Haute Route
Duration 9 Days » Grade Introductory
 The Haute Route Photo: © Colin Stump
The Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route is one of the world's great mountaineering journeys. It traverses the crest of the Western Alps and passes through some of the most stunning mountain scenery in Europe.
The Haute Route is the easiest of our courses in the Alps, and is suitable for fit walkers, as well as those with some previous winter or alpine experience. Training in ice axe and crampon use and safe glacier travel is taught on the first day of the course, as we will be walking on glaciers for much of the seven days that we spend in the mountains.
Starting from the Chamonix Valley, we cross the northern end of the Mont Blanc Massif into Switzerland. Then we go around the Grand Combin to reach the Arolla Region. Here we intend to climb the summit of the Pigne d'Arolla before crossing a high mountain ridge and then descending past the North Face of the Matterhorn to Zermatt, perhaps taking in the summit of Tête Blanche along the way.
The exact route taken will depend on the prevailing weather conditions and the strength of the team, as there are many possible variations. Our objective is to take in as many straightforward summits as possible, which will add even more satisfaction to your Haute Route experience. After the journey, you can join us on Mont Blanc to top off an incredible alpine holiday.
- Climb Mont Blanc The Haute Route Mont Blanc Extension... [read more]
Starting point: Chamonix, France
Possible mountain routes
The Jagged Globe Haute Route spends seven days in the mountains, which allows us to take in some straightforward summits. These peaks have been climbed on previous Jagged Globe Haute Route courses:
Pigne d'Arolla (3,796m)
An ascent of the Pigne d'Arolla is a good introductory climb. The route via the ESE flank is on snow all the way and the summit gives wonderful views of our valley base of Arolla and, on a clear day, of the Mediterranean. This route from the Vignettes Hut takes approximately 2 hours. Alternatively, we may make a traverse of the mountain from the Dix Hut via the West Flank (F), descending the ESE flank back down to the valley.
Mont Blanc de Cheilon (3,869m)
Although the name of Mont Blanc de Cheilon indicates that you are about to climb something akin to a "milk-pail", this mountain is, without doubt, the finest rock and ice peak in the Arolla district. The summit forms a pointed central hub with rock and ice ridges radiating like spokes on a wheel. We climb the mountain from via the normal route from the Dix Hut. This is a classic outing up the broad snow slopes of the WNW flank to meet the SW ridge. Narrow at first, the ridge becomes rocky and steepens up towards the summit, which provides memorable views west towards Mont Blanc.
Tête Blanche (3,710m)
The Tête Blanche is a quick and easy peak to get "in the bag". One of a series of summits along the By-Valsorey-Velan frontier ridge which gives excellent views all around, especially of the Matterhorn.
Typical Programme
| Day 1: | Saturday.
Course participants meet at the course base at 8 p.m. Briefing on the week's activities in the evening plus gear check. |
| Day 2: | Sunday.
In the morning, we will organise our gear for the week and make any last minute purchases. We take the cable car to Le Tour in the early afternoon and have a leisurely walk up to the Albert Premier Hut (2,702m). The afternoon is spent doing glacier skills training. |
| Day 3: | Monday.
We make an early start to cross the Col du Tour (3,282m) into Switzerland. From here, we descend and walk across the relatively flat Trient Glacier to reach the Cabane du Trient (3,170m) on the north side of the glacier. This is a full day on glaciated terrain. |
| Day 4: | Tuesday.
From the hut, we descend to Champex, where a taxi will be waiting to take us to the dam at Mauvoisin. In the afternoon we walk up to the Cabane de Chanrion (2,462m). |
| Day 5: | Wednesday.
There are a couple of route options today for our journey. Typically, we make an alpine start and traverse round onto the Glacier d'Otemma, which leads us past the Petit Mont Collon to the Cabane du Vignettes (3,160m). Alternatively, we may take the Glacier du Gietro and cross the Col de Cheilon to the Cabane du Dix (2,928m). |
| Day 6: | Thursday.
From the Vignettes Hut, we will make the 2 hour ascent of the Pigne d'Arolla (3,796m), before descending into Arolla for a shower and overnight at our hotel, the Mont Collon. Alternatively, from the Dix Hut, we might climb Mont Blanc de Cheilon (3,869m). |
| Day 7: | Friday.
After breakfast at the hotel, we ascend from Arolla to the Cabane du Bertol (3,311m), one of the most spectacularly situated huts in the Alps. There are superb views, in particular of Dent Blanche, with its inspiring South Ridge (a classic route graded 'AD'). |
| Day 8: | Saturday.
We make an early start to cross the Glacier du Mont Mine, possibly taking in the Tête Blanche (3,724m), before crossing the Col d'Herens (3,462m). From here there are superb views of the North Faces of the Matterhorn and Dent D'Herens, before descending the Stockji Glacier to reach the Schonbielhutte (2,694m) for lunch. In the afternoon, we descend to our hotel in Zermatt. |
| Day 9: | Sunday.
Breakfast and disperse. Those joining the Mont Blanc Extension will transfer early this morning. |
Find out more about our Course bases, Course Inclusions and Exclusions, Course Directors and Guiding Ratios... [read more]
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Dates
| Joining in | From Chamonix
£995 |
| Insurance | Course Only
£59 |
| Optional Single Room £15 |
Expeditions
If you have the skills & fitness required, then Jagged Globe offers a wide range of exciting expeditions [read more]
Other Courses at this Grade
These courses have a similar grade and might also suit you. They are all considered to be 'introductory courses'.
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