This is a short description of Haute Route with Google map file and snapshots of 3D terrain. The Haute Route passes some amazing natural environments traditionally starting from Chamonix in France and crossing to Zermatt in Switzerland although there are a number of variants. This guide is more GPS intensive and is provided with Google map files. Since we were the first party to do this in 2003, we broke trails much of the time. Our trip coincided with the first days of American-Iraq war.
To use the Google map path, download map path file and open it with [url=http:// earth.google.com/Google Earth[/url] which can be downloaded from Google map site. I tried to give as much information on angles of tour. Starting from day three, the navigation becomes difficult with mountains and saddles (or cols). I have also provided snapshots of the route.
Mont Fort Hut and Dix Hut were open. The rest were closed. We carried our sleeping bags and provisions for two nights. Vignette Hut was just opening. I had a good chat with Sherpas from Kumbu in Nepali.
Because there was no fresh tracks beyond Lac Dix, it was a lot of grunt work breaking trails but it was completely devoid of human presence. This is a great way to do the route because you gradually acclimatize and the last day is long.
Physically, it was not too bad but we were quite nervous of bad weather. Fortunately every day was superb. Only reason why you want a guide is that when the weather turns bad, you want him figure out a quick way out if possible.
However, after Dix Hut, you are in the heart of the route and it is difficult to bail. So, you need to dig a hole and shiver. So, it is important to carry closed foam mattress.
Enjoy and be prepared with glacier travel. Refresh on rescue. You are traversing much of glaciated terrain.
More information on the Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route
Thanks, I have Google Earth installed and could open the map files directly. Since Google improved its satellite images earlier in the year this has become a great way to share routes.
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