The Summer Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt is arguably one of the most scenic and famous multi-day hikes in all of the Alps.
Sign up for a course or a trip and receive a 10% discount on purchases and a 20% discount on gear rental. Go to Pro Ski and Mountain Service
Pro Ski and Mountain Service is our retail specialty store. It has been located in North Bend, WA since 1999.
The past trips and courses have had a large influence on what we sell. Many of our Pro Guiding customers come on trips and courses with gear they purchased from our store. Not only do we want our clients to have the right gear for the job; we also receive direct feedback from them while they are using it in the field. Trust us - if the gear does not work - we won't sell it.
Sign up for a course or a trip and receive a 10% discount on purchases and a 20% discount on gear rental.
Pro Ski and Mountain Service is our retail specialty store. It has been located in North Bend, WA since 1999. The past trips and courses have had a large influence on what we sell. Many of our Pro Guiding customers come on trips and courses with gear they purchased from our store. Not only do we want our clients to have the right gear for the job; we also receive direct feedback from them while they are using it in the field. Trust us - if the gear does not work - we won't sell it.
What is the easiest way to get to Chamonix: The best way to get to Chamonix is via bus from the Geneva Airport. There are several private companies that provide transportation from the Geneva airport to Chamonix. Here are couple of links: http://www.chamexpress.com; or https://www.mountaindropoffs.com/
WHEN DO WE MEET? We will come and meet you at your hotel in the later afternoon of Sunday before the trip start. We will conduct a quick equipment check and get you fully briefed for the next day. These buses or minivans leave from right outside the baggage claim area.
SHOULD I CHANGE DOLLARS INTO EUROS IN GENEVA? It is better to wait until you get to Chamonix. That way you pay the change rate only once (as opposed to from dollars to Swiss Francs then to Euros). So wait until you are in France to change Dollars into Euros, but we recommend changing dollars into Swiss Francs in Geneva, as the majority of the trip actually takes place in Switzerland. In fact all the huts we are staying in, are Swiss huts. If you do not want to change too much money into Swiss Francs right away, you can also get more money in Verbier on the second day of the trip.
HOW MUCH "POCKET MONEY" DO I NEED" It is extremely important that you stay properly hydrated and fluids are not cheap in high alpine huts. Count on spending about sfr. 15 to 20 per day on tea, water, beer and wine for sure. Of course there are other things that will tempt you such as chocolate, cakes, sandwiches, and the undeniable Rosti. All things added up, sfr. 200 for the week should probably do it.
DO I HAVE TO CARRY ALL THE LUNCH FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK? You have options. You can carry all your lunch food (as it is not included in the trip cost), but hardly anyone does it. Most people buy some bread, cheese, dried meat, sausage, chocolate, trailmix etc. in Chamonix that will last for a couple of days. Then they repeat this in Verbier and end up supplementing it with some items they buy at the huts later in the week. You can also have the hutkeeper prepare a lunch packet. They are good, but pretty pricey at about $12 per lunch.
HOW DO WE GET THE EXTRA LUGGAGE TO ZERMATT? This will be organized by Pro Guiding Service and is included in the trip. Please make sure that your extra luggage consists of one manageable piece.
DO YOU SPEAK THE LOCAL LANGUAGE? Yes, we speak French, German and Italian. Speaking the right language or even better the right dialect does not only simplify logistics, but it opens a lot of doors to extra favors.
CAN YOU SUMMARIZE WHAT IS ALL INCLUDED IN THE TRIP COST:
Included in the trip cost: Guide fees, insurance, communication devices, hut fees with breakfast and dinners, hotel night before the trip start, taxi transfer, luggage transfer to Zermatt.
Not included in the trip cost: all personal gear, trip cancellation insurance, rescue insurance, transport from the airport to Chamonix and from Zermatt to the airport, hotel night at the end of the trip in Zermatt; any taxi, bus or train rides due to poor weather and or snow conditions.
HIKE AND FOOD / WATER RELATED QUESTIONS:
How is water handled? For the most part you have to buy the water in the huts and it is not cheap (about sfr10 for a big bottle). In the morning they will fill up your water bottle with tea or water. There will be water along the way, but you might have to purify it. There are some pretty cool products ranging from tablets to filters.
How much do we carry? About 2 liters per day on the traiL.
How do we replenish? As mentioned, most of the time, you just replenish at the hut. You do pass through a few towns and water is very cheap there in grocery stores.
Do you provide filtration or water tablets? No, that is up to you.
We assume you provide all meals during the Route. is this correct? We provide breakfast and dinner, but not the lunches. You can buy some lunch food in Chamonix and then compliment it with food from the hut. They also provide trail lunches for about sfr10. This is not included in the trip cost. Drinks at dinner are also not included.
Should we bring energy bars, shot blocks etc? A lot of people do, but you can also buy a lot of those things in Chamonix.
What is the temperature range during the course of the week? This is hard to say, but it could range between 80 F and freezing depending on conditions, time of day and elevation of the trip. You are moving between 5000 and 11000 feet, so it is safe to say that there might be quite a range. If you pack according the packing list, you should be fine.
What is the projected pack weight we will be carrying? About 20 to 25 pounds max.
Can I do the Summer Haute Route in a sturdy trail running shoe?
We strongly advise agains this, since our Summer Haute Route still travels over several glaciers along the way. Some of these glaciers are crevassed and located over 10000 feet of elevation. Chances that you will be wearing crampons at times are very good, so a sturdy hiking boot or light mountaineering boot is recommended.
DO I HAVE TO MAKE TRAIN RESERVATIONS FOR THE TRAIN RIDE BACK TO THE AIRPORT AT THE END OF THE TRIP? There is no need for that. You will be able to buy a ticket at the counter in Zermatt and just walk onto the train. The travel time from Zermatt to Geneva is about 3.5 hours.
If you intend to do further travel in Switzerland , you might consider purchasing the Halfprice Pass from the Swiss Railway System. Check it out at: http://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/railpasses/half-fare-travelcard.html
The cost of a one month pass is roughly Sfr. 125, but once you have the pass, all public transportation is - well - half price. You could start saving money very quickly.
WHAT ABOUT TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE AND RESCUE INSURANCE?
The trip cost does not include trip cancellation insurance or rescue insurance. We highly recommend that you get trip cancellation insurance. Rescue insurance is also not included, because it is relatively complicated to insure a person for the three countries we are travelling in. Some people have rescue insurance already, so it does not make sense for us to include it in the trip cost.
We recommend the rescue insurance from the American Alpine Club http://americanalpineclub.org/p/globalrescue. With a rescue insurance from the AAC, your coverage is worldwide.
REGA of Switzerland is a good alternative at a very reasonable price, but REGA insurance covers on Swiss Citizens world wide. This type of insurance works very well for Amerians who intend to spend all their time in Switzerland. REGA members who are not Swiss Citizens are covered for rescues within Switzerland only. In case of the Haute Route, this would therefore not include the first half day of the trip. For more information please check out: http://www.rega.ch/en/support-rega/faq.aspx
Some medical insurances appear to include resuce insurance, but they have high deductibles for these services. The average helicopter rescue in Switzerland costs between sfr 2500 and 4000.