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Description
Haute
Route Trekking, Day-to-Day Itinerary:
7 Days hiking, 5040m = 16500' climb, 5220m = 17120' descent, 71
km distance
Day 1:
Arrival in Argentiere (France) at the foot of the Mont Blanc -
Airport pick-up from Geneva International available (1.5 hr drive).
Lodging in our hotel in Argentiere. Given sufficient subscription,we
usually have the group meet the guide for dinner already.
We recommend to arrive a day or two early in order to do some
warm up hiking, acclimatise and get used to the different time
zone. We gladly make any additional hotel reservations you may
need.
Day 2:
Meeting with the guide for breakfast and briefing on itinerary
and mountain conditions, equipment check and hand out of technical
rental equipment. Short drive by bus and gondola ride to the Col
de Balme (2000m = 7200ft). Beautiful hike with views of Mont Blanc
and the Chamonix Valley to the Albert Premier Hut (2705m= 8870ft)
for Lunch. In the afternoon introduction in safe glacier travel,
use of crampons and ice axe. 500m=1640ft climb, 4 km, 2hrs of
hiking time to the hut.
Day 3:
Early morning start (5 AM) and Via the Glacier du Tour to the
Tete Blanche (3400m=11150ft), which marks the border to Switzerland.
Beautiful views of the whole Mont Blanc range. Descent to the
Glacier du Trient and traverse to the Cabane de Trient (3150m=10330ft).
1050m=3440ft climb, 200m = 660' descent, 8 km, 6 hrs of walking
time (not including breaks).
Day 4:
First on the Glacier d'Orny, then on a beautiful panoramic trail
we descend to the chair lift of La Breya, which saves our knees
2000ft of descending to Champex. Van ride up the quaint Bagne
Valley to the Mauvoisin Lake for Lunch. Beautiful Hike in the
afternoon with views of the Grand Combin and the Mauvoisin Lake
to the Refuge Chanrion (2460m=8070ft). 1100m = 3600' descent,
640m = 2100' climb, 14 km makes for 7 hrs walking time.
Day 5:
Early start. On the long Glacier d'Otemma to the Cabane Vignettes
(3160m = 10330ft) for a lunch break. Long and at times steep descent
to the quaint mountain village of Arolla (1900m = 6230ft.) Lodging
in a hotel.940m = 3100' climb, 1390m = 4560' descent, 17 km makes
for 9 hrs of walking.
Day 6:
First on trails, then on a steep glacier and the last 300ft on
ladders to the Bertol Hut (3310m = 10860ft), one of the most spectacularly
located huts in the Western Alps. 1310m = 4300' climb and 7 km,
6 hrs uphill walking.
Day 7:
Early start. Ascent of the Tete Blanche (3725m = 12200ftm) with
marvelous views across the hole route all the way from the Mont
Blanc to the Matterhorn. Impressive glaciated descent right underneath
the 4000ft north faces of the Matterhorn (4480m=14700ft) and the
Dent d'Herens. After exiting the glacier, we reascend to the Schonbiel
Hut (2700m=8856ft). 600m=1970ft climb, 1280m=4200' descent, 11
km, 6-7 hrs of walking.
Day 8:
Casual descent via the hamlet of Zmutt with plenty of opportunities
for postcard shots of the Matterhorn all the way to Zermatt. 1100m
= 3600' descent, 10km, 3 hrs). Arrival in Zermatt around 11 AM.
Most of our guests stay in Zermatt, where we offer to arrange
post trip lodging for you. Trains leave about hourly from Zermatt
to return back to the Chamonix Valley, the Geneva or Zurich airport
as well as Milan, all of which requires roughly 4 hrs train travel.
Given sufficient subscription for our subsequent
Mont Blanc ascent in connection with the Haute Route, we will
have a shuttle transport organized for luggage transfers and return
trips to Chamonix on day 8.
Please note:.
Day 7 and 8 can also be connected in a long day of hiking and
sometimes groups prefer to descend all the way into Zermatt right
away, in which case we will cover the lodging in Zermatt with
breakfast in a two star hotel.
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