|
Click
here to return to the "Haute Route Glacier Hike" Trip
Description
Haute
Route Trekking, Day-to-Day Itinerary:
7 Days hiking, 5040m = 16500' climb, 5220m = 17120'
descent, 71 km distance
Day 1:
Meeting in Argentiere (France) at the foot of the Mont Blanc -
Airport pick-up from Geneva. International
available (1.5 hr drive). Sightseeing in Chamonix, meeting with
the guide and briefing on itinerary and mountain conditions, equipment
check, gourmet dinner. Lodging in a hotel in Argentiere.
Day 2:
Cable car and chair lift rides 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=12220m) with marvelous
views across the whole 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 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). Check into our hotel Zermatt and
lunch with the entire group. Lodging in Zermatt or return to the
Chamonix Valley in the PM.
Day 9:
Departure after breakfast (excellent train connections back to
Geneva airport or any other place in Europe) or why not spend
a few more days relaxing and hiking in Zermatt or possibly even
book a Matterhorn ascent or the Monte Rosa Peaks traverse with
us...
Those clients,
who are signed up for the Mont Blanc ascent have the option to
either spend the night in Zermatt and travel back to the Chamonix
Valley by train on day 9 or catch a ride with the guide(s) to
the Chamonix Valley on day 8 after lunch
|
