dossier

The Haute Route - Swiss Valais

Grade

This trip is not available to start on a Fridayor Saturday unless you are willing to pay for a private transfer of luggagebetween Les Hauderes and Grimentz. The post offices are closed over a weekendnow, which makes it impossible to put your luggage on the bus/train system forthe onward journey. This trip is Challenging, and is a trek, which involvesmuch daily uphill and downhill walking. It is only suitable for fit walkers whocan readily manage days with more than 1000m/3300 feet ascent and descent in aday. Those in good physical condition, who take regular exercise and who haverecent hill-walking experience, will find this a trip whose exciting challengesare equally matched by its rewards.

You will not be with your main luggage on Night 2, Night 3, Night 5, and Night6 you will therefore need to carry enough clothing for these nights. Thereason for this is that the Swiss rail/postbus network is making cutbacks tothe less remote areas, as usual they say that it is not economical to operate.We can organize for you to have your luggage on Night 2 & 3 but youwould have to pay for a private transfer which is done by road, but this doescost in the region of $300 plus and may only be economical for larger groupsbooking together.

On other days only a daypack need be carried. The highest point on thistour is the Col de Torrent (2918m) on Day 4. Almost as high is theAugstbordpass (2894m) on Day 7. General mountain walking skills are required;the route is not generally vertiginous, although there is a slightly exposedsection on Day 7.

 

Climate

Our treks in the Alps operate during the European summer.In recent years, temperatures have ranged from 15 C - 30 C (60 – 90 F) duringthe day, with nights from 15 C (60 F) to below freezing. Although rain and snowis possible at any time in the season, there are fortunately very few prolongedperiods of bad weather. Clear skies and spectacular sunsets are frequent. New snowfall is possible in September.

 

Swiss Card

Includes free travel from the airport to your first hoteland back from the last hotel to the airport. In between you enjoy half pricetravel on trains, post buses and many cable cars. This is probably a goodinvestment even if you are only doing this walk in Switzerland. Consult yournearest Swiss tourist office for full details or call Rail Europe toll free,1-800-848-7245 or on line at www.raileurope.com. The Swiss Transfer Ticket issimilar, but only includes travel between the airport and your first and lasthotels.

Equipment and Clothing
If you are a hiker orbackpacker you will probably already have much of the clothing and equipmentrequired. A sleeping bag sheet liner is required. A detailed list ofpersonal equipment and clothing will be sent with confirmation of reservation.All you need to bring is your sleeping bag sheet liner plus your otherpersonal equipment and clothing.

Food &Accommodation

Accommodation is in double/twin rooms, except possiblywhen light backpacking, when we stay in mountain inns (Hotel Weisshorn andSchwarzhorn). These have shared dormitory-style accommodation and basic toiletand washing facilities only. Mattresses, blankets and pillows are provided butyou must have a sleeping bag liner. However, basic twin-bedded rooms aresometimes available and we will book these for you if possible. Single roomsare not available in these inns. Breakfast is provided throughout the trek. Anevening meal is provided on five evenings. On other evenings we leave youfree to sample the local cuisine. We suggest you budget US$200 for those mealsnot included.

How the trekking is organised:

You will not be with your main luggage on Night 2, Night 3, Night5 and Night 6 you will therefore need to carry enough clothing for thesenights. The reasonfor this is that the Swiss rail/postbus network is making cutbacks to the lessremote areas, as usual they say that it is not economical to operate. We canorganize for you to have your luggage on Nights 2 & 3 but you would have topay for a private transfer which is done by road, but this does cost in theregion of US$300 plus and may only be economical for larger groups bookingtogether.

Some light backpacking is therefore involved, see above. A packbetween 40 and 50 litres is probably most suitable to carry some clothing,washing kit and sleeping bag liner. Average walking time is about six hours perday, although this will obviously vary according to the terrain, conditions,group progress and weather. In the unlikely event of extreme bad weathernecessitating a change to the itinerary, clients are expected to bear the costof transport to the next night's stop.

 

What's Included

All accommodation (6 nights hotels, 2 nights inns); all breakfastsfrom day 2 onwards, 5 dinners; services of leader; baggage movements while ontrek.

 

NotIncluded

Airfare, train and bus transfers (see Swiss Card), allow $180 forthese. Passport, insurance, personal clothing and equipment, breakfast on thefirst day, lunches, 3 dinners, gratuities, drinks and souvenirs. We suggest youbudget a minimum of US$200 for these.

If you have any further queries, please contact the BreakawayAdventures office. See below foraddresses, phone nos. etc.

Outline Itinerary

Thefollowing itinerary is intended as a working guide only and may be subject tovariation as a result of weather, local factors and group progress. We reservethe right to alter (lengthen or shorten) any trek at any time if necessary.

1000m = 3.281ft. 1km = 0.62 miles.

All timings are approximate and will vary.

Walk timingsinclude lunch break.

