Author Topic: Walker's Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt June/July 2017  (Read 21229 times)

IanyZen

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Walker's Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt June/July 2017
« Reply #75 on: 00:26:25, 18/08/17 »
Tackling Europaweg . . .
“Ian, this is relentless. A heart in the mouth, nerve-shattering, white-knuckle ride. I didn’t think my knuckles could get any whiter.  :D
Rubble and scree followed unstable rockfalls and razor-sharp ridges, followed by jumbled boulders & hidden trail markers. Zig-zagging narrow crumbling paths (?) hugged the devastated mountain slopes, up and down, in and out of clefts in the cliffs, with exposed perilous drops.
And still the visual extravaganza of monumental mountains and deep valleys inspired you, urging you on, to look up & down, forward & back, but never to turn back.
Warning signs of impending danger & doom pushed you to hurry when you were slowing to creep across wooden walkways clung to the cliffs.
When needed, there were ropes.
When really needed, there were none.
When desperately needed there was nowhere to fix one.”
 
“Ian’s not an adrenaline junkie . . just as well, as he would have OD on this.  :D
This was not common sense . . this was heightened sensual over load . . . this was sensational.
This was THE reason for tackling the Walker’s Haute Route . . “   O0
 






“Ian, where have all these rocks come from?”
“They fell here”
“Gulp   :o   Ian, can we take less photos and move a wee bit faster, please”







We saw the reverse sign 1hr 30min later, smashed up under fallen rocks  :-X











Wild goats











We paused to chat and offer advice . .
“Good luck in finding the path round the next spur”, I wished them.


They replied,
“Good luck in finding the path round the next spur”























“Zen, how about taking the tree trunk bridge challenge?”




I took the river option. I have had enough of bridges.   ;D





Just when I thought I’d beaten every challenge the Europaweg could throw at me.
 
“Nooooooooooooooooooooo” . . . A nightmare!   :'(





“No way . . call that a bridge . . thrown together with leftover scraps of wood. Swinging. Uneven. Unstable. No way”
“Together, Zen”
“Inseparable, Ian . . .”




!Felicisimo!  :)   :)   :)
“Muchas felicidades Zen. !Desafio logrado!   O0


“Mira Ian . . “   :)
 



Europahütte  :)





I waited outside whilst Ian disappeared inside.
“Zen, I’ve got good news & bad news”
“Oh, what’s the bad news . . please  . . no more bridges”
“No camping”  :(
“and the good news?”
“They accept dogs in the hut”   :)
“Whoopee! – finally the hut stay you promised me”   :smitten:
We danced. We dined. We crashed! 
 
“So Zen, how was today?”
“Wunderbar”   O0
“Same again tomorrow, Zen”
I think Ian was joking . .   :P
« Last Edit: 00:56:47, 18/08/17 by IanyZen »
Good luck on your next adventure
Ian & Zen

Islandplodder

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Re: Walker's Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt June/July 2017
« Reply #76 on: 09:30:56, 18/08/17 »
Fantastic views, amazing photos, but I got vertigo just looking at those paths!

pdstsp

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Re: Walker's Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt June/July 2017
« Reply #77 on: 09:39:25, 18/08/17 »
What an incredible few days - I am becoming very very tempted to try this route.  Fancy guiding me Zen?

IanyZen

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Re: Walker's Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt June/July 2017
« Reply #78 on: 19:38:50, 20/08/17 »
What an incredible few days - I am becoming very very tempted to try this route.  Fancy guiding me Zen?


"Sure . . . but only as far as the first swinging suspension bridge  :D "
Good luck on your next adventure
Ian & Zen

IanyZen

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Day 13 (Chamonix – Zermatt) Sat 8th July: Europahütte to Zermatt along Europaweg via Sunnegga Paradise & Findeln
Ascent 948m / Descent 1562m  (15th & last day walking)
Sadly our last day walking :'(  and equally sad, my last trip report.   :(  It’s been dogtastic to write  :)

No surprises to say we were pretty slow in leaving even though Ian said this would be a long day trek.
First, the detour - 600m down & 600m up through the forest
Well, it’s been the detour for the last 6 years since the last bridge was wiped out…
“Phew, Ian. Lucky the new bridge hasn’t been finished yet”  ;)








“We wouldn’t have taken it anyway,  . . . would we . . . ?”
“Hmm . . not sure . . nice challenge, Zen”  :D
You can see photos of the new bridge (opened 29th July) at www.europaweg.ch


I’ll miss the freedom forest paths . .  :)








And the mountain ones . .




















‘Ian, you could have done with a few of these ropes yesterday”  ;D
“My thoughts exactly Zen.”  O0

Our last fab breakfast stop.   :'(    Our first view of Zermatt  :)



A closer view of The Matterhorn . . as we circle round above Zermatt the views changed.





Easy-peasy grid bridges now, though I’m glad this was not the first one.







Gorgeous. Any idea what this whispy flower is?




Avalanche defence tunnels





I packed my night vision goggles & raced ahead leaving Ian in the dark  ;D
. . until the light came on. ???




Warning . . Beware of the English trekker . . . :2funny:




“What about the mountain biker Zen?”


I’m going to lose my appetite with no more of these delicious lunch stops. Taschalp ahead.




Reminds me of here . . Pennine Way, our first long trek (2013) . .




