Trekking Chamonix to Zermatt

The classic Walker's Haute Route

By Kev Reynolds

ISBN

9781786311382

Availability

Published

12 Jul 2022

Edition

Seventh

Pages

256

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.45cm

Weight

300g

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Guidebook to the Walker's Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt. The 225km route typically takes 2 weeks to walk. Described in 14 stages, the route crosses 11 passes between Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn and involves more than 14,000m of ascent and descent. A complete guide for planning and walking the route, with accommodation information.

Seasons

Alpine summer walking, so mid-June to mid-September; snow could remain on higher passes well into July.

Centres

Chamonix, Argentière, Trient, Champex, Sembrancher, Le Chable, Verbier, Arolla, Les Haudères, La Sage, Zinal, Gruben, St Niklaus, Zermatt

Difficulty

225km, 11 passes and 14,000m of ascent make this a fairly tough trek; high alpine mountain walking, some sharp cols

Must See

Mont Blanc and Chamonix's Aiguilles, Grand Combin, the Grand Desért, the fabulous Vals d'Hérens and Moiry, the Twära view of the Dom, Weisshorn, the view of the Matterhorn on the approach to Zermatt

ISBN

9781786311382

Availability

Published

12 Jul 2022

Edition

Seventh

Pages

256

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.45cm

Weight

300g

Overview

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.

Table of Contents

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 – Hôtel Weisshorn/Cabane Bella Tola

Stage 11B Hôtel 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 – Täschalp – Zermatt

Stage 13A/14A St Niklaus – Täsch – Zermatt

Appendix A Walks from Zermatt

Appendix B Climbing from Zermatt

Appendix C Useful contacts

Appendix D Bibliography

Appendix E Glossary

Updates

June 2022

Route alterations during 2022

Please check locally before changing plans as some of these routing changes may be resolved during the summer. Probably only the Sentier des Chamois closure on Stage 6 may cause a re-plan, and there are several work arounds for that.

If you have better information ion these, or more seasonal updates that we can pass on to trekkers please let us know by email to updates@cicerone.co.uk or using the contact form on the cicerone.co.uk website.

The alternative descent into Trient via Catogne on Stage 2 is now rerouted to descend directly to La Peuty.

On Stage 6 the very fine Sentier des Chamois path after the Cabane de Mont Fort is closed and the alternative route takes the harder Col des Chaux. Alternatively take the lower route from near the La Chaux cable car and join the path later, or use the Cabane de Louvie route (Stage 5A) or make the ascent to Louvie from Fionnay.

There are re-routings across the glacier after the Dix hut on Stage 7. The direct route to Arolla avoids any difficulties.

There are path re-routings below the Twara viewpoint on Stage 12 after the Augstbordpass.

June 2022

Closure of Europaweg and new route

The Europaweg is now closed between Grächen and the Europahütte. This was an exposed route, prone to rockfall from above and to many trekkers, rather scary. Treemendous, but scary.

The visit to the hut allows a last high-level overnight and the crossing of the fantastic 400metre Charles Kuonen suspension bridge and is still recommended.

The new route options are set down in the latest (seventh) edition – ISBN 978 178631 138 2. These updates therefore cover previous editions of the C-Z guide.

To overnight at the EuropeHütte, there are two options:

Either take the valley route to Herbriggen and then climb to the Europehütte. This is our preferred option. (Stage 13). Its also possible to continue upvalley to Randa and make the 2hr, 800m climb from there, passing the new suspension bridge.

Or, overnight in Grächen and take the descending route to Herbriggen and then the new route to the Europahütte. (Stage 13B)

The direct one-day route through the Zermatt is described in Stage 13A/14A. This is unchanged from previous books.

See download below for stages 12A, 13 and 13B.

1138 Chamonix Zermatt 7th Ed 2022 LAYOUT (9.005 MB)

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Kev Reynolds

Kev Reynolds was a freelance writer, photojournalist and lecturer. A prolific compiler of guidebooks, his first title for Cicerone Press (Walks & Climbs in the Pyrenees) appeared in 1978; he later produced many more titles for the same publisher. A member of the Outdoor Writers' Guild, the Alpine Club and Austrian Alpine Club, his passion for mountains and the countryside inspired a lifetime's activity, and he regularly travelled throughout Britain to share that enthusiasm through his 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.

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