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Haute Route
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{{Short description|Hiking or ski route between the Mont Blanc in France and the Matterhorn in Switzerland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} [[Image:Hauteroute-alps-seabhcan.jpg|thumb|250px|Two alpinists on the [[Otemma Glacier]] on the ''Haute Route'']] The '''Haute Route''' (or the '''High Route''' or '''Mountaineers' Route''') is the name given to a route (with several variations) undertaken on foot or by ski touring between [[Chamonix]], France, and the [[Matterhorn]], in [[Zermatt]], Switzerland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=14189489|title = 2016.07.23-29 – Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt (7 jours)}}</ref> First charted as a summer [[mountaineering]] route by members of the English [[Alpine Club (UK)|Alpine Club]] in the mid-19th century, the route takes around 12+ days walking (or 7+ days skiing) for the 180 km from the Chamonix valley, home of [[Mont Blanc]], to Zermatt, home of the [[Matterhorn]]. Originally dubbed "The High Level Route" in English by members of the hiking club, the term was translated into French when first successfully undertaken on skis in 1911. Since then the French term has prevailed. While the term ''haute route'' has become somewhat genericized for any of the many multi-day, hut-to-hut alpine tours, the "Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route" remains the original. Besides the original Haute Route, there is nowadays also a "Walker's" Haute Route, which is an alpine hiking trail that follows a network of well-marked and signposted paths. The "Walker's" route stays below 3000 meters and takes advantage of the popular mountain huts and small inns and hotels in the villages along the way. In the spring, summer and fall, this route is safe, entirely non-technical (requires no ropes, crampons, or protection devices, unlike the actual Haute Route) and while challenging because of its daily elevation gains and distances, is achievable by any hiker in reasonably good physical condition. The original Haute Route has large portions of glacier travel, for which suitable mountaineering gear and experience is necessary. In the winter, ski touring gear is required, and depending upon the weather and route chosen, may require crampons, ropes and avalanche protection gear. ==Summer Haute Routes== There is occasionally a danger of collapsing glaciers which can render the path virtually impassable. However, a lower level variation exists that avoids crossing glaciers. The majority of hikers complete it in 12–16 days.{{sfn|Reynolds|2007}}{{sfn|Stewart|2008}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ===Huts and villages on the summer Haute Route glacier trek=== *[[Le Tour village]], France *[[Albert Premier Hut]] *[[Cabane du Trient]] or [[Orny Hut]] *[[Champex]] town, Switzerland *[[Valsorey Hut]] or [[Chanrion Hut]] *[[Vignettes Hut]] *[[Arolla]] village, Switzerland *[[Bertol Hut]] *[[Schonbiel Hut]] *[[Zermatt]] town, Switzerland {{col-2}} ===Low level "Walker's Haute Route" variation huts and villages=== *[[Chamonix]] town, France *[[Argentière]] village, France *[[Trient, Switzerland|Trient]] village, Switzerland *[[Champex]] village, Switzerland *[[Sembrancher]] village, Switzerland *[[Le Chable]] village, Switzerland *[[Verbier]] village, Switzerland *[[Arolla]] village, Switzerland *[[Les Haudères]] village, Switzerland *[[Zinal]] village, Switzerland *[[Gruben/Meiden|Gruben]] village, Switzerland *[[St Niklaus]] village, Switzerland *[[Zermatt]] town, Switzerland {{col-end}} ==Ski Touring Haute Route== [[Image:Hauteroute.jpg|thumb|250px|View of [[Matterhorn]] and [[Dent d'Hérens]] from the summit of [[Tête Blanche]], high point of the Haut Route (3,710 m (12,172 ft))]] First successfully completed in 1911, the Haute Route [[Ski touring|ski tour]] is probably the most famous and coveted ski tour in the world. Using high mountain huts to allow skiers to stay high and cover substantial distances, it winds through the highest, most dramatic peaks of the Alps from [[Mont Blanc]] to the [[Matterhorn]]. It requires good weather, favourable snow conditions and strong effort to complete this line. Because of this, roughly half of the skiers who begin the tour do not complete it. There are many variations of the HLR (High Level Route) that work their way between Chamonix and Zermatt, including those listed below.