Day 1: Arrive Arolla. Fly to Geneva, then by train to Sion in theRhone valley (hourly service, journey time 2 hrs). From Sion, you travel by bushigh into the mountains to the famous climbing village of Arolla (1998m).

Day 2:Arolla (1998m) to Les Haudères (1452m). 8km/5mi (4-5 hours). Height gain 150m,height loss 690m. Maximum height 2090m. The famous peaks of Pigne d'Arolla,Mont Colon and Aiguille de la Tsa dominate the morning views as we begin ourwalk from Arolla along the Val d'Arolla. We follow a contouring path just abovethe tree line to the beautiful Lac Bleu (2090m). From here we descend throughmeadows and farmsteads to Les Haudères and our hotel. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR HOTEL WILL ORGANISE FOR YOUR LUGGAGE TOGO TO GRIMENTZ ON THE MORNING OF DAY 2 FROM LES HAUDERES TRAIN STATION, THISTAKES APPROX 36 HOURS TO DELIVER SO YOU WON’T MEET UP WITH IT AGAIN UNTIL DAY4.

Day 3: LesHaudères (1452m) to Grimentz (1572m). 13km/7.8 mi (7-8 hours). Height gain 1475m, height loss 1357m. Maximumheight 2918m. A longer, but rewarding, day takes us over the Col de Torrent(2918m). We lunch near the Lac des Autannes and descend with views south of theMoiry glacier. From the dam you descend to the picture-postcard village ofGrimentz below the Lac de Moiry.

Day 4: In Grimentz (1572m). Free day. Grimentzis an excellent base from which to explore the upper reaches of the Moiryvalley. The tumbling iceblocks of the Moiry glacier present a stunningspectacle from the terrace of the Cabane Moiry (2825m). Another equallyimpressive walk crosses the Col de Sorebois (2896m) to Zinal, with fine viewsof the Weisshorn and Zinal Rothorn. Return from Zinal to Grimentz by bus or walk along forest track.PLEASE NOTE YOUR BAGGAGE WILL BE SENT DIRECTLY TO ZERMATT TOMORROW MORNING.

Day 5: Grimentz (1572m) to Hotel Weisshorn (2337m). 15km/9mi (6.5-7.5 hours). Height gains 850m, height loss 100m. Maximum height2337m. We contour through pleasant forest to Mottec (1556m) in the Zinal valleyand then begin our ascent to the Hotel Weisshorn (2,337m). This Victorian hotelhas a wonderful view from its restaurant and was upgraded a few years ago - itnow has hot showers! Its basic services and austere Victorian atmosphere areredeemed by superb views, excellent cuisine, and acceptable accommodation. Withits rugged charm it maintains an air of faded grandeur.

Day 6: Hotel Weisshorn (2337m) to Gruben (1822m). 9km/5.4mi (5-6hours). Height gains 589m, height loss 1104m. Maximum height 2790m. We walk over the Meidpass (2,790m), enjoyingmarvellous views of the Schwarzhorn, Gletschhorn and the Weisshorn. At the col,we enter German-speaking Switzerland. The shore of the lovely alpine MeidseeLake makes an excellent lunch spot. Along descent brings us to Gruben (1,822m), in the peaceful, unspoilt Turtmanntal. Here we overnight at the Hotel Schwarzhornin Gruben.

Day 7: Gruben (1822m) to St Niklaus(1127m). 15km/9mi (7-8 hours). Heightgain 1072 m, height loss 1767m. Maximum height 2894m. Then train or bus from StNiklaus to Zermatt (1606m). We take the track beside the hotel up to theAugstbordpass (2894m). It is a long path to the last col of the trek. The pathfrom the pass contours along a rocky track and emerges above the Mattertal. Thepleasant descent offers excellent views of Mischabel (4,545m). There is aslightly exposed section before Jungu, where the path turns the corner into theMattertal valley. From Jungu (1955m) you can either walk or (optional) take thecable car down to St Niklaus (1,116m). It is too far to walk on from St Niklausto Zermatt today, so we will opt for the hourly train service or bus!

Day 8: A free day in Zermatt. Zermatt is traffic-free and isdominated by the imposing, distinctive shape of the Matterhorn. All aroundZermatt there is a wonderful panorama of mountain peaks and there are manyexcellent day walks. Trift offers a fine high-level traverse. Perhaps a visitto the Hörnli hut (1,609m) above Zermatt at the base of the Matterhorn(4,478m), from where climbers scale the summit. The Gornergrat railway, one ofthe highest in Europe at 3090m, offers a spectacular panorama and the walk downbeside the glacier to Riffelalp is stunning. For a less energetic day one cantake the exciting cable car ride to the top of the Kleine Matterhorn (3,820m).This is one of the highest cable cars in the Alps.

Day 9: By train from Zermatt to Geneva airport (change trains atVisp or Brig) for flights home.

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