Haute Route Itinerary

Hmmm...made the switch from blackberry to iPhone...and may have lost a few things along the way, to include my blog updates...

I don't know if i can be as clever as in the first post, but...we leave in three days to hike the Haute Route. Jeanine, Audrey & Chris, and 11 other people from around the USA. Check out Mountain Sobek Travel Haute Route for more information.

Here is a day by day brief description of our trip:

Day 1 : Geneva – Chamonix

Meet in Geneva, Switzerland, and transfer to the ski resort town of Chamonix in the shadow of Mont Blanc.

Day 2 : Chamonix – local hike

Take a funicular to Planpraz (6,600'), and hike to the Col du Brévent (7,814') with panoramic views of the Mont Blanc massif.

Day 3 : Col de Balme

From the village of Tour, hike through alpine forests to Col de Balme (6,999') and Switzerland, and past Trient Glacier.

Day 4 : Fenêtre d’Arpette

Hike a classic, challenging alpine mountain pass: Fenêtre d'Arpette (Arpette's window) (8,760') with spectacular glacier views, and descend to the village of Champex (4,890') where we transfer to Verbier for the night.

Day 5 : Verbier – Cabane de Louvie

Starting from the village of Verbier (4,950'), head up a mountain valley to Col Termin (8,740'), keeping an eye out for chamois antelope and ibex. Descend to Lac Louvie (7,300') for overnight in a refuge.

Day 6 : Cabane de Louvie – Grande Dixence

This big hiking day covers two passes: the Louvie (9,640') and Prafleuri (9,785'). We'll cross a large glacial area by fording streams, hiking in snow, and walking the glacier, with some scrambling.

Day 7 : Grande Dixence – Arolla

Hike across rocky, glacial terrain and scree and boulder fields to Arolla (6,600'), crossing several passes en route (the highest is at 9,785').

Day 8 : Arolla – Grimentz

From Cotter (5,790'), cross the Col de Torrent (9,577'), enjoying the spectacular backdrop of a range of mountains called the Dent Blanche and many turquoise lakes. Descend to the picturesque village of (5,300') in the Valais canton.

Day 9 : Grimentz – Zinal – Gruben

From Zinal (5,494'), hike steeply through forests of thick larch trees, heather, and blueberries to the Forcletta Pass (9,480') with views of the famed Matterhorn (14,782'). Continue to the summer hamlet of Gruben (5,976').

Day 10 : Gruben – St. Niklaus

Cross the Augstbordpass (9,550'), last major pass of the trek, with its panorama of 14,000-foot peaks. Steep 3,000-foot descent to the cable car station, where you'll catch a ride to St. Niklaus (3,696'). Transfer to Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn.

Day 11 : Zermatt - Zmutt

Hike above Zermatt for views of the Matterhorn, storied icon for mountaineering aficionados.

Day 12 : Depart