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Haute Route

May 06, 2024

The Haute Route (or the High Route or Mountaineers' Route) is the name given to a route (with several variations) undertaken on foot or by ski touring between the Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France, and the Matterhorn, in Zermatt, Switzerland.[1]

Two alpinists on the Otemma Glacier on the Haute Route

First charted as a summer mountaineering route by members of the English Alpine Club in the mid-19th century, the route takes around 12+ days walking (or 7+ days skiing) for the 180 km from the Chamonix valley, home of Mont Blanc, to Zermatt, home of the Matterhorn. Originally dubbed "The High Level Route" in English by members of the hiking club, the term was translated into French when first successfully undertaken on skis in 1911. Since then the French term has prevailed. While the term haute route has become somewhat genericized for any of the many multi-day, hut-to-hut alpine tours, the "Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route" remains the original.

Besides the original Haute Route, there is nowadays also a "Walker's" Haute Route, which is an alpine hiking trail that follows a network of well-marked and signposted paths. The "Walker's" route stays below 3000 meters and takes advantage of the popular mountain huts and small inns and hotels in the villages along the way. In the spring, summer and fall, this route is safe, entirely non-technical (requires no ropes, crampons, or protection devices, unlike the actual Haute Route) and while challenging because of its daily elevation gains and distances, is achievable by any hiker in reasonably good physical condition.

The original Haute Route has large portions of glacier travel, for which suitable mountaineering gear and experience is necessary. In the winter, ski touring gear is required, and depending upon the weather and route chosen, may require crampons, ropes and avalanche protection gear.

Summer Haute Routes edit

There is occasionally a danger of collapsing glaciers which can render the path virtually impassable. However, a lower level variation exists that avoids crossing glaciers. The majority of hikers complete it in 12–16 days[2][3]

Ski Touring Haute Route edit

 
View of Matterhorn and Dent d'Hérens from the summit of Tête Blanche, high point of the Haut Route (3,710 m (12,172 ft))

First successfully completed in 1911, the Haute Route ski tour is probably the most famous and coveted ski tour in the world. Using high mountain huts to allow skiers to stay high and cover substantial distances, it winds through the highest, most dramatic peaks of the Alps from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn. It requires good weather, favourable snow conditions and strong effort to complete this line. Because of this, roughly half of the skiers who begin the tour do not complete it.

There are many variations of the HLR (High Level Route) that work their way between Chamonix and Zermatt, including those listed below.[4] It is also possible to add ascents of a number of ski peaks to any of the routes. The winter Haute Route deviates from the summer route to avoid terrain that is dangerous or impassable when snow-covered. Many people also ski the Haute Route in the opposite direction, by variations that select better ascent and descents.

Lionel Claudepierre, a member of PGHM of Bourg Saint Maurice, set a new record of 18h35m on Monday 15 April 2013.[5]

Classic Route edit

The winter Haute Route's original line which involves long climbs and mountaineering with ice axe and crampons.

Verbier Variation edit

The purest skiing line, and the most frequently done.

  • Day 1: Argentière, France, over the Col du Chardonnet and the Fenêtre du Saleina to the Trient Hut.
  • Day 2: Champex-Lac via the Val d'Arpette. Bus or taxi to Verbier and the Mont Fort Hut.
  • Day 3: Over the Rosablanche to the Prafleuri Hut.
  • Day 4: Around Dixence reservoir and up to the Dix Hut.
  • Day 5: Over the Pigne d'Arolla to the Vignettes Hut.
  • Day 6: A long day to Zermatt over the Col de l'Evêque, Col du Mont Brulé and Col de Valpelline, then a long descent under the shoulder of the Matterhorn and Dent d'Herens.
  • Day 7: Optional extension to Saas-Fee over the Adler Pass.

Grande Lui variation edit

A longer, harder, more technical route that eliminates the road break of the Verbier and Classic variations.

