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.
Meeting
Point:
Either Geneva International (closest Airport) or at 6PM on the
first day at our Hotel in Argentiere, about 15 min. upvalley
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. All lodging with breakfast: 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.
Half board in all huts and the hotel in Arolla (3 course dinner
(soup, meat entree and dessert - vegetarian option usually available).
All ground transport Chamonix Valley to Zermatt including all
gondolas and chairlifts in accordance with the itinerary, 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), dinners for the nights in Zermatt and Argentiere,
drinks (beer is about US$ 5/ can, wine US$ 20 - 40 / bottle),
single room supplement for all lodging in the valleys (surcharge
applies), any additional transport required due to itinerary changes,
Geneva airport shuttles (can be quoted seperately), luggage transfer
from Chamonix to Zermatt (can be quoted seperately). Optional
return trip by van from Zermatt to Argentiere on day 8 of the
trip.
