A guidebook to the classic Chamonix to Zermatt trek from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn. The 225km Walker’s Haute Route through the French and Swiss Alps crosses 11 passes, gains more than 14, 000m in height and is a strong contender for the title of Most Beautiful Walk in Europe. The high-level route is described in 14 day stages, with optional variants, and is suitable for walkers with a good level of fitness and some previous alpine trekking experience.
Alongside clear route descriptions and mapping for each stage of the trek, there is essential practical information on travel to Chamonix and return from Zermatt, as well as advice on accommodation in alpine villages and mountain refuges, trekking safety, equipment, itinerary planning and preparation.
Taking 2 weeks to complete, this challenging but rewarding trek encompasses views of the greatest collection of 4000m peaks in the Alps – Mont Blanc, the Grand Combin, Dent Blanche, Weisshorn and the Matterhorn – and visits some of the most spectacular valleys, including the Val d’Hérens, Val d’Annivers and the Mattertal.
Inhoudsopgave
Mountain safety
Overview map
Map key
Route summary table
Preface
Introduction
The Walker’s Haute Route
Getting there and back again
Accommodation
When to go
Notes for walkers
Not enough time?
Equipment
Languages
Paths and waymarks
Safety in the mountains
Wildlife and plants
Maps
Recommended apps
Using this guide
Chamonix to Zermatt
Stage 1 Chamonix – Argentière
Stage 2 Argentière – Col de Balme – Trient
Stage 3 Trient – Fenêtre d’Arpette – Champex
Stage 3A Trient – Col de la Forclaz – Alp Bovine – Champex
Stage 4 Champex – Sembrancher – Le Châble
Stage 5 Le Châble – Clambin – Cabane du Mont Fort
Stage 5A Le Châble (Les Ruinettes) – Col Termin – Cabane de Louvie
Stage 6 Cabane du Mont Fort – Col Termin – Col de Louvie – Col de Prafleuri – Cabane de Prafleuri
Stage 7 Cabane de Prafleuri – Col des Roux – Pas de Chèvres – Arolla
Stage 8 Arolla – Lac Bleu – Les Haudères – La Sage
Stage 9 La Sage – Col du Tsaté – Cabane de Moiry
Stage 9A La Sage – Col de Torrent – Barrage de Moiry/Grimentz
Stage 10 Cabane de Moiry – Col de Sorebois – Zinal
Stage 10A Barrage de Moiry – Col de Sorebois – Zinal
Stage 11 Zinal – Forcletta – Gruben
Stage 11A Zinal – Htel Weisshorn/Cabane Bella Tola
Stage 11B Htel Weisshorn/Cabane Bella Tola – Meidpass – Gruben
Stage 12 Gruben – Augstbordpass – St Niklaus
Stage 12A St Niklaus – Gasenried
Stage 13 Gasenried – Europa Hut
Stage 14 Europa Hut – Tschalp – Zermatt
Stage 13A/14A St Niklaus – Tsch – Zermatt
Appendix A Walks from Zermatt
Appendix B Climbing from Zermatt
Appendix C Useful contacts
Appendix D Bibliography
Appendix E Glossary
Over de auteur
A lifelong passion for the countryside in general, and mountains in particular, drove Kev’s desire to share his sense of wonder and delight in the natural world through his writing, guiding, photography and lecturing. Spending several months every year in various high-mountain regions researching guidebooks made him The Man with the World’s Best Job.
Kev enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Cicerone from the 1970s, producing 50 books, including guides to five major trekking regions of Nepal and to numerous routes in the European Alps and Pyrenees, as well as walking guides for Kent, Sussex and the Cotswolds. ‘A Walk in the Clouds’ is a collection of autobiographical short stories recording 50 years of mountain travel and adventures. He was also the contributing editor of the collaborative guide ‘Trekking in the Himalaya’ and Cicerone’s celebratory anniversary compilation ‘Fifty Years of Adventure’.
A frequent contributor to outdoor magazines, Kev also wrote and illustrated brochures for national tourist authorities and travel companies. When not away in the mountains, Kev lived with his wife in a small cottage among what he called ’the Kentish Alps’, with unrestricted walking country on the doorstep. But he also travelled throughout Britain during the winter months to share his love of the places he wrote about through a series of lectures.
Sadly, Kev passed away in 2021. He will be remembered fondly by all who knew him and by many more he inspired through his writing and talks.