Hi Everyone - I'm brand new to Switzerland and I'd like to do my first hike on July 4th. My goal is to hike to the Monte Rosa Hut, stay for the night and hike back the following day. Is this something I can do on my own or do I need a guide? Any idea where I would begin the hike? Thanks in advance!!

Here is a link to the hut...
http://www.zermatt.ch/en/page.cfm/ne...te_rosa_huette

Best Regards,
Ryan

Interesting link to the hut, I'll have to put that on my list too (for sometime...)

According to the hut's page, the access is described in German so:
I'm not sure how good your German is but it basically sounds doable without a guide. It sounds well signposted (blue/white marks) but you might need some special gear just in case the glacier gets tricky...

Hi there.
Take a nice deep breath. If you don't know where you want to start from it almost sounds as if you saw reports of the super new SAC hut and want to try it out.
Take a look at the reports of the 'hike' on the sites others use.
www.hikr.org - This is one example. Or read this. Run it through this if you cannot understand the German.

Depending on where you have been living recently, the altitude might be something to be considered. How much have you hiked before? What sort of equipment do you have?

I'll leave the rest to the experts.

__________________
Longbyt

There is a glacier crossing involved, so you should have crampons and a rope, and know how to use them. If you are with an experienced group you won't need a guide, but don't try to do it on your own.

The "easy" way is to get the Gornergrat train up from Zermatt to Rotenboden, then follow the waymarked path from there to the glacier.

Much more interesting, but much longer too, is to start from Furi and to hike up via the Gleteschergarten and the Riffelsee. This will take you between 3 and 4 hours from Furi to the start of the glacier... not sure how long the glacier crossing and final ascent to the hut takes as I have not done it yet myelf (but it's on my list )

Edit: I am assuming you are already an experienced mountain hiker... if you are not, don't even think about it.

Hi Everyone - thanks very much for all of your responses. I am an avid hiker and I've climed a bit in my past, but it sounds like I need a guide to tackle this hike. Can anyone suggest one ... perhaps I can join a group?

Thanks again, this forum is really great!

Best,
Ryan

SAC will be able to provide all the info. you need

http://www.sac-cas.ch/index.php?id=1&L=3

Here's one option for guided hikes to the hut:

http://www.alpincenter-zermatt.ch/cm...8&currency=chf

Hello all - thanks again for the tips. I booked a spot with a group hike but it was canceled last minute due to lack of participants. But I was determined to make this trip because I had already purchased train tickets and a reservation at the hutte. It was an incredible journey and I would highly recommend the trip. The trail was well marked and there were other people there who were very helpful in pointing me in the right direction ... especially on the glacier.

Here is a short film I did documenting my journey from Zurich to the hutte...
http://vimeo.com/26315282

Great little film!