Walker's Haute Route

Welcome to Europe! Your shuttle driver will be waiting for you at the airport. After arriving at Hotel Le Morgane, you can enjoy the onsite spa and amenities. Rest up, because tomorrow you begin your trek around the largest mountain in western Europe!

You'll start the day with a bus from Chamonix to Argentière. From there, you'll hike up through a forest to Le Tour and catch a view of what you will tackle for the day: Col de Balme. On the other side lies Switzerland and your road to Zermatt. To save your legs the ascent, you do have the option of taking the cable car at Le Tour to Charamillon, and then the chairlift to Autannes, which takes you very close to Col de Balme. Once at the col, you've reached your first border and now stand firmly in Switzerland. There is an old shelter which, although in a privileged position, is run down and not always staffed. Continue down into Switzerland and to your accommodation at Col de la Forclaz.

The higher route, passing through Fenêtre d’Arpette (8,747 feet / 2,666 meters) should only be attempted in good weather. On the descent from the col, there is some scrambling necessary and there is loose scree to deal with. Caution is advised. Still, the route has an amazing view or “window” onto a different landscape when you finally reach the top. Also, there is the view of Trient Glacier, which is quite beautiful, although it is shrinking in size.

This stage has little elevation gain and loss, however it gives a glimpse into Swiss life. You'll be departing from the TMB and the droves of hikers will dwindle to a trickle. Here, you will be reminded that this is a more isolated hike. From Champex, head north through a forested path signposted to Sembrancher, which you will reach in a little over 2.5 hours. After passing through the stone walled village, you'll have a relatively easy hike to Le Chable. Enjoy the easy day, as tomorrow things begin to get tougher.

Today there is a lot of elevation gain, and you should prepare yourself for the steady 5.6 mile (9 km) climb. Here, there are beautiful views of the Combin Massif, which has several distinct summits above 13,120 feet (4,000 meters). There is also a plethora of ski lifts that crisscross the area, which, depending on your perspective, can either be a monstrosity or a blessing, or perhaps both. If you would like to avoid most of the elevation gain, it's possible to take two cable cars—one from Le Chable to Verbier, and then another from Verbier to Les Ruinettes—which leaves only 853 feet (260 meters) of elevation gain which can be accomplished in a little over an hour.

Certainly a beautiful path, this stretch between the two cabins is wild and features some exposure and steep slopes. Early in the season, if you do not have much mountaineering experience, you may wish to bypass this stage. Still, if you choose to conquer this path, you will be awarded with views of Combin Massif, panoramas and if you're lucky, some ibex. Special care is needed on the Sentier des Chamois, on the way down from Col de Louvie and at Col de Prafleuri.

Another demanding stage, you will have two cols to cross over. The first, however, is crossed easily and within 30 minutes, you will have your first glimpse of the Matterhorn. You'll also see Lac des Dix spread out below you after arriving at the first Col (des Roux). Nearing the second col (Riedmatten), you'll encounter some scree and a steep pitch. There are four ladders located near the col that can be used to bypass this tiresome endeavor, nevertheless you should have a good head for heights. You'll then make a 2,954 feet (900 meters), knee-busting descent down to Arolla.

Today is a short day, but that is not to say it is without interest. There are no cols that you need to traverse and apart from the first 1.5 hours, most of the stage will be a descent. Take the time and enjoy the meadows and lakes that you will pass. Starting out from Arolla, if the weather is bad, you can stick to the valley floor and walk along the river. If the weather is fair, then climb through the woods, where you will eventually hit an exposed section above the hamlet of Satarma and two footbridges, before reaching La Bleu in 1.5 hours. From there, you start your descent for the day passing La Gouille before reaching Les Haudères.

