The Haute Route through Verbier
This page describes the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt through Verbier, as it is hiked across the glaciers. There is also a Walker's Haute Route (which takes longer) which avoids the glacier sections.
* In the spring, the Haute Route is usually undertaken as a ski tour.
* In the summer, is is usually hiked.
There is nothing like the adventure of hiking (or skiing) hut to hut, starting in the impressive Mont Blanc Massif and finishing at the base of the Matterhorn.
There are many variations of this overland route; here we describe the route which goes through Verbier.Route Description
Day 1 - Transfer to Argentière (close to Chamonix) in France. Cable car up the Grands Montets (3295m). Here the Haute Route begins. Descend the Glacier des Rognons onto the Argentière Glacier (normally it is possible to stay in the Argentière hut for an early start, but it is closed summer 2008). Climb up to the Col du Chardonnet (3323m). After a short, steep (sometimes there is a rope set up) descent and long traverse, climb the Fenêtre du Saleina to reach the Plateau du Trient and enter Switzerland. Night at the Cabane du Trient (3170m).
Day 2 - Descend the Val d'Arpette to Champex. Here's where you transfer by vehicle to Verbier. Once in Verbier, take the lift system to Mont Fort and it's a short tour to the Cabane de Mont Fort (2457m).
Day 3 - Climb the Rosablanche (3336m) and descend to the Cabane de Prafleuri (2931m).
Day 4 - Go over the Col des Roux and then you have a long traversing descent above the Lac des Dix, followed by a gradual climb to the Cabane des Dix (2928m).
Day 5 - Climb up the Pigne d'Arolla (3796m) to the Cabane des Vignettes (3160m).
Day 6 - It's up and down over three cols, including the Col du Valpelline (3568), followed by a long descent, to Zermatt all in view of the famous Matterhorn.
Return to VerbierMaps and Books
Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt: a guide for skiers and mountain walkers by Peter Cliff
Alpine Ski touring by JJ Whitehead.
Click here, for more info on Books, Maps, and ToposMountain Huts on the Haute Route
More information on Mountain HutsArgentière 33 (0) 4 50 53 1692 33 (0) 6 22 04 2500 currently closed Trient 41 (0) 27 783 1438 41 (0) 27 776 2931 Mont Fort 41 (0) 27 778 1384 41 (0) 27 771 1591 Prafleuri 41 (0) 27 281 1780 41 (0) 27 207 3067 Les Dix 41 (0) 27 281 1523 41 (0) 27 207 3966 Vignettes 41 (0) 27 283 1322 41 (0) 27 283 2187 Equipment
See our Equipment page