  • Day 1: Argentiere village, France, over the Col du Chardonnet and the Fenêtre du Saleina to the Trient Hut or down to the Bivouac Dorés.
  • Day 2: Over the Grande Lui through the Col du Saleina or around it via the Swiss Three Cols and a long descent to the village of La Fouly.
  • Day 3: Up the Val Ferret and over to Grand St. Bernard Hospice.
  • Day 4: Down to Great St Bernard Pass and over the shoulder of Mont Vélan to the Vélan Hut.
  • Day 5: Up the Grand Combin and over the Plateau du Couloir, down the Glacier du Mont Durand to the Chanrion Hut.
  • Day 6: A long non-technical climb up the Otemma Glacier or a stiffer climb over Les Portons to the Vignettes Hut.
  • Day 7: A long day to Zermatt over the Col de l'Evêque, Col du Mont Brulé and Col de Valpelline, then a long descent under the shoulder of the Matterhorn and Dent d'Herens.
  • Day 8: Optional extension to Saas-Fee over the Adler Pass.
 
Vignettes Hut, near Arolla, Switzerland

"Backward" Haute Route edit

  • Day 1: From Zermatt under the Matterhorn up to the Schonbiel Hut.
  • Day 2: Over the Col de Valpelline and up to the Bertol Hut.
  • Day 3: Down then up over Col Collon to the Vignettes Hut.
  • Day 4: Over the Pigne d'Arolla and down Les Portons to Chanrion Hut.
  • Day 5: Across the Otemma Gorge, up & over into the Aosta Valley. Hitchhike to La Palud.
  • Day 6: Ride the lift to the Vallée Blanche. Descend to Montenvers and ski or take the cog train out to Chamonix.

Peaks and passes on the route edit

See the route descriptions.

Optional ski peak ascents along the listed Haute Route variations include the Mont Blanc, Rosablanche, Pigne d'Arolla, Mont Blanc de Cheilon, Mont Vélan, Breithorn. Some of these peak ascents will require an additional day or more, and range from easy to very technical and difficult.

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "2016.07.23-29 – Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt (7 jours)".
  2. ^ Reynolds 2007.
  3. ^ Stewart 2008.
  4. ^ Cliff 1993.
  5. ^ "Haute Route New Speed Record. Chamonix – Zermatt in 18h35m". SARL Chamonix Networks. Retrieved 4 June 2014.

References edit

  • Cliff, Peter (1993). Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt: Guide for Skiers and Mountain Walkers. Menasha Ridge Press. ISBN 1-871890-21-7.
  • Reynolds, Kev (2007). Chamonix – Zermatt: The Walker's Haute Route, 4th Edition. Milnthorpe, UK: Cicerone. ISBN 978-1-85284-513-1. Updates are available on the publisher's website.
  • Stewart, Alexander (2008). The Walker's Haute Route: Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn. Hindhead, UK: Trailblazer Publications. ISBN 978-1-905864-08-9.

Further reading edit

  • Waeber, Michael (2009). Haute Route de Chamonix a Zermatt/Saas Fee. Rother. ISBN 978-3-7633-5998-1.. (In French). Also published in German as Haute Route: Von Chamonix nach Zermatt/Saas Fee, ISBN 3-7633-5919-2.

External links edit

  • Information on The Haute Route: Videos, guided and self-guided trips
  • Haute Route Chamonix – Zermatt – General presentation and detailed routes – French

