Haute Route (Chamonix to Zermatt)

Key information: Haute Route (Chamonix to Zermatt)

• A famous high route involving extensive glacier walks amid peaks and spires, on the roof of Europe. Not to be confused with the Walkers' Haute Route.
• The original Haute Route was established in the Mid-19^th Century as a route for summer mountaineering, with a number of high glacier pass crossings. It is nowadays a superb high-level (and tough) ski travelling route. Many walkers would find it tougher than they would enjoy.
• The route (of which there are many variants) hugs the highest peaks of the Pennine Alps.
• Outstanding views and visual thrills throughout, and wonderful communion with the eternal high range.
• Glacier walking needs experience (or a guide) and can become a dreary slog.
• A joy of the route is the superb situations of many of the huts you will stay in. 
• This is a very tough walk in high, remote mountains, on which you will have to be self-sufficient, where you will do a lot of glacier walking (and climbing on moraine) and where altitude can cause problems. And care needs to be taken to avoid areas at risk of avalanche and rainfall-and you can need to change route depending on weather conditions. Come prepared and be an expert, or be guided by one.

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