Tour of Monte Rosa

A guidebook to walking the The Tour of Monte Rosa, a 9-10 day, 134km trek circling Monte Rosa anti-clockwise from Zermatt. The high route hugs glaciers and has views of over ten 4000ers. All essential information is provided, including outline maps, route profiles, advice on glacier crossing and accommodation.

The Tour of Monte Rosa is a 134km Alpine circuit around Europe's largest massif, crossing between Switzerland and Italy. Broken into 8 stages and usually completed in 9-10 days, this guide describes the route starting in Zermatt and travelling anti-clockwise to visit Breuil-Cervinia, St Jacques, Macugnaga, Saas Fee and Grachen before returning to Zermatt. Between these towns, mountain huts offer accommodation and spectacular views of the glaciated landscape. Due to the altitude and short glacier sections, the trek is best suited for walking from mid-July to mid-August and is a great introduction to high mountain walking.The Tour explores impressive Alpine scenery, enjoying views of the Matterhorn in the early stages before revealing the vast range of Monte Rosa itself. Classical Alpine features abound en route; wildflower meadows extend above traditional timber villages while ibex, chamois and marmots can be spotted on craggy mountainsides.The guide includes all the information needed for planning and completing the trek, providing a route summary table, detailed sketch maps and comprehensive route description for each stage. Due to changeable weather in the Alps, the guide offers options for lifts and variants if plans need to be adapted. For the glacier crossings, the introduction includes advice about equipment, techniques and hiring guides if necessary.

IntroductionThe Tour of Monte RosaThe RegionHow to Use this GuideWhich Direction to Go?PracticalitiesWhen to GoHow to Get ThereAccommodationLanguagesCurrenciesInsuranceFacilities and Gear ShopsDifficulty of the TrailMapsFootpaths and WaymarksLifts and BusesSafetyEmergencies and RescueEquipmentGlacier TravelAlpine WeatherGuided TreksInformationThe Monte Rosa MassifGlaciersAncient Passes4000m SummitsThe Walser CommunityThe ValleysThe Main TownsWildlife and VegetationInteresting Visits and Regional SpecialitiesShorter OptionsThe TrekStage 1 Zermatt to TheodulpassStage 2 Theodulpass to Resy/St JacquesStage 3 Resy/St Jacques to GabietStage 4 Gabiet to Alagna/PastoreStage 5 Alagna/Pastore to MacugnagaStage 6 Macugnaga to Saas FeeStage 7 Saas Fee to GrchenStage 8 Grchen to Zermatt - the EuropawegInformation boxesThe BreithornChamoisHuts and how things changeTranshumanceIbexLarchMarmotsFighting CowsAppendicesRoute outlineAppendix 1 Background ReadingAppendix 2 AccommodationAppendix 3 Useful ContactsAppendix 4 Useful Terms and GlossaryNormal0falsefalsefalseEN-GBJAX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0cm;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Courier;}Appendix 5 Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue Techniques