Hmm . . and our PW celebratory finish  - free half for me as well . . O0
Boy, don’t I look like a fresh-faced naive pup??   :P




“Hey, Ian. How are we going to celebrate?
“It’s a surprise”  O0





Further down the valley . . Gulp . . cows with horns  :'(
Ahh . . . not to worry Zen, I know where to get a bigger horn . .




An outdoor wedding in Taschalp


Just in case you're missing it . .





Avalanche defence barriers . .



“Ian what would happen if the log at the top broke free . . ?”
“Err, Zen . . let’s move a little quicker”




More avalanche protection







It wasn’t tiredness that slowed us down, we just didn’t want the trek to end.  :'(
No surprises then Ian took the long way, via Sunnegga Paradise & Findeln.

On the descent to Zermatt, the sun came out for our last views of The Matterhorn  O0










With the first houses of Zermatt in touching distance . . I stopped . .



“Ian, you know what we deserve . . ”
In union, we said “A five-star hotel”  :smitten:
We’ve earned it.  O0


A perk & reward for the hours I’ve spent looking after the flat while Ian cycles off to do his travel job. ;)
We stayed (free) for a couple of nights at Mont Cervin Palace. Luxurious.   :-*
Yummy - five-star breakfasts & doggie treats.   :D
In 16 days away, we had snow at Cabane du Mont Fort and during Day 6, but no rain, only at night . . .so my surprise . . a light warm rain shower at the hotel, then pampered with soft towels and a hair drier treatment afterwards . . such luxury.
"Thank you guys for following our wonderful trek and your lovely comments.  :smitten:
I hope you enjoyed my trip report as much as I did."


Just one final thing to say about our trek from Mont Blanc to The Matterhorn . . .





“Ian, a huge thank you . .
for all your love, trust, joy, wonder and surprises,
for helping me overcome my anguish, fear, tiredness and anxieties,

for tantalising tent views, ice cool glaciers and tricky challenges,
for mountain reflections, floating snowflakes and red & white flashes,

for soft swiss cheese, cliff clinging paths and valley vistas,
for a cosy igloo, getting lost, power naps & dreamy siestas.

Ich danke dir sehr . .
for restful cols, wicked wild camps and fresh water troughs,
for freedom forests, big skies and spectacular lunch stops,

for horned cows, inquisitive alpacas and chamois and cheeky marmots,
for being smitten by a shepherd, a majestic ibex and load-haired goats.

Un petit merci . . .
for your knockout farts, my river wash and the ferry cages,
for a shocking electric fence lesson and swinging suspension bridges.

Muchísimo gracias  . .
for rock ‘n’ roll boulders, gorgeous flowery meadows and window boxes,   
for old town chalets, a downhill fun run and super tasty rosties,

for a new bungee lead, avoiding ladders and an ace glacier crossing,
for bravo doggie bags, fav food packages and near perfect planning,

for taking me across the grand desert and yoga and snowy frolics
And for taking me with you, coz it was . . the dog’s b*ll*cks!”





  "Sueña con los angelitos" 
« Last Edit: 20:51:27, 20/08/17 by IanyZen »
Good luck on your next adventure
Ian & Zen

pdstsp

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Re: Walker's Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt June/July 2017
« Reply #80 on: 23:20:13, 20/08/17 »
Brilliant - thank you both. 


Mel

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Re: Walker's Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt June/July 2017
« Reply #81 on: 23:34:47, 20/08/17 »
I've thoroughly enjoyed each installment of your brilliant adventure Zen.  Thank you for pawsting it  :)

Islandplodder

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Re: Walker's Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt June/July 2017
« Reply #82 on: 09:45:31, 21/08/17 »
I'll miss these posts Zen, and all the photos.  They really cheer up a soggy Scottish August.  See and take Ian off for another holiday soon!

vizzavona

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Re: Walker's Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt June/July 2017
« Reply #83 on: 10:08:55, 21/08/17 »
Very enjoyable reports of your journey.  Travels through the mountains with an intelligent pooch.....better than 'Travels with a Donkey'.  :)  I look forwards to hear of your next adventure together.

Jac

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Re: Walker's Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt June/July 2017
« Reply #84 on: 10:21:28, 23/08/17 »
Absolutely brilliant - tears in my eyes now it's all over - feel i@ve walked i with you ( but thank heavens I didn't have to, some of those paths aaaaarrrrggghhhh.
Zen and Ian - what an amazing combo.

Thank you :)
So many paths yet to walk, so little time left

gunwharfman

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Re: Walker's Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt June/July 2017
« Reply #85 on: 16:47:02, 23/08/17 »
Thank you, very enjoyable.

gunwharfman

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Re: Walker's Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt June/July 2017
« Reply #86 on: 16:49:53, 23/08/17 »
When you were hiking were you sending them to the Walking Forum whilst on the route? If this was the case, how did you do that?

bricam2096

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Re: Walker's Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt June/July 2017
« Reply #87 on: 18:46:13, 23/08/17 »
When you were hiking were you sending them to the Walking Forum whilst on the route? If this was the case, how did you do that?

He finished the walk on July 8th so I guess he posted his photos when he got home  O0
LDWs done - 32 in total including 16 National Trails and 3 C2C

Wainwrights 176
www.brians-walks.co.uk

 

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