Hello forum members! A few of us are planning to hike from Chamonix to Zermatt next summer, and I found a great deal of relevant information on this forum so I thought I'd join. We'd be delighted to correspond with anyone who has done this trek recently or who would like to talk about trekking in Switzerland generally. We are experienced wilderness backpackers in the US but have never been to Switzerland and have not done a lot of international hiking.

Regards to all,

—B2

to the EF, B^2!

Switzerland is very different from the States, and the Haute Route is a very different experience from the AT! There are several threads here on mountain camping; all I can say is that I have never seen a tent, or a hiker carrying a large backpack, on the Swiss trails. The overwhelming majority of hikers doing the Haute Route use the huts.

I assume that you are familiar with Kev Reynolds' Chamonix to Zermatt - The Walker’s Haute Route; almost all trekkers use it. My site, Walkers Haute Route, Chamonix to Zermatt has useful resource links, as well as what I think is a more interesting route.

Remember the time zone difference between the US East Coast and Switzerland; you posted after midnight, Swiss time, so do not expect many responses before tomorrow!

Welcome,
http://www.chamonix.net/english/trek...route_walk.htm

I am presuming that you have already found this website for information, as a starting point. It also has links to other sites for you. The walk is considered to be a very difficult one due to the level of fitness suggested as being need for the steep uphill sections and also because even in JUly there could be unseasonable snow to deal with, along with some unstable parts. But the route will be a spectacular one for you.

A difference I have found between trekking in the USA and here, is that in the USA there can be huge, neverending distances between points of civilisation, whereas here, you are never (comparitievely) far from a village.

Welcome to the Forum.

Could we keep this Thread for 'Introduction comments and replies' and have the questions and answers to the hiking route in the Activities area where other folk looking later for the same stuff will be able to find it. Thanks guys.

Hello and welcome to this special forum
Haute route is indeed a beautiful trek, but since is quite popular, either go with agency or book your huts ahead (unless you backpack with all equipment). We are thinking about doing it in early spring ski-touring style. Definitely be prepared for glacier crossing (normal route), so either join group/hire a guide or have proper training and equipment.
It is not very demanding regarding altitude, and as mentioned you are never too far from civilization here. Better buy some advanced health insurance for high mountain rescue, rescue is very costly otherwise (and we all know Murphy's laws )

Enjoy this magnificent country's beauty!