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
most parts of the world, your backpacks will remain relatively
light (5 - 8 kg = 11 - 18 lbs) 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
challenging Haute Route hike, 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.
General Haute Route Itinerary
Comments:
After doing the Haute Route Trek
for over 15 years we believe our itinerary has advantages over
others offered: A mid-trip stay in a nice hotel in Arolla provides
a break from the dorms in the high level huts and not to mention
the rejuvenating effects of a warm shower! The itinerary can
also be done in 6 days of hiking but by splitting up the last
day we maintain the option to finish the trip even if (REALLY)
bad weather should prevent us from hiking on one of the days.
Meeting
Point Haute Route:
Either Geneva International (closest Airport) or at 8 AM on
the first trekking day at our Hotel in Argentiere, about 15
min. up valley from Chamonix.
Climate,
Weather, Temperatures:
High season for all mountaineering in the western Alps is mid-July
through August.
Understandably, many Haute Route aspirants
worry about catching a bad weather week. Here are some hard
facts to help you assess your chances from the Meteo
Swiss statistics for Zermatt (Averages from 1961 - 1991):
| |
June |
July |
August |
September |
October |
| Precipitation in mm |
56 |
47 |
60 |
40 |
55 |
| Number Days of Precip. |
9 |
9 |
10 |
7 |
7 |
| Temperature Average in C |
10 |
12.5 |
11.7 |
9 |
4.8 |
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 including
all guide expenses. Two nights lodging with breakfast: Double
rooms in 2 or 3 star hotels in Argentiere / Chamonix and Arolla.
Dormitory lodging in huts of the French or Swiss Alpine Clubs.
Half board (3 course meals and breakfast) in all huts and the
hotel in Arolla. All ground transport Chamonix Valley to Zermatt
including all gondolas and chair lifts in accordance with the
itinerary, parking fees and road tolls. Use of technical equipment:
Harnesses, crampons, ice axes, rope, carabiners
Additional Trip Services
Available:
Airport shuttles Geneva to our
Hotel in the Chamonix Valley: Euro 35 / person
Luggage Transport from our Hotel in the Chamonix Valley
to Zermatt: Euro 60 / bag
Additional nights Zermatt: Double room B&B, clean
two star standard: Euro 60 / pers.
Additional nights Chamonix Valley: Double room B&B:
From Euro 50 / person
Not Included Are:
Air fares, lunch (Sandwiches, snacks can be purchased in the huts
or in the valley), dinner for 1 night in Argentiere, drinks (beer
is about US$ 5/ can, wine US$ 20 - 40 / bottle), lodging in Zermatt
on the day of arrival, single room supplement for all lodging
in the valleys (surcharge applies), return trip from Zermatt to
Chamonix, any additional cost in case of itinerary changes.
