 6PM on the first day at our Hotel in Argentiere,
about 10 min. upvalley from Chamonix.
Climate,
Weather, Temperatures:
High season for all mountaineering
in the western Alps is mid-July through August, mainly due to the stable weather
that time of the year. Day time temperatures can vary between 30C (86F) in the
valleys to -10C (14F) on clear mornings, when we start our day from a high level
hut.
Services Included in the Total Price:
Guiding by an internationally (UIAGM/IFMGA)
certified, multilingual mountain guide or guide aspirant under
supervision. All lodging: Double rooms in 2 or 3 star hotels
in Argentiere / Chamonix, Arolla and Zermatt. Dormitory lodging
in huts of the French or Swiss Alpine Clubs. All dinners & breakfasts: 3 - course dinner (soup, meat entree and dessert
- vegetarian option usually available) in the huts. All ground
transport until Zermatt in accordance with the itinerary: Geneva
airport pick up by airport shuttle and taxi transfer from Champex
to Mauvoisin. Optional luggage transfer from Chamonix to Zermatt
(If you decide to stay in Zermatt after the trek). Optional
return trip by van from Zermatt to Argentiere on day 8 of the
trip. Optional return airport shuttle Argentiere to Geneva,
all cable cars and mountain trains. Parking fees and road tolls.
Use of technical equipment: Harnesses, crampons, ice axes, rope,
carabiners
Not Included Are:
Air fares, lunch (Sandwiches, snacks
can be purchased in the huts or in the valley), drinks (beer
is about US$ 5/ can, wine US$ 20 - 40 bottle), single room supplement
for all lodging in the valleys, any additional transport required
due to itinerary changes.