This day will feature rocky terrain and hiking may be slow going, especially as you head to Col du Tsaté. The ascent from Molignon to Cabane de Moiry will be long, so steel yourself for the challenge ahead. Still, there are some treats along this section, including a sprinkling of "tarns,” or small mountain lakes, that you will pass by. Furthermore, the glacier, the namesake of the mountain hut, will be seen toward the end of the day. To that end, Cabane de Moiry, with its glass-walled dining room, provides an excellent view of the glacier and surrounding peaks. If you would like to skip most of this stage, you can take a series of buses and trains to "Parking du Glacier" and hike 1.5 hours from there to hut. If you would like to skip about 705 feet (215 meters) of elevation gain, you can take two buses from Molignon to La Sage.

Although you will be crossing another high pass, Col de Sorebois, the ascent will not be as taxing as other high altitude stages, although it may frustrate you to lose most of your elevation from Cabane de Moiry, only to have to gain it back a few hours later. The true effort, however, lies in the descent, which will carry you from above 9,186 feet (2,800 meters), to below 5,577 feet (1,700 meters). But you are rewarded for your effort. After reaching Col de Sorebois, you will take in a landscape of the Val de Zinal and the imposing Weisshorn (14,780 feet / 4,505 meters), a friend that will accompany you for most of the remainder of the trek. About 98 feet (30 meters) from the col, there is a cheat to save the knees: you can take the cable car from Sorebois to the valley floor of Zinal.

Today's hike ventures into the lonely Turtmanntal valley. It's well off the tourist radar, and many of the doors are shut come winter. It's also your first taste of Germanic Switzerland, so pull out your high-school Deutsch and enjoy this pastoral location. As far as the hike goes, Forcletta can be an imposing pass if the weather is bad or if there is snow. A highlight of the stage is the belvedere heading to Barneuza. The Cicerone guidebook also exalts the view after descending from Forcletta as having "the most spiky panorama" in all of the Alps. If you are desperate to skip this stage and stay on course, you can take a series of buses all the way to Visp. From there, you'll need to take a bus to Turtmann, take the gondola up to Oberems, then a bus to Gruben VS. You'll need to double check sbb.ch for times to be sure.

This will be a day to remember, provided the weather complies. You will be hiking over the Augustbordpass, which sits on rocky terrain at 9,495 feet (2,894 meters). Views of the highest mountain peak in Switzerland, Dom (14,911 feet / 4,545 meters) will delight you on the spur "Twära". Many consider this length of the trail along the spur to be of the utmost viewing quality, perhaps the best of the tour. Care is needed in a few exposed spots, so watch your step. When you reach the town of Jungen, there is the option to take the cable car down to St. Niklaus. From there, Grächen is located above you and on the other side of the valley. You can take a bus there to avoid the hike after a long and challenging day. You've earned it!

The famed Europaweg. Although the altitude on this section is not the highest of the tour, this two day section between Grächen and Zermatt is considered the most dangerous stage of the tour. This is due to the nature of the landscape, which has both exposure and risk of rockfalls and landslides. Those who have difficulty with exposure, or are not sure-footed, should avoid this route. Furthermore, if there is bad weather, then the route should not be attempted and you should take the valley route to Zermatt. Still, in good weather, this promises to provide the best views of the Matterhorn yet. The most dangerous section of this stage comes at about 2.25 from Gasenried, near the "Grosse Graben combe". Shortly after this section you will reach the high point of the stage at 8,825 feet (2,690 meters). In 2 hours from there, you will be enjoying the hospitality of the Europa Hut!

Your final day on the tour! Congratulations for making it this far. Although a long day, it’s all the better to make you feel like you've conquered this difficult alpine trek! Of note on this tour is the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge, the largest pedestrian bridge of its kind in the world. It's almost a half kilometer across (1,620 feet / 494 meters) and hangs 279 feet (85 meters) above the valley floor. Of note are a few hamlets along the way that make the last section to Zermatt enjoyable. Still, if you would like to end the walk of your journey early, you can take either the funicular from Sunnegga down to the valley or an electric bus from Winkelmatten to Zermatt.