Walker's Haute Route: beginner guide I finished the…
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Walker's Haute Route: beginner guide
I finished the Walker's Haute Route earlier this month. It was my first time traveling in Europe and my first multi-day hike. So I will write this guide to help other newbies.
This guide is for people doing hut/hotel-to-hut/hotel, so no camping tips. My route was from Verbier to Zermatt, as my touring company did not have accommodations available in Chamonix, so only travel tips for Switzerland.
**General Travel Tips**
**SBB Mobile App**: Originally, I was perplexed that my Swiss train ticket did not show train numbers, platforms and transfer points. All those information can be found on the SBB Mobile App.
**Sticker price shock**: coming from an expensive region in the US, I still had sticker price shock in Switzerland. A sit-down restaurant is typically $30-$45 USD! Grocery stores have takeout foods at lower prices, around $5-$25.
**WC means bathroom**
**Smoking is more common than US:** sitting outside sipping coffee is cute until 2nd hand smoke drifts by.
**Credit card is accepted almost everywhere**: the sole cash only place was the Europhautte hut (keep in mind I didn't hike the French section from Chamonix). Cash is important at the Europhautte because the faucet water isn't drinkable. Also, if the credit card reader asks you to pick between CHF or USD, pick CHF as you get a much better exchange rate charge.
**Physical Preparation Tips**
My typical training week was:
2-3 days of easy running, 3 miles per day
2 days of high intensity running, 3 miles per day
1-2 days of cycling, around 1.5 hours per ride with uphill sections
1 day of hiking with loaded pack, around 3-4 hours
I was able to complete the Haute Route without injuries. I was surprised by how often my heart and lungs were in the red on the steep uphills. Elevation, jet lag, uncomfortable sleep in an unfamiliar bed and wearing a pack all add a toll.
Basically, the Haute Route requires physical preparation. The uphill will work your legs, lungs and heart. The downhill will work your quads and knees. Take breaks, drink liquid and eat during the hike and it's ok to take the gondola to skip downhill sections (I took the gondola twice to avoid downhills).
Also, the Haute Route does not require technical mountaineering skills. But there are a few rock scrambling sections requiring all four limbs. You need to be careful and maintain 3-point of contact at the trickiest parts.
**Gear Advice**
There are already numerous Haute Route packing guides, so I'm not going list every single piece of gear.
**Test your gear**: I went on numerous practice hikes before my trip. From the practice hikes, I learned my short underwear chafed my thighs, so I switched to longer underwear. I also learned that trekking poles rubbed my hands raw, so I needed to wear gloves.
Another benefit of gear testing is I got very good with packing and unpacking, a skill I didn't appreciate until I met people who were bad at packing and unpacking.
**Shoes with good traction**: the trail could be muddy or loose at steep sections. There is scrambling over rocks, possibly wet rocks. So make sure your shoe has good traction. Slipping is dangerous because many trails are next to a steep drop off.
**Euro compatible charger with many ports**: the huts typically only had one plug in one room for 4-6 people. So a charger that let multiple people charge at the same time is very useful. I did bring a power bank and I only used it at the Europhautte because there was no outlet in my room and I did not want to leave my phone unattended at the communal outlet.
**Toilet paper**: public restrooms and huts may run out/don't get stocked when you need it. I never had to use my toilet paper but my friends used it 3 times.
**Trekking poles**: many people hiked without trekking poles. But trekking poles makes uphills and downhills significantly easier. I suggest only going no poles if you are 100% confident of your abilities. If you use poles, practice with them at home if you are unfamiliar with them. Going up and down requires different hand positions.
**Ear plugs**: they are a must in the huts, as people will snore.
**Rain gear**: out of 10 days of hiking, I had one light rain day and one heavy rain day. Rain is common in the Alps. Make sure to protect your pack as well.
**Summary/TLDR**
**Pros of the Haute Route**
\* Less popular than the Tour du Mont Blanc. Easier to book. The huts and hotels could be busy, but the trails were never crowded.
\* Accessible. No specialized gear or technical skills required. You can do cardio and strength training at home.
\* Safety. Switzerland has low crime. There are no dangerous animals or plants on the trail. Weather during hiking season is fine (not life threatening cold or hot).
\* Hut/hotel-to-hut/hotel means lighter pack. Lighter pack means easier climbs and descents. Rain is common in the late afternoon, so it's nice to not have to camp, cook dinner and wash clothes in the rain.
**Cons of the Haute Route**
\* Switzerland is expensive. It's not just restaurants that are expensive. Even bus and gondola tickets are expensive. I booked the self guided option with a tour company, and it was $2100 for ten days/nine nights, with 4 huts and 5 hotels (breakfast and dinner included except for no dinner for one night).
\* Rain is common. I got lucky that I only had 2 days of rain. But you may get unlucky and have more days of rain.