{{sfn|Cliff|1993}} It is also possible to add ascents of a number of ski peaks to any of the routes. The winter Haute Route deviates from the summer route to avoid terrain that is dangerous or impassable when snow-covered. Many people also ski the Haute Route in the opposite direction, by variations that select better ascent and descents. Lionel Claudepierre, a member of [[:fr:Peloton de gendarmerie de haute montagne|PGHM]] of Bourg Saint Maurice, set a new record of 18h35m on Monday 15 April 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.chamonix.net/english/speed-record-chamonix-zermatt-haute-route | title=Haute Route New Speed Record. Chamonix – Zermatt in 18h35m | publisher=SARL Chamonix Networks | access-date=4 June 2014}}</ref> === Classic Route === The winter Haute Route's original line which involves long climbs and mountaineering with ice axe and crampons. *Day 1: [[Argentiere]] village, France, over the [[Mont Blanc Massif#Passes|Col du Chardonnet]] and the [[Graian Alps#Passes|Fenêtre du Saleina]] to the [[Trient Hut]]. *Day 2: [[Champex-Lac]] via the [[Val d'Arpette]]. Bus or taxi to [[Bourg-Saint-Pierre]]. *Day 3: Long climb up to the [[Valsorey Hut]] on the shoulder of [[Grand Combin]]. *Day 4: Over the [[Plateau du Couloir]] and down the [[Glacier du Mont Durand]] to the [[Chanrion Hut]]. *Day 5: A long climb up the [[Otemma Glacier]] to the [[Vignettes Hut]]. *Day 6: A long day to Zermatt over the [[Col de l'Evêque]], [[Col du Mont Brulé]] and [[Pennine Alps#Passes|Col de Valpelline]], then a long descent under the shoulder of the Matterhorn and [[Dent d'Herens]]. *Day 7: Optional extension to [[Saas-Fee]] over the [[Pennine Alps#Passes|Adler Pass]]. === Verbier variation === <mapframe latitude="46.027482" longitude="7.249854" zoom="9" width="450" height="250" text="'''Verbier variation of the Haute Route'''<br> {{Farbindex|FF0000|Track}}<br> {{Farbindex|000000|Commonly done by vehicles}}<br> '''C:''' Chamonix<br> '''T:''' [[Cabane du Trient]]<br> '''M:''' [[Cabane du Mont Fort]]<br> '''P:''' [[Cabane de Prafleuri]]<br> '''D:''' [[Cabane des Dix]]<br> '''V:''' [[Cabane des Vignettes]]<br> '''Z:''' Zermatt"> { "type": "ExternalData", "service": "page", "title": "Haute Route.map" } </mapframe> The purest skiing line, and the most frequently done. *Day 1: Argentière, France, over the Col du Chardonnet and the Fenêtre du Saleina to the Trient Hut. *Day 2: Champex-Lac via the Val d'Arpette. Bus or taxi to [[Verbier]] and the [[Mont Fort Hut]]. *Day 3: Over the [[Rosablanche]] to the [[Prafleuri Hut]]. *Day 4: Around [[Dixence]] reservoir and up to the [[Dix Hut]]. *Day 5: Over the [[Pigne d'Arolla]] to the Vignettes Hut. *Day 6: A long day to Zermatt over the Col de l'Evêque, Col du Mont Brulé and Col de Valpelline, then a long descent under the shoulder of the Matterhorn and Dent d'Herens. *Day 7: Optional extension to Saas-Fee over the Adler Pass. === Grande Lui variation === A longer, harder, more technical route that eliminates the road break of the [[Verbier]] and Classic variations. *Day 1: Argentiere village, France, over the Col du Chardonnet and the Fenêtre du Saleina to the Trient Hut or down to the [[Bivouac Dorés]]. *Day 2: Over the [[Grande Lui]] through the [[Col du Saleina]] or around it via the [[Swiss Three Cols]] and a long descent to the village of [[La Fouly]]. *Day 3: Up the [[Val Ferret]] and over to [[Great St. Bernard Hospice|Grand St. Bernard Hospice]]. *Day 4: Down to [[Great St Bernard Pass]] and over the shoulder of [[Mont Vélan]] to the [[Vélan Hut]]. *Day 5: Up the [[Grand Combin]] and over the Plateau du Couloir, down the Glacier du Mont Durand to the Chanrion Hut. *Day 6: A long non-technical climb up the Otemma Glacier or a stiffer climb over [[Les Portons]] to the Vignettes Hut. *Day 7: A long day to Zermatt over the Col de l'Evêque, Col du Mont Brulé and Col de Valpelline, then a long descent under the shoulder of the Matterhorn and Dent d'Herens. *Day 8: Optional extension to Saas-Fee over the Adler Pass. [[Image:Vignettes.jpg|thumb|300px|Vignettes Hut, near Arolla, Switzerland]] ==="Backward" Haute Route=== *Day 1: From Zermatt under the Matterhorn up to the [[Schonbiel Hut]]. *Day 2: Over the Col de Valpelline and up to the [[Bertol Hut]]. *Day 3: Down then up over [[Pennine Alps#Passes|Col Collon]] to the Vignettes Hut. *Day 4: Over the [[Pigne d'Arolla]] and down Les Portons to Chanrion Hut. *Day 5: Across the [[Otemma Glacier|Otemma]] Gorge, up & over into the [[Aosta]] Valley. Hitchhike to [[Courmayeur|La Palud]]. *Day 6: Ride the lift to the [[Vallee Blanche Aerial Tramway|Vallée