If you can’t hit the trails, you can achieve similar results by doing anything that involves incline; bike uphill, set a treadmill to high incline (4-12% grade), or spend some time on the step machine at your gym. I cannot speculate on Mr. Duvall's physical condition or reading ability, but it would be unfair to strongly criticize Mr. Reynold's time … Along the way, the trail passes by 10 of the 12 highest peaks in the Alps, as it winds its way through glacial valleys, alpine meadows, and enchanting villages. How difficult is the Walker’s Haute Route? The "Walker's" route stays below 3000 meters and takes advantage of the popular mountain huts and small inns and hotels in the villages along the way. The Walker's Haute Route is a long and demanding trip requiring very good physical fitness and preparation. The Haute Route is a spectacular and demanding summer hike: a strenuous high-level traverse in the French and Swiss Alps, walking from Chamonix (France) to Zermatt (Switzerland) in 10 to 12 days. Additionally, now is the time to start incorporating a leg strengthening routine into your weekly training. … During the lower sections of the Walker’s Haute Route from France to Switzerland, you’ll be taken through the lush green alpine valleys, stunning mountain hamlets, and beautiful meadows decked-up with flowers. For every ski tourer it is a milestone and a rite of passage, but how hard is the Haute Route, and am I ready to attempt it?At Mountain Tracks, these are questions we receive a lot. All the trails will be flat with no elevation or descent, walking distances can vary between 6- 14 kilometers depending on the route. As we’ve already said, the Walker’s Haute Route runs between Chamonix and Zermatt. Expect to cover around 15km and 1,000m of elevation gain each day. Finally, pat yourself on the back and take pride in showing up to your Haute Route trek fit, prepared, and the best version of yourself! The classic Haute Route itinerary that most hikers follow takes two weeks and travels 125 miles from Chamonix in the East to Zermatt in the West. Obviously, you’ve at least taken the first steps since you’ve found your way to this post, and for that your future self will thank you. Many hikers neglect strength training for any number of reasons; they don’t think they need it, they don’t know how, they don’t have time, or they just find it boring (this last one is the favorite excuse of yours truly!) Unfortunately, the Haute Route is not the friendliest trek in terms of accessibility and adaptations.  There are sections that don’t allow for shortcuts, and some of the detours can be less than perfect.  That being said, it is still possible to complete significant portions of the hike, even if you’re not able to do the whole thing. The Walker's Haute Route is a walking trail through the French and Swiss Alps, for 200km (125 miles) from Chamonix in the West to Zermatt in the East. Ideally, at this point in your training you should begin to increase the frequency and intensity of your hiking. Your main goal is to continue to build your aerobic endurance while also training your leg muscles for long-distance hiking. Even just a few minutes a week in the comfort of your home can make a world of difference. You will spend the nights in comfortable private rooms and we will transfer your luggage between hotels on all walking days. Walk or run up and down the stairs at a nearby high school stadium or similar venue. Be sure to check out our entire series on the Haute Route to learn everything you’ll need to know to prepare for this incredible adventure! For those who don't quite have the time to devote to the full Walkers Haute Route we have the 'Best of' 8 day trek which focuses on the trek highlights. Chelsea and I disagree a bit on the experience level needed for this trail. How difficult is the Walker's Haute Route? It will also give you the chance to see what items you packed that you don’t need, and what you may have forgotten. Haute Route Trip Report: Know what to expect! If at all possible, try to take a 1-2 night backpacking trip in your local woods. Walkers Haute Route: The Walkers Haute Route also features as one of the worlds top ten treks & is approximately 180km in length, the route crosses 11 high mountain passes with 12,000m of ascent through France and Switzerland the Haute Route walk makes for a fabulous challenge. The Haute Route is hard, plain and simple, but the scenery is fantastic and rewarding. How hard is the Walker’s Haute Route? Hiking as much as possible with that heavy backpack! To build up endurance skills get out walking building up to 15- 20k in distance. The Haute Route is a spectacular and demanding summer hike: a strenuous high-level traverse in the French and Swiss Alps, walking from Chamonix (France) to Zermatt (Switzerland) in 10 to 12 days. the Haute Route is challenging, but with creature comforts en route. Commit to one or more of these moves and you might be shocked at the high level of hiking fitness you can build without ever leaving sea level. 