#hiking #activity
source
I finished the Walker's Haute Route earlier this month. It was my first time traveling in Europe and my first multi-day hike. So I will write this guide to help other newbies.
This guide is for people doing hut/hotel-to-hut/hotel, so no camping tips. My route was from Verbier to Zermatt, as my touring company did not have accommodations available in Chamonix, so only travel tips for Switzerland.
**General Travel Tips**
**SBB Mobile App**: Originally, I was perplexed that my Swiss train ticket did not show train numbers, platforms and transfer points. All those information can be found on the SBB Mobile App.
**Sticker price shock**: coming from an expensive region in the US, I still had sticker price shock in Switzerland. A sit-down restaurant is typically $30-$45 USD! Grocery stores have takeout foods at lower prices, around $5-$25.
**WC means bathroom**
**Smoking is more common than US:** sitting outside sipping coffee is cute until 2nd hand smoke drifts by.
**Credit card is accepted almost everywhere**: the sole cash only place was the Europhautte hut (keep in mind I didn't hike the French section from Chamonix). Cash is important at the Europhautte because the faucet water isn't drinkable. Also, if the credit card reader asks you to pick between CHF or USD, pick CHF as you get a much better exchange rate charge.
**Physical Preparation Tips**
My typical training week was:
2-3 days of easy running, 3 miles per day
2 days of high intensity running, 3 miles per day
1-2 days of cycling, around 1.5 hours per ride with uphill sections
1 day of hiking with loaded pack, around 3-4 hours
I was able to complete the Haute Route without injuries. I was surprised by how often my heart and lungs were in the red on the steep uphills. Elevation, jet lag, uncomfortable sleep in an unfamiliar bed and wearing a pack all add a toll.
Basically, the Haute Route requires physical preparation. The uphill will work your legs, lungs and heart. The downhill will work your quads and knees. Take breaks, drink liquid and eat during the hike and it's ok to take the gondola to skip downhill sections (I took the gondola twice to avoid downhills).
Also, the Haute Route does not require technical mountaineering skills. But there are a few rock scrambling sections requiring all four limbs. You need to be careful and maintain 3-point of contact at the trickiest parts.
**Gear Advice**
There are already numerous Haute Route packing guides, so I'm not going list every single piece of gear.
**Test your gear**: I went on numerous practice hikes before my trip. From the practice hikes, I learned my short underwear chafed my thighs, so I switched to longer underwear. I also learned that trekking poles rubbed my hands raw, so I needed to wear gloves.
Another benefit of gear testing is I got very good with packing and unpacking, a skill I didn't appreciate until I met people who were bad at packing and unpacking.
**Shoes with good traction**: the trail could be muddy or loose at steep sections. There is scrambling over rocks, possibly wet rocks. So make sure your shoe has good traction. Slipping is dangerous because many trails are next to a steep drop off.
**Euro compatible charger with many ports**: the huts typically only had one plug in one room for 4-6 people. So a charger that let multiple people charge at the same time is very useful. I did bring a power bank and I only used it at the Europhautte because there was no outlet in my room and I did not want to leave my phone unattended at the communal outlet.
**Toilet paper**: public restrooms and huts may run out/don't get stocked when you need it. I never had to use my toilet paper but my friends used it 3 times.
**Trekking poles**: many people hiked without trekking poles. But trekking poles makes uphills and downhills significantly easier. I suggest only going no poles if you are 100% confident of your abilities. If you use poles, practice with them at home if you are unfamiliar with them. Going up and down requires different hand positions.
**Ear plugs**: they are a must in the huts, as people will snore.
**Rain gear**: out of 10 days of hiking, I had one light rain day and one heavy rain day. Rain is common in the Alps. Make sure to protect your pack as well.
**Summary/TLDR**
**Pros of the Haute Route**
\* Less popular than the Tour du Mont Blanc. Easier to book. The huts and hotels could be busy, but the trails were never crowded.
\* Accessible. No specialized gear or technical skills required. You can do cardio and strength training at home.
\* Safety. Switzerland has low crime. There are no dangerous animals or plants on the trail. Weather during hiking season is fine (not life threatening cold or hot).
\* Hut/hotel-to-hut/hotel means lighter pack. Lighter pack means easier climbs and descents. Rain is common in the late afternoon, so it's nice to not have to camp, cook dinner and wash clothes in the rain.
**Cons of the Haute Route**
\* Switzerland is expensive. It's not just restaurants that are expensive. Even bus and gondola tickets are expensive. I booked the self guided option with a tour company, and it was $2100 for ten days/nine nights, with 4 huts and 5 hotels (breakfast and dinner included except for no dinner for one night).
\* Rain is common. I got lucky that I only had 2 days of rain. But you may get unlucky and have more days of rain.
#hiking #activity
source
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