Blanche]]. Descend to [[Chemin de fer du Montenvers|Montenvers]] and ski or take the cog train out to Chamonix. ===Peaks and passes on the route=== See the route descriptions. Optional ski peak ascents along the listed Haute Route variations include the [[Mont Blanc]], [[Rosablanche]], [[Pigne d'Arolla]], [[Mont Blanc de Cheilon]], [[Mont Vélan]], [[Breithorn]]. Some of these peak ascents will require an additional day or more, and range from easy to very technical and difficult. == Incidents == {{seealso|Drama of the Valais Alps}} In April 2018, a group of ten hikers found itself in extremely bad weather on the segment between the [[Dix Hut]] and the [[Vignettes Hut]]. Three survived.<ref>{{cite web |last=Senn |first=Frank |date=18 March 2024 |title=Tragödie in den Alpen - Todesfalle Haute Route – die Rekonstruktion eines Dramas | url=https://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/tragoedie-in-den-alpen-todesfalle-haute-route-die-rekonstruktion-eines-dramas | publisher=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) | language=German |access-date=10 March 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Sprick | first=Max |date=27 April 2023 |title=Neue Doku über die tödliche Tragödie im Wallis: «Der Bergführer war dumm, und wir waren so dumm, ihm zu folgen» |url=https://www.nzz.ch/panorama/srf-doku-ueber-die-toedliche-tragoedie-an-der-haute-route-der-bergfuehrer-war-dumm-und-wir-waren-so-dumm-ihm-zu-folgen-ld.1735509 |language=German | publisher=NZZ |access-date=10 March 2025 }}</ref> On March 9, 2024, a group of six sent a distress signal while en route to [[Tête Blanche]]. Helicopter rescue launches were not possible due to strong winds. Climbing rescuers turned back after encountering bad weather and likely avalanches. The next day, a physician and a police officer could be dropped by helicopter to a site from which they reached the location of the group, finding five dead.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Vogt | first1=Fabian | last2=Pescatore | first2=Lia | date=14 March 2024 |title=«Die Opfer haben alles unternommen, um zu überleben»: Protokoll des Skitouren-Dramas im Wallis | url=https://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/fuenf-von-sechs-vermissten-skitourengaenger-im-wallis-tot-aufgefunden-ld.1821600 |language=German | publisher=NZZ |access-date=10 March 2025 }}</ref> The sixth body was recovered in August that year.<ref>{{cite web | date=12 August 2024 | title=Tragödie auf der Haute Route: Leiche von vermisster Skitourengeherin gefunden | url=https://www.alpin.de/home/news/61045/artikel_zermatt__skitourengruppe_tot_aufgefunden__eine_person_vermisst.html |language=German | publisher=Alpin |access-date=10 March 2025 }}</ref> ==See also== * [[Haute Route (cycling)]] * [[Swiss Alps]] ==Notes== {{Reflist}} ==References== *{{cite book | last=Cliff | first=Peter | year=1993 | title=Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt: Guide for Skiers and Mountain Walkers | publisher=Menasha Ridge Press | isbn=1-871890-21-7 }} *{{cite book | last=Reynolds | first=Kev|author-link=Kev Reynolds | year= 2007| title=Chamonix – Zermatt: The Walker's Haute Route, 4th Edition | publisher=Cicerone | place=Milnthorpe, UK | isbn= 978-1-85284-513-1 }} Updates are available on the [http://www.cicerone.co.uk/product/detail.cfm/book/513/iid/9/show/updates#tabs publisher's website]. * {{cite book | last=Stewart | first=Alexander | year=2008 | title=The Walker's Haute Route: Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn | publisher=Trailblazer Publications | place=Hindhead, UK | isbn=978-1-905864-08-9 }} ==Further reading== * {{cite book | last=Waeber | first=Michael | year=2009 | title=Haute Route de Chamonix a Zermatt/Saas Fee | publisher=Rother | isbn=978-3-7633-5998-1 | language=French |ref=none }} Also published in German as ''Haute Route: Von Chamonix nach Zermatt/Saas Fee'', {{ISBN|3-7633-5919-2}}. ==External links== * [http://www.haute-route.com/ Information on The Haute Route: Videos, guided and self-guided trips] * [https://www.camptocamp.org/waypoints/115772/fr/haute-route-chamonix-zermatt Haute Route Chamonix – Zermatt – General presentation and detailed routes] – French {{Coord missing|Switzerland}} {{Mont Blanc massif}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Alps]] [[Category:Ski mountaineering]] [[Category:Hiking trails in Switzerland]] [[Category:Mountaineering in Switzerland]] [[Category:Hiking trails in France]] [[Category:Mountaineering in France]]
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