May 06, 2024
haute, route, high, route, mountaineers, route, name, given, route, with, several, variations, undertaken, foot, touring, between, mont, blanc, chamonix, france, matterhorn, zermatt, switzerland, alpinists, otemma, glacier, first, charted, summer, mountaineeri. The Haute Route or the High Route or Mountaineers Route is the name given to a route with several variations undertaken on foot or by ski touring between the Mont Blanc in Chamonix France and the Matterhorn in Zermatt Switzerland 1 Two alpinists on the Otemma Glacier on the Haute Route First charted as a summer mountaineering route by members of the English Alpine Club in the mid 19th century the route takes around 12 days walking or 7 days skiing for the 180 km from the Chamonix valley home of Mont Blanc to Zermatt home of the Matterhorn Originally dubbed The High Level Route in English by members of the hiking club the term was translated into French when first successfully undertaken on skis in 1911 Since then the French term has prevailed While the term haute route has become somewhat genericized for any of the many multi day hut to hut alpine tours the Chamonix Zermatt Haute Route remains the original Besides the original Haute Route there is nowadays also a Walker s Haute Route which is an alpine hiking trail that follows a network of well marked and signposted paths The Walker s route stays below 3000 meters and takes advantage of the popular mountain huts and small inns and hotels in the villages along the way In the spring summer and fall this route is safe entirely non technical requires no ropes crampons or protection devices unlike the actual Haute Route and while challenging because of its daily elevation gains and distances is achievable by any hiker in reasonably good physical condition The original Haute Route has large portions of glacier travel for which suitable mountaineering gear and experience is necessary In the winter ski touring gear is required and depending upon the weather and route chosen may require crampons ropes and avalanche protection gear Contents 1 Summer Haute Routes 1 1 Huts and villages on the summer Haute Route glacier trek 1 2 Low level Walker s Haute Route variation huts and villages 2 Ski Touring Haute Route 2 1 Classic Route 2 2 Verbier Variation 2 3 Grande Lui variation 2 4 Backward Haute Route 2 5 Peaks and passes on the route 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksSummer Haute Routes editThere is occasionally a danger of collapsing glaciers which can render the path virtually impassable However a lower level variation exists that avoids crossing glaciers The majority of hikers complete it in 12 16 days 2 3 Huts and villages on the summer Haute Route glacier trek edit Le Tour village France Albert Premier Hut Cabane du Trient or Orny Hut Champex town Switzerland Valsorey Hut or Chanrion Hut Vignettes Hut Arolla village Switzerland Bertol Hut Schonbiel Hut Zermatt town Switzerland Low level Walker s Haute Route variation huts and villages edit Chamonix town France Argentiere village France Trient village Switzerland Champex village Switzerland Sembrancher village Switzerland Le Chable village Switzerland Verbier village Switzerland Arolla village Switzerland Les Hauderes village Switzerland Zinal village Switzerland Gruben village Switzerland St Niklaus village Switzerland Zermatt town SwitzerlandSki Touring Haute Route edit nbsp View of Matterhorn and Dent d Herens from the summit of Tete Blanche high point of the Haut Route 3 710 m 12 172 ft First successfully completed in 1911 the Haute Route ski tour is probably the most famous and coveted ski tour in the world Using high mountain huts to allow skiers to stay high and cover substantial distances it winds through the highest most dramatic peaks of the Alps from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn It requires good weather favourable snow conditions and strong effort to complete this line Because of this roughly half of the skiers who begin the tour do not complete it There are many variations of the HLR High Level Route that work their way between Chamonix and Zermatt including those listed below 4 It is also possible to add ascents of a number of ski peaks to any of the routes The winter Haute Route deviates from the summer route to avoid terrain that is dangerous or impassable when snow covered Many people also ski the Haute Route in the opposite direction by variations that select better ascent and descents Lionel Claudepierre a member of PGHM of Bourg Saint Maurice set a new