Chamonix-Zermatt: The Walker's Haute Route (Mountain Walking) [Paperback]

Kev Reynolds (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mountain Walking | Publication Date: January 1, 2010

Chamonix to Zermatt, Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn - in two weeks of mountain travel you will see the greatest collection of 4000 metre peaks in the Alps and visit some of the most spectacular valleys.The route is more than 180 kilometres long. It crosses 11 passes, gains more than 12,000 metres in height and is a strong contender for the title of Most Beautiful Walk in Europe.This new edition includes a few minor changes which have occured to the route, as well as the exciting two-day Europaweg - a true high-level path that carries the Haute Route way above the Mattertal and into Zermatt - a worthy conclusion to a great trek.There are updates to the accommodation lists and the telephone numbers. 'Kev