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Description
Haute
Route Trekking, Day-to-Day Itinerary:
6 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:
Long day: Early start. Ascent of the Tete Blanche ( 3725m=12220ft)
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, 7-9 hrs of walking (optional
stop at the Schoenbiel Hut for the night, if clients prefer a
shorter day).
Once off the glacier, the descent is on well-marked trails via
the hamlet of Zmutt with plenty of opportunities for postcard
shots of the Matterhorn all the way to Zermatt. 1100m = 3600'
descent, 10km, 2.5 hrs). There is also the option to reduce the
distance by 2 km and 200m vertical by heading over to the Furi
station of the klein Matterhorn gondola Check into our hotel Zermatt
and dinner with the entire group.
Day 8:
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...
Given sufficient subscription for our 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.
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