Saturday, 12 August 2023

THE WALKERS HAUTE ROUTE

 

Grand Combin
My 69th Walkers Haute Route completed last week. Another brilliant group on one of the finest multi day treks in The Alps. This challenging, beautiful and spectacular trek starts from Chamonix and finishes at Zermatt, Mont Blanc to The Matterhorn!

I was guiding for the excellent, friendly and local company Mont Blanc Treks once again this season. I've been guiding for Sara's professional guiding company based in the Chamonix for the last 8 seasons. My group on this trip was composed of 11 folk from Britain, Canada, USA and Australia. A top group of folk and some great laughs along the 180km route with 15000 metres of ascent. Here's just a few images from our walk.

DAY 1

CHAMONIX VALLEY - TRIENT

Heading over a wet and misty Col de Balme into Switzerland

Fine morning with the last chance of Mont Blanc in clear skies, before the rain!

A wet, cold and windy Cole de Balme

DAY 2

TRIENT - CHAMPEX LAC

Fenetre Arpette

Martagon Lilly

Trient Glacier

Swallow Tail Butterfly

DAY 3

CHAMPEX LAC - CABANE LOUVIE

Champex Lac

Val de Bagnes 

Enroyte to Cabane Louvie

Lac Louvie

Relaxing at the Cabane Louvie

Golden hour on the Grand Combin


I chose to bivvy out, rewarded with a fine sunset over the Mont Blanc range

DAY 4

CABANE LOUVIE - CABANE PRAFLEURI

Lac Louvie & Grand Combin

Pigne de Arolla from Col Prafleuri

Mt. Cenus Bellflower

The team at lunch


Approaching todays 2nd col, Prafleuri

Col Prafleuri

DAY 5

CABANE PRAFLEURI - AROLLA

Lac Dixence from Col la Roux

Ibex high on the cliffs


Col la Roux

Traffic jam


The unmistakable Eidelweiss!



Flower meadows beside Lac Dixence


Above Lac Dixence

Steepest col on the trek, Reidmatten


Grey skies over Mont Blanc de Cheillon


Ibex, phone shot

Colourful flowers every day

DAY 6

AROLLA - LA SAGE

Lac Bleau

Martagon Lilly

Meadows near Lac Bleau

DAY 7

LA SAGE - ZINAL

High above Val d'Herens

Dent d' Herens, Pigne de Arolla, Mont Blanc de Cheillon

DAY  8 

REST DAY

Swiss National Day in Zinal & music

My room at Zinal looking out to Besso

DAY 9

ZINAL - GRUBEN

Above the Val d' Aniveiers
Lunch at the Weisshorn Hotel

Weisshorn and meadows

The team fresh and rearing to go above Zinal

Heading down into the Turtmantal

Meidd Pass

DAY 10

GRUBEN - ST. NIKLAUS

Afternoon tea and cake at Jungen

The unspoilt hamlet of Jungen and the Mattertal

The Mattertal & Weisshorn

Brunegghorn & Wesshorn

DAY 11

RANDA - ZERMATT

The longest span footbridge in Europe

Atmospheric cloudscapes on the Europaweg

Cumulous clouds above Zermatt

The bustling streets of Zermatt

The team at the finish

The Matterhorn at dawn


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