The Trip Notes provide detailed information and background for Adventure Consultants' Summer Haute Route Trek.
You can view the trip notes online by clicking the image or download a pdf by clicking the following link:
Summer Haute Route Trek Trip Notes 2022
Our Guides
Adventure Consultants trekking guides are International Mountain Leaders or qualified under the BMG/NZMGA and / or IFMGA/UIAGM. They are professional trekking guides and operate to the highest industry standards.
Our standards demand that our trip leaders are great guides with good people skills as well. You will find your guide friendly, approachable and focused on providing a safe and enjoyable trip in line with your objectives and comfort level.
Success with the highest margin of care is always a hallmark of our approach; promoting the realisation that even extreme pursuits such as high altitude mountaineering can be undertaken safely.
Head Office Support Team
Running successful journeys and expeditions is more about experience, knowledge and strategic management than any other factors. As an organisation, we place a substantial amount of time and resources into ensuring our trips are well planned and supported. You can be assured that the AC staff will provide you with friendly advice and knowledgeable support throughout the planning stages of your trip and we will be there to provide backup while the trip is running.
Hayley Furze, Client Liaison
Hayley joins the AC team with a wealth of experience working in the tourism and hospitality industry along with a love of travel. She works as Client Liaison on a number of our European and international ascents, treks and expeditions.
Your Health
Our registration form requests that you advise us of any medical problems you may have and if you are on any medication. Any information you supply will be treated as confidential.
Level of Experience Required
Most days will involve roped glacier travel and although previous alpine trekking experience with an ice axe and crampons is useful, these skills are not required and your guide will teach these techniques along the way. You can expect to cross loose terrain, with some exposed sections that may require the use of a rope at times.
Difficulty Rating
Each of our trips is individually rated according to its physical and technical difficulty, displayed in the icons towards the top of each trip page. You can click on the accompanying question mark for additional descriptions and the full run-down of our grading system is available on our Difficulty Ratings page.
Preparing for Your Trip
An excellent level of fitness is required and participants must be able to walk between 6-8 hours per day, with daily ascents/descents totalling 1,000m/3,300ft or more. The terrain is varied and mostly off-trail, requiring a good sense of balance and agility. It is imperative that you are pack fit and able to carry 15kg/33lbs for the trekking days, as this will make all of the difference to your enjoyment on the trek.
Your guide will be attuned to your fitness levels and will regulate the pace accordingly. See our Fitness Training Programs for information on how we can help you prepare for your trek.
Food
We provide nutritious lunches and a supply of snack food throughout the trip according to the program. It is a good idea to bring a small selection of your favourite snack food and hydration drinks with you to ensure you are fuelled by your preferred brands. Actual amounts depend on your consumption but 2 per day in addition to the lunches we provide would seem reasonable.
Adventure Consultants will provide breakfasts and lunches for the duration of the trek and evening meals on the hut/refuge nights while the trip is running. Should the group decide to take a restaurant lunch that is not in the programme that will be at your own expense. Evening meals when in Chamonix / Zermatt are not included, so that you have the option to explore many of the wonderful restaurants along the tour route. Any additional food, beverages or meals you purchase that are not mentioned in the inclusions will be at your own expense.
If you have any special dietary requirements, please advise us at the time of registration. If your dietary requirements are especially strict, you are advised to bring a sufficient supply of your required food types with you to ensure you are provided for.
Accommodation
Accommodation is provided on a twin share B&B basis from the evening of the first night (day 0) through to the morning of day 7 after breakfast. Accommodation in the mountains is in alpine huts in shared bunk rooms or dormitory rooms. Blankets are provided and no sleeping bag will be required. There is no single supplement (or private rooms) available in the mountain huts but we can arrange this for you at additional cost for the hotel nights during the trek. Please enquire about costs at time of enquiry.
Clothing & Equipment
Climbing and trekking in the European Alps requires you have high quality clothing and equipment due to the extremes of weather conditions. Our focus is on having the essential clothing and equipment to keep you warm and comfortable during the trek.
Your guide will go through an equipment checklist with you at the beginning of your trip. You can rent technical equipment for the trek but you must provide your own clothing appropriate to trekking as per the equipment list.
Communications & Messages
Our guides are in cell phone communication with our operations base throughout the trip. This assists us with schedule and weather forecast updates, lift / taxi and accommodation co-ordination and safety back up. Your own mobile phone should work in the region though you may want to check with your own service provider first. Local mobile phones can be rented at the international airports.
Trekking Season
July to September is the best time to walk the Haute Route. In June and early July the high passes may still have snow on the ground, and as temperatures warm up into the summer months from mid-July we traditionally experience more settled weather and warmer temperatures.
Europe has a continental climate which in general encourages more stable weather. However, the weather in the high mountains can be changeable and at times very severe. July and August brings settled hot weather.
Travel
We commence our Summer Haute Route Trek from Chamonix in France. The closest international airport is at Geneva, just over the border in Switzerland. Regular shuttles operate up to Chamonix and the trip takes about 1.5 hours. Your shuttle driver will drop you at our accommodation. The shuttle transfers are at your own cost but we can help arrange this for you.
