Introduction

The hikes described on this site all have a common point: they are day hikes. Their duration never exceeds 6 hours for the climb, which means that if you leave reasonably early, you will be able to be back in the end of the afternoon. It is a good idea to start early in the morning, especially when the hike is long, or if the first part is steep and exposed to the sun.

The purpose of these pages is to suggest interesting tours. They are not intended to replace a detailed hike description written by a specialist (check out the bibliography), for this). Also, they do not exempt you of carrying a good map while on the trail.

For general recommendations about safety, dangers, you should consult one of the official Swiss Alpine Club books, because I do not feel competent to write about that. I'll just remind you the most important things to know:

• Duration: the duration is given only for the climb up, unless explicitely stated otherwise (e.g. for a circuit). It usually takes half the time for the return into the valley. The duration should be considered as nothing more than an indication. The effective time depends on the conditions and on your physical shape (particularly if you are a computer engineer like me whose most developped muscle is the one that activates the mouse button).

• Access (start): some trails start in places that are difficult to to reach using public transportation. Those who do not own vehicle should pick the hikes leaving from villages (e.g. Arolla, Zinal, Zermatt, Grindelwald).

• Clothing: in the mountains, the weather can change very quickly. I am lucky enough to be able to decide the night before whether a hike should be undertaken or not, depending on the weather forecast. This is obviously not the case for tourists who stay here for a limited time. In any case, always be prepared for the worst. All the hikes on this site have been done in perfect conditions. One important thing: mountaineering boots are essential!

• Food supply: although most huts are guarded, don't rely on that for food and beverages. Early or late in the season, there might be no guardian at all. Less visited huts, like the Refuge des Dents du Midi, don't have anybody. Get informed before you leave. Or better: carry all you need with you. I recommend taking a lot of water, and energetic bars.

• Weather: this important subject is handled on a separate page.

• Maps: since a long time, I wished to include some maps so that the hikes could be visualized more easily. Unfortunately, the Federal Office of Topography wanted SFr. 50.-- per year and per map excerpt, even for a non-profit-making website! That meant a dissuasive total amount of SFr. 3000.-- per year for having 2 excerpts illustrate the current 30 hikes. Therefore, I ended up using the Swissgeo maps [Update 1-Oct-2008: service now provided by GeoLives], which provides lower quality and non-modifiable, but more or less free maps.

  Somewhat, I understand the Office of Topography, but when they quoted that 3000.-- yearly fee for my personal website, I was not sure whether they were kidding... Well, they were not :-(

• Difficulty: I've finally adopted the new official rating for mountain hikes established by the Swiss Alpine Club [Update 27-Oct-2007]:

  T1 - Valley Hikes	Paths are well cleared. In case they are marked according to SAW standards: marking is yellow. Flat or slightly sloped, no danger of falling. Requirements: None, tennis shoes are fine. No problem to get oriented, even without a map. Tour examples: Männlichen - Kleine Scheidegg, Hut path to Jura Hut, Cabane Mont Raimeux, Strada Alta Leventina, Vermigel Hut.
  T2 - Mountain Hikes	Paths with continuous marked-out route. In case it is marked according to SAW standards: white-red-white. Sometimes steep, danger of falling possible. Requirements: Sure footedness sometimes needed. Trekking shoes are recommended. Basic orientation skills. Tour examples: Wildhorn Hut, Bergsee Hut, Täsch Hut from Täschalp, Passo Campolungo, Capanna Cristallina from Ossasco.
  T3 - Challenging Mountain Hikes	Paths are not always visible. Exposed sections can be safeguarded with ropes or chains. The hands might be needed for balance. In case the path is marked: white-red-white. Can have exposed sections with danger of falling, scree slopes, pathless craggy ground. Requirements: sure footedness, good trekking shoes. Average orientation skills. Basic alpine experience required. Tour examples: Hohtürli, Sefinenfurgge, Fründen Hut, Grosser Mythen, Pizzo Centrale from Gotthars pass.
  T4 - Randonnée alpine	Path traces are not always present. Some sections require the use of hands. In case paths are marked: white-blue-white. Grounds are relatively exposed, tricky grass slopes, craggy ground, simple firn fields and snow free glacier sections. Requirements: Stable trekking shoes. Basic ability to judge grounds and good orientation skills. Alpine experience required. A sudden change in the weather can make a retreat/fallback difficult. Tour examples: Forno Hut, Schreckhorn Hut Dossen Hut, Mischabel Hut, section Voralp Hut - Bergsee Hut, Vorder Glärnisch, Steghorn (ladder), Piz Teri, Pass Casnile Sud.
  T5 - Randonnée alpine exigeante	Often without paths. Some easy climbing sections. In case it is marked: white-blue-white. Exposed, demanding grounds, steep craggy ground. Danger of slipping on glaciers and firn fields. Requirements: Climbing boots. Experienced to judge grounds and very good orientation skills. Good alpine experience also in high alpine areas. Basic knowledge in the use of pick and rope. Tour examples: Cabane Dent Blanche, Büttlasse, Salbitbiwak, Sustenjoch North flank, Bristen, Pas Cacciabella.
  T6 - Randonnée alpine difficile	Mostly without path. Climbing sections up to II. Paths are not marked most of the time. Often very exposed. Tricky craggy ground. Glaciers with increased danger of slipping. Requirements: Excellent orientation skills. Advanced alpine experience and well acquainted with the use of technical alpine appliances. Tour examples: Niesen ridge (Fromberghorn North), Glärnisch Guppen ridge, Via alta della Verzasca.




Being subject to giddiness myself, none of the tours on my website here require roping-up or crossing dizzy precipices. Except for 2 or 3 hikes, all are rated between T1 and T3.