Date:
July
|
Hike
|
Slept
|
Altitude Change (total feet)*
|
Miles
|
|
Ascent
|
Descent
|
||||
16
|
Chamonix, France
|
Chamonix
|
|||
17
|
Argentiere to Trient, Switzerland
(bus from Chamonix to Argentere)
|
Trient: Relais du Mont Blanc (dorm)
|
4,300
|
3,700
|
9.0
|
18
|
Trient - Champex
|
Hotel du Glacier
|
2,250
|
2,450
|
9.94
|
19
|
Champex-Lac to Cabane du Mont Fort (took bus
from Champex to Le Chable/Verbier)
|
Cabane du Mont Fort
(dorm)
|
4,605
|
0
|
5.4
|
20
|
Cabane du Mont Fort to Cabane de Prafleuri
|
Cabane de Prafleuri
(dorm)
|
4,200
|
3,500
|
9.8
|
21
|
Cabane de Prafleuri to Arolla
(took bus from Arolla to Les Hauderes)
|
Le Alpes Pensionne
|
2,900
|
4,500
|
10.0
|
22
|
La Sage – Cabane du Moiry
|
Cabane du Moiry
(4-bed shared room)
|
6,012
|
2,835
|
6.2
|
23
|
Cabane du Moiry – Zinal
|
Trift Hotel
|
2,545
|
4,580
|
8.5
|
24
|
Zinal - Gruben
|
Schwarzhorn Hotel (dorm)
|
4,300
|
3,855
|
10.0
|
25
|
Gruben – St Niklaus
|
Walliserkeller Pension
|
4,115
|
4,840
|
9.94
|
26
|
St Niklaus - Zermatt
|
Hotel Continental Zermatt
|
2,100
|
200
|
11.8
|
27
|
Zermatt
|
||||
Totals:
|
37,327
|
30,460
|
90.58
|
||
Altitude calculations are based on figures used/generated by
David Miltenberger.
Based on our research and experience we believe these height change statistics
to be the most accurate available. Altitude gain/loss in the above chart has been
adjusted for the few times we took non-foot options to shorten days: the bus
from Arolla to La Sage (skipping the valley walk); a gondola up to Verbier
(a jump-start to Cabane du Mont Fort); a gondola down the last leg of forest to
Zinal and a gondola down the last leg of forest to St. Niklaus. In summary, two
bus rides through valleys were used to eliminate two short days and shorten the trip
by two days, and two lower-level gondolas were used to slightly shorten long
descents. All high-mountain portions of the trek were walked.
Based on our research and experience we believe these height change statistics
to be the most accurate available. Altitude gain/loss in the above chart has been
adjusted for the few times we took non-foot options to shorten days: the bus
from Arolla to La Sage (skipping the valley walk); a gondola up to Verbier
(a jump-start to Cabane du Mont Fort); a gondola down the last leg of forest to
Zinal and a gondola down the last leg of forest to St. Niklaus. In summary, two
bus rides through valleys were used to eliminate two short days and shorten the trip
by two days, and two lower-level gondolas were used to slightly shorten long
descents. All high-mountain portions of the trek were walked.
Miltenberger’s trek blog can be found at: http://hikingthehauteroutehowtodo.blogspot.com/2011/03/hiking-haute-route-how-to-do.html
