Climate for Walker's Haute Route Mid June 2014

Yes, sorry, I meant Col de la Croix du Bonhomme. There was snow patches coming around the here to the Col du Bonhomme. We kick stepped our ways across them. The largest one was nearest to the Col du Bonhomme.

We went over Col des Fours (2665m) on the TMB variant a couple of days ago and that last assent from the east side was covered in snow. We were able to kick step our way up and without crampons, but it can be a little bit nerve racking with the fog and wind especially at the mid steeper section. It would have seemed more difficult going down it then up, but we saw tracks from those that did go down it. The west side of the col was also covered in snow, but it seems more loose. Going down that was easier.

Anyways, we are heading down to La Sage today to setup for our hike on the Haute route section from La Sage to St. Nicholas over the next 4 days. With the Europaweg closed til 30th, we are going probably bus (rather than walk through the valley to Zermatt after those 4 days and do a day hike in the area. Will update on conditions in this stretch after.

Lastly, We'll take the train back to Martigany and head to Veiber to see if that section to Arolla will be ok around the 24th and 25th.

Just hiked from la sage to jungen (6-19 to 6-22). We went over the passes tsate, meidpass, and augstbordpass (ended up hiking all the way to grimentz on day one from le sage because we would had gotten to cabane du moiry too early and then found out barrage moiry and bus to barrage were not open. So buses to zinal to start day 2 instead.)

Snow were usually found around 2500m. Most were pretty solid to kick step though except the meidpass and meidsee (the snow was very soft and would not hold weight. Up to our knees with every step. Beautiful day but horrible day of hiking frustration. I see what you mean DV about the snow quality). We saw a couple groups go the other way of us, so maybe that will help those areas melt faster. There were 2 specific sections of snow to get to cabane du moiry. Seemed manageable, but we had opted to take advantage of weather and keep going. (We came to regret that after having to walk all the way to grimentz).

We are taking it easy tommorow and bus and cable carring up to ruinettes and a short walk to cabane mont fort and will try to see about getting though to arolla. Will update after.

I told you in my post 15 above that there was no bus to Moiry until yesterday and that there will be no gondola to Les Ruinettes until July 5th.
But it's not strenous at all to walk from Verbier to Cabane du Mont Fort.

Hi again....it's down to our last few days before we leave for Chamonix. We just heard that Arolla got 20 cm of snow. Is that right? Does this mean that microspikes would be useful? wangjm1985 seems to be hitting quite a bit of snow over 2500m....
also, is Cabane du mont-fort open now? I"m enjoying your updates wangjm1985 and your advice, Meckerdv
Thanks!

Snow at Arolla?
You may have a look at the webcam pictures:
http://www.hotel-kurhaus.arolla.com/webcam/index-en.php3
http://www.hotelduglacier.ch/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=59

Cabane du Mont Fort: +41 (0)27 778 13 84
http://www.cabanemontfort.ch/

Meckerdv, yea I knew about the. bus but I misplanned figuring out the barrage. I still enjoyed that section though.

Mountaingirl, I'm sitting in arolla right now and there is no snow. We didn't need crampons at all throughout entire section, just have good boots and learn to kick step. Poles are useful to keep balance. We didn't have problem with snow in the high passes, but then lower snow passes such as roux were very soft. Some of the higher passes may be like that next couple of weeks. You can get through but it's a pain. Invest in good gaiters.

Cabane fort mont wasn't answering there calls and ponferreri was empty when we got there. We bussed to foiny and went out to louvie to start on section and stayed in a winter lodge around lac Dix.

Also the ledge up to col louvie was pretty much clear of snow. Grand desert was pretty good with most of the snow firm. Don't get lost like we did around the little lake at the bottom of the glacier (know where you are going up as there are some old markers that take you down into the valley). You should see a marker every second when you are on the right trail.

We saw more walkers today, so people are definitely starting to do the trail. It's all doable, though I feel like it might be harder when the snow get softer, especially since you don't know what's below the snow sometimes. We did hit out shins a few times. The morning had firmer snow. We had a GPS that helped getting us stay on trail which had better consequences when the snow gave away.

Oh, I do also want to add that were generally fortunate with the weather. Rain did make the snow at some places icer. Simple crampons or a heavy kick are needed at those places. There was only one bad thunderstorm though the sections we hiked, but we finished early that day. All our difficult sections were done with no precipitation.

Anyways we hard a great time out here. Thanks merkerdv for all the information.

Hi Meckerdv and wang,

Thanks for the info. Me and my wife are going to do the walk from 23 July. It seems the weather should not be a issue. Our question is the europaweg passable? According to the book, it's gasenried – Europa hut, then next day Europa hut – Taschalp – Zermatt. I am a little bit of confused on this as I read the route (gasenried – Europa hut) was closed due to rock fall, then a suspension bridge was built and destroyed as well? Then I read from Meckerdv's reply:

Europahuette and the trail from Graechen/Gasenried to the hut will open June 30th. The direct trails from Europahuette to Taeschalp and from Taeschalp to Sunnegga will probalbly remain closed the whole year. Longer and more strenous alernatives are signmarked.

So what part is actually open or closed? For closed part what's the alternative route and how long the alternative route takes? On the book, it suggests an alternative route that bypass the Europa hut, which is St niklaus – Tasch – Zermatt. How is this option? Sorry for my too many questions, really confused on this part.

Meckerdv discussed this with someone else before:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/europe-western-europe/switzerland/southern-section-of-europaweg-closed-between-taschalp-zermatt

@Wang Thanks. So you skipped europewag as well?