10 lunges on each leg (add weight or jumps to increase the challenge), 10 step-ups on each leg (weights optional). In the two months before your Haute Route trek, try to complete at least one challenging hike at least once a week while wearing your pack. Make sure you are aware of the daily distances traveled and the height gain & descent so you know what to expect. I can’t stress enough how glad we were that we’d prepared for the challenge of a thru-hike like the Walker’s Haute Route, and I hope our experience can help you have your best possible trip. We’ve known plenty of people who’ve become incredibly strong hikers without the benefit of mountain training. Walking Holidays Along the Haute Route An Introduction to Walking The Haute Route The Haute Route (High Route) from Chamonix to Zermatt is steeped in mountaineering legend, a route first taken by British climbers at the end of the 19th century located in the scenic Swiss canton of Valais. The Haute Route (high road) is the quintessential ‘must do’ ski tour and appears frequently on bucket lists. The Walker's Haute Route is one of Europe's best hikes, but also one of its most demanding. I cannot speculate on Mr. Duvall's physical condition or reading ability, but it would be unfair to strongly criticize Mr. Reynold's time assessments. #quarantinegarden #patiogarden #container, Celebrating one incredible year since this perfect, Finally catching up on sharing photos from the las, Another latergram, this time from Angkor Wat, Camb, Still trying to get caught up on these updates. GRADE 4 TOUGH: Walkers Haute Route: This is a very physically demanding trek which requires an excellent level of fitness and stamina for long mountain days. En route, the hike crosses some of the most beautiful terrain in the Alps, culminating in the … On #2, Mr. Reynolds explicitly states that his times include no breaks whatsoever - pure travel time. So what does that actually mean? This is hard enough.  Plus, you’ll still be able to enjoy much of the same spectacular Alpine scenery from the road. He, Guide to Camping on the Tour of Mont Blanc, Guide to Hiking from Aspen to Crested Butte, Guide to Camping on the West Highland Way, Guide to Camping on the Walker’s Haute Route, The Ultimate Guide to the Coast to Coast Walk, The Complete Guide to Snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park. You also need to carry a rucksack to get used to the extra weight. The Walker’s Haute Route is a variation of the original Haute Route following alpine trails below 3000m and is a demanding but non-technical trek, which explores the best parts of the Alps between Arolla and Zermatt. For every ski tourer it is a milestone and a rite of passage, but how hard is the Haute Route, and am I ready to attempt it?At Mountain Tracks, these are questions we receive a lot.  If you aren’t planning on camping along the Haute Route, you don’t need to take an overnight trip, but you should still try to fit in two back-to-back days of long, hard hiking. Play around with setting the incline to a variety of levels, ranging from 5-12%. Hill walking experience is advisable so you have knowledge of what it takes to walk in the mountains. Hiking along the Haute Route is rated as an intermediate to hard trip, depending on the route that is taken. You can alternate between hiking and driving the support vehicle to customize the amount of time spent on your feet. If this is you then you will have absolutely no problem, keep up the good work & enjoy! Make sure the one you choose has a safe pedestrian area and then walk back and forth across that sucker a bunch of times. ), Average Daily distance*: 19 kilometers (11.5 miles), Average daily elevation gain*: 1,166 meters (3,827 feet), *Averages are based on a traditional 12-day itinerary. Keeping reading to learn what you need to do to feel strong and prepared to conquer your very own Walker’s Haute Route adventure. The full Walkers Haute Route incorporates 11 days in total and the walk takes you through the most stunning - and dramatically different environments each day. Armed with my accounting background and mission to make every hikers self-guided dreams come true, I’ve dug deep into the numbers across all the different accommodation types, food and services availabl So you’ve decided to trek the Walker’s Haute Route. The difficulty of the terrain is often underestimated and previous hiking experience in mountainous regions is essential. Keep up your established aerobic and strength training until 10 days to one week before the hike.  Heck, you could even walk the stairs at the local high school stadium if you wanted to.  See our. If your training doesn’t go as planned due to injury, illness, or the realities of life that inevitably creep in from time to time, there are ways to reduce the level of challenge on the trek. First, you’ll be able to test your boots, backpack, socks, and so on to ensure that they fit well during longer hikes. Possibly do some more walking in the mountains & carrying a rucksack to get used to the extra weight. There are three main options for a complete traverse of the Pyrenees: The GR10 keeps to the northern (French) side of the watershed. Current Trail Conditions on the Walkers Haute Route - July 2019. 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