Day 14 Europahutt to Zermatt

 The last day of our Haute Route in the Alps was a doozy!  13 miles in length and about 6200 feet in elevation changes -- a lot of down hill and it was hard on the knees!  We started by crossing the largest pedestrian suspension bridge in world.  It was shrouded in mist and was quite eerie.  We proceeded over some huge rockfall areas with emergency shelters built throughout the trail not to mention tunnels.  When we emerged the Matterhorn  revealed itself perched over the bustling little town of Zermatt.  Once in Zermatt we delighted in our hotel sap and pizza and beer with our fiends Rosemary and Guy and our new hiking friend Ruth, from Salzberg.  Tomorrow it is on to Geneva by train, then fly to Barcelona to pick up our bikes.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/C532E2WBZWDUM9Wb6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jmmRt9GJKkHjT3ceA

Day 13 Grachen to Europahutt

 Wow, this was a tough day.  Maureen says it was the hardest day of the whole trip.  The day included lots of elevation gain -- 5250 feet to be more precise.  And included some interesting features like hiking under a waterfall, and up huge stairs anchored into the rock faces.  A lot of the up and down was to avoid sheer cliff faces.  When we finally rounded the last corner and climb of the day, the Europahutt was there to offer beers, wine, tea and later in the evening, a hot meal.   Some pics and links

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WYZcLctVPdKRJLcV9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oMwkcd4pA8a5LMKg8

Day 12- Gruben to Grachen

Today we climbed the last col (pass). The Augstbordpass is part of an old trade route to the area of the Matterhorn (the Mattertal). It was a great hike over pastures, boulders, gravel, through a forest and finally a bus ride from St. Nicholas to Grachen where we stayed in a nice hotel with a pool, sauna and hot tub. Just what we needed! 

Here are links to a few more photos

https://photos.app.goo.gl/npZYfhR65P3rfWXZ6

 https://photos.app.goo.gl/wXes81Y86mEH7oYz5

Day 11- Zinal to Gruben

Today we passed from French to German speaking areas of Switzerland.  The change is quite dramatic and for us it meant no crosaints for breakfast.  Gruben is a remote village that is a summer retreat and grazing area for cows (and tourists).  Our hike was typical through pastures climbing over a pass (4100 ft elevation gain) and descending steeply to an historic Auberge in Gruben --Hotel Schwarzhorn.

Here are links to John and Maureen's daily album.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fxjdXX2EfNoy23An9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yfGhy6drpThzepGT9

Day 10- cabane de Moiry to Zinal

We dropped down from our high mountain perch this morning by traversing a hillside above on of the many glacier-fed reservoirs that provide about 16 percent of Switzerland's power. This led to another climb over a pass then a drop down to the town of Zinal. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dKiWCAtSBtKtrgSS6

Day 9- La Sage to Cabane de Moiry

After leaving the hillside village of La Sage and climbing through steep pastures for about 5 miles, we traversed a typical pass- stiff climb and long descent.  We groaned at losing elevation as we faced another steep climb on the other side of the glacial lake below the pass.  But it was well worth it when we arrived at the amazing "hut" perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Moiry glacier. 

lunch spot near the pass before=descent. 

view from the window of our hut.

More photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/hCp39DovQ41jrWYq8

Day 8 Arolla to La Sage

Today was an easy stroll in the Alps day.  Only about 4 hours of walking and we arrived at the lovely little town of La Sage.  Must say our hotel and it's restaurant are fantastic.  Tomorrow is another story as it's nearly 8 hours of hiking, a lot of elevation changes and we will be staying at a Hut rather than a hotel. A few pics.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kwwtrgszkHVWwdeJ8

Day 7 Cabane de Prafleuri to Arolla Switzerland

Another challenging day and amazing views.  We are getting stronger!  And we have a nice hotel with hot showers and all the other creature comforts.  We began the day with clouds rolling in but no rain.  We walked along a long beautiful lake with cows along the trail sporting Swiss bells.  The pass was scary and steep.  In many places loose footing.  We used fixed chains to help secure our ascent.  It was along walk into town but a really lovely day.