record of 18h35m on Monday 15 April 2013 5 Classic Route edit The winter Haute Route s original line which involves long climbs and mountaineering with ice axe and crampons Day 1 Argentiere village France over the Col du Chardonnet and the Fenetre du Saleina to the Trient Hut Day 2 Champex Lac via the Val d Arpette Bus or taxi to Bourg Saint Pierre Day 3 Long climb up to the Valsorey Hut on the shoulder of Grand Combin Day 4 Over the Plateau du Couloir and down the Glacier du Mont Durand to the Chanrion Hut Day 5 A long climb up the Otemma Glacier to the Vignettes Hut Day 6 A long day to Zermatt over the Col de l Eveque Col du Mont Brule and Col de Valpelline then a long descent under the shoulder of the Matterhorn and Dent d Herens Day 7 Optional extension to Saas Fee over the Adler Pass Verbier Variation edit The purest skiing line and the most frequently done Day 1 Argentiere France over the Col du Chardonnet and the Fenetre du Saleina to the Trient Hut Day 2 Champex Lac via the Val d Arpette Bus or taxi to Verbier and the Mont Fort Hut Day 3 Over the Rosablanche to the Prafleuri Hut Day 4 Around Dixence reservoir and up to the Dix Hut Day 5 Over the Pigne d Arolla to the Vignettes Hut Day 6 A long day to Zermatt over the Col de l Eveque Col du Mont Brule and Col de Valpelline then a long descent under the shoulder of the Matterhorn and Dent d Herens Day 7 Optional extension to Saas Fee over the Adler Pass Grande Lui variation edit A longer harder more technical route that eliminates the road break of the Verbier and Classic variations Day 1 Argentiere village France over the Col du Chardonnet and the Fenetre du Saleina to the Trient Hut or down to the Bivouac Dores Day 2 Over the Grande Lui through the Col du Saleina or around it via the Swiss Three Cols and a long descent to the village of La Fouly Day 3 Up the Val Ferret and over to Grand St Bernard Hospice Day 4 Down to Great St Bernard Pass and over the shoulder of Mont Velan to the Velan Hut Day 5 Up the Grand Combin and over the Plateau du Couloir down the Glacier du Mont Durand to the Chanrion Hut Day 6 A long non technical climb up the Otemma Glacier or a stiffer climb over Les Portons to the Vignettes Hut Day 7 A long day to Zermatt over the Col de l Eveque Col du Mont Brule and Col de Valpelline then a long descent under the shoulder of the Matterhorn and Dent d Herens Day 8 Optional extension to Saas Fee over the Adler Pass nbsp Vignettes Hut near Arolla Switzerland Backward Haute Route edit Day 1 From Zermatt under the Matterhorn up to the Schonbiel Hut Day 2 Over the Col de Valpelline and up to the Bertol Hut Day 3 Down then up over Col Collon to the Vignettes Hut Day 4 Over the Pigne d Arolla and down Les Portons to Chanrion Hut Day 5 Across the Otemma Gorge up amp over into the Aosta Valley Hitchhike to La Palud Day 6 Ride the lift to the Vallee Blanche Descend to Montenvers and ski or take the cog train out to Chamonix Peaks and passes on the route edit See the route descriptions Optional ski peak ascents along the listed Haute Route variations include the Mont Blanc Rosablanche Pigne d Arolla Mont Blanc de Cheilon Mont Velan Breithorn Some of these peak ascents will require an additional day or more and range from easy to very technical and difficult See also editHaute Route cycling Swiss AlpsNotes edit 2016 07 23 29 Haute Route Chamonix Zermatt 7 jours Reynolds 2007 Stewart 2008 Cliff 1993 Haute Route New Speed Record Chamonix Zermatt in 18h35m SARL Chamonix Networks Retrieved 4 June 2014 References editCliff Peter 1993 Haute Route Chamonix Zermatt Guide for Skiers and Mountain Walkers Menasha Ridge Press ISBN 1 871890 21 7 Reynolds Kev 2007 Chamonix Zermatt The Walker s Haute Route 4th Edition Milnthorpe UK Cicerone ISBN 978 1 85284 513 1 Updates are available on the publisher s website Stewart Alexander 2008 The Walker s Haute Route Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn Hindhead UK Trailblazer Publications ISBN 978 1 905864 08 9 Further reading editWaeber Michael 2009 Haute Route de Chamonix a Zermatt Saas Fee Rother ISBN 978 3 7633 5998 1 In French Also published in German as Haute Route Von Chamonix nach Zermatt Saas Fee ISBN 3 7633 5919 2 External links editInformation on The Haute Route Videos guided and self guided trips Haute Route Chamonix Zermatt General presentation and detailed routes French Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Haute Route amp oldid 1215110065, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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