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HIKING THE HAUTE ROUTE SWITZERLAND
COL DU FORCLAZ, FRANCE TO GRUBEN, SWITZERLAND
JUNE 20 – 28, 2011
$1450.00  

Dick Ernenwein, Trip Leader
Itinerary               

Day 1, Monday, June 20, 2011
Travel to the village of Forclaz, France. Specific travel instructions from Geneva or Zurich will follow. Preliminary directions are to take the first train from the Geneva Airport to Martigny and then the Post Bus to the Col du Forclaz; estimated travel time 3-4 hours. We will rendezvous at 6:00 pm at the Hotel du Col de la Forclaz. This famous French speaking village of only 195 people is located on a high Alpine Mountain Pass at 5180 ft. (1526m) in the French speaking Canton of Valais. It is also famous as one of the classic routes on the Tour de France. 
haute route
Day 2, Tuesday, June 21, 2011
La Forclaz to Champex by the Alp Bovine route. Today we will hike directly from our hotel for 14k or 8.68 miles of dedicated hiking to Champex located at 4838 ft. There is a gain of 2500ft and a loss of 2650 ft. Our high point will be 6732 ft. Tonight we will stay at the Belvedere Hotel in Champex. Depending on the weather we may hike an alternative trail “the Fenetre d'Arette” a more strenuous route. The Fenetre d' Arpette alternative is one of the most exciting and demanding stages of the Haute Route-- A 4573 ft vertical gain and 3956 ft descent. 6-7 hours of hiking.

Day 3, Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Champex to Le Chable (Verbier). We again hike directly out of our hotel for 4 hours of dedicated hiking or 8 miles to Le Chable (Verbier) located at 2709 ft. This is a pleasant down hill walk through villages and hamlets that are typical Swiss farm communities and off the tourist track. The Descent is 2500 ft. and the ascent is 343 ft. Tonight we stay at the Bristol Hotel situated in the heart of Verbier just off the main square.

Day 4, Thursday, June 23, 2011
Le Chable to Cabane de Prafleuri. This is a long but glorious day. This stage is varied with ever changing views. Initially there are grand Panoramas as you hike along the high Bevedere trail to Col Termin. But first we will take the gondola up to its terminus at Ruinettes. From here we hike to the remote Cabane Louvie. The Combin massif prevails. If we are lucky and quiet, we might see an Ibex today. We continue on a wonderful trail to the Col Louvie at 9640 feet. From this Col, we traverse a landscape of barren rock, tumbling moraines and drying glaciers before ascending to the Col de Prafleuri at 9785 ft. and then a steep descent to our (59 bed) Hut at Cabane at Prafleuri at 8721 ft. for the night. Distance 9 miles. Dedicated hiking time of 6-7 hours. Ascent of 2900 ft. and a descent of 2500 ft.

Day 5, Friday, June 24, 2011  
Cabane de Prafleuri to Arolla. This is another long strenuous but highly rewarding day. Today you'll enjoy walking from the starker landscape of Prafleuri to the pleasant path to Arolla. From Prafleuri 8721ft. ft. a short 500' climb brings us to the Col des Roux at 9253 ft. with its views of the great triangular mass of Mont Blanc de Cheilon, and the green pastures of the Val des Dix with its 5k lake. Descending 1353' to the lake at 7900 ft. we follow the west bank to its southern end and climb up 1900' to the Dix Cabane 9800 ft. Leaving the Cabane, a short 200' descent leads to the Glacier de Cheilon. We hike for about 45 min. across this relatively level glacier and once across we begin the rocky climb up to the Pas de Chevre. With the assistance of iron ladders securely fastened in to the cliff, (70' high) you reach the Col de Reidmatten at 9600' with its dazzling views of Pigne d'Arolla, Mont Collon, Mont Blanc de Cheilon, Dent Blanche and the distant Matterhorn. Descending the Col, the route soon becomes less demanding as it parallels a grassy moraine carved out by the long Tsijiore glacier. This hike will conclude in the village of Arolla where we will spend the night at the Mont Collon Hotel with great views over the Alps at 6620 ft. Total dedicated hiking time of 6 _ to 7 hours and 9.5 miles. Ascent is 2450 ft. and descent of 4465.

Day 6, Saturday, June 25, 2011
Evolene to Grimentz. From Arolla we first take a short ride via the Post Bus to Evolene 4800' or Villa 5500' and then we will hike up through green pastures to a high pass the Col de Torrent at 9600'. On a clear day it's possible to see Mont Blanc as well as the Bernier Alps on the North side of the Rhone Valley. Then descending to Lac de Moiry, the hike leads through pastures and farms and then to the Dam at the north end of the lake when we follow the stream steeply down to the Val de Moiry to Grimentz in the Val d'Anniviers. Grimentz has preserved its old wooden houses and feels like a mountain hamlet of centuries ago. Today the distance is 6.2 miles. Dedicated Hiking time of 4-5 hours. Grimentz is at 5200 ft. Ascent is 4800ft. The descent is 4400 ft.

Day 7, Sunday, June 26, 2011
Grimentz to the Hotel Weisshorn. Today we have a couple choices.  The first choice is a gentle valley hike directly to the Mountaineering village of Zinal and then up 1900 ft. to the Cabane Weisshorn at 7700 ft. A distance of 6.2 miles in 4 hours. Ascent of 2200 ft. and no descent.

The more strenuous but fabulous trail is to hike back up 2200 ft. from Grimentz to Lac de Moiry at 7400 ft. and then climb another 2200 ft. to the top of the Combe de Sorebois 9600 ft. from Grimentz. Then we descend 4100 ft. to Zinal at 5500 ft. We may want to choose using the Chair lift and cut out 2500 ft of descent and then the 2-3 hour hike up another 1900 ft. to the Weisshorn. The more strenuous route would take about 8 hours. Total ascent of 6300 ft. and descent of 4100 ft. The Hotel Weisshorn which is only accessible by trail sits impressively on the edge of a long high ridge with a panorama of the entire Val d'anniviers.

Day 8, Monday, June 27, 2011
The Hotel Weisshorn to Gruben. Today we hike over the Medipass at 9207 from the French speaking Valais into the German speaking Valais. We climb to the crest of the Medipass where our eyes are drawn by the tremendous glaciers of the Weisshorn and the Bishorn. We drop down a short distance to the little lake at the Meidsee where we can have lunch before embarking on the long descent to the village of Gruben. The descent down to the hamlet of Gruben in the turtmanntal is like a hike into the past. Remote and relatively undisturbed, this valley with its one hotel affords a beautiful place to end our adventure. We spend the night at the Hotel Schwarzhorn 6000ft. Today's hike is 5.5 miles and about 4 hours. Ascent 1500 ft. Descent 3200 ft.

Day 9, Tuesday, June 28, 2011
After breakfast, our grand trek is over but your own adventure can continue if you wish. Zermatt is only one days hike from Gruben and Zermatt is the most impressive Alpine village in the Alps.

For more information including a detailed itinerary, contact Dick Ernenwein, 845-565-3866, 4 Commonwealth Ave, Newburgh, NY 12550. e-mail:  rernenwein@msn.com

PRICING: THIS TRIP IS SUBJECT TO AN INCREASE IN COST AT ANY TIME UNTIL THE TRIP'S DEPARTURE DATE. BECAUSE THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL TRIP AND THE PRICE FOR THIS TRIP WAS ESTABLISHED IN NOVEMBER OF 2009, IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR A SURCHARGE IF THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR CONTINUES ITS DECLINE AGAINST THE EURO.