more photos 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/uyxhuUSoM2XrifCCA

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1arV1m5zkZzuW8h68

Day 6 Can Mont Fort to Cab d'Prefleuri

Today's hike was the toughest so far.  We scaled three difficult passes, Col de Chaux, Col d' Louie, and Col d' Prafleuri.  The going was rocky, steep, and unstable.  We were exhausted after the 15 mile hike and we staggered into our "Cabane". We had climbed about 4000 feet and lost about 3000 feet.  And it turned out our Cabane had no showers, no hot water,  no potable water within the cabin and no electricity in our room . . . but it was dry!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Pcw1qWC6H9GRUiD17

Day 5 Le Cable to Cabane d'Mont Fort

This was an easy day.  We took the Gondola part way up the mountain and  the hiked to the mountain hut we've we would spend the night.  From there we hiked up a glacier to a high pass.  We glissaded back down and we were treated to a beautiful sunset from the Hut.   

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vb7GmopfyYcZSsyc7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/X3T1sZY3dweXaoHu6

Day 4 Hiking Champex to Le Chable Switzerland

Today was a relatively easy day.  We gained less than a thousand feet over 8 miles.  We hiked through several farming valleys.  We saw some very historic buildings in old Sembrancher; many buildings from the 1600s still being used!  Here are some photos and a link to more.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SZeoJvPw7h8vVi2T7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/uNp9ZjnZg5frN2Qx5

Hiking Trient to Champex --Day 3

Whew!  What a day.  This hike was a real challenge.  Although the hike was only 9 miles but the 4500 feet in elevation gain and 3900 feet on loss over loose rock and boulders reminded us that we are no longer in our 20s.

The views at the Fenetre d'Arpette  (window) at the summit (8750 feet) were astounding.   We enjoyed an Aperol spritzer at a the Relais d'Arpette on our way to our hotel at Lac Champex -- replete with pool and sauna.

Here are some photos and a link to others.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Wu8uccBe1QCiXqMM6

Hiking Chamonix, France to Trient Switzerland

So hiking in the high Alps is very different from our normal backpacking trips. Here it is usual to hike from village to village and stay in hotels and eat in restaurants.  But one also gains and losses lots of elevation each day as you climb out of villages, reach high passes and the drop back into the next village.  On days 1 and 2 we hiked from Chamonix to Argentierre France (10 miles  and 4400 feet elevation gain and 3650 feet loss) and then from Argentierre,  to Trient, Switzerland (10 miles and 3900 feet of gain and 3700 feet loss). Hiking in Switzerland is like watching Heidi with verdant hillsides with cowbells ringing here and there.  The glaciers are immense and awe inspiring.  The melting glaciers supply thunderous streams.

Here are a few photos and a link to more.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JCjX1d2CMc35TEiu5

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KksEUgHiHp4LY7Nw6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dEkoyWmxLzf3zxuW9

John and Maureen Hiking the French and Swiss Alps

Day 1.  We began our adventure in Paris where Jonathan and Avigail (our son and daughter in law) served as our guides at the Paris Carnavalet museum. The museum focuses on the history and prehistory of Paris. Here are a few photos:

We are admiring historic commercial signs, most in wrought iron but also stained glass.

Day 2 thru 5. We drove to Sens where we visited a Gothic cathedral and the on to Chalone sur Saone where we visited a wonderful municipal museum with a fine collection of prehistoric artifacts from the area.    Then we went to the museum of photography which featured early photo techniques and equipment but also some equipment of Nicephore Niepce -- the true inventor of photography.  We even went to his historic  estate and laboratory so we got the full Monty ( where the first photo was taken).

Once we arrived in Chamonix we took the gondola onto the high Alps all the way to Italy, crossing many glaciers with spectacular views of Mont Blanc and surrounding peaks.  Photos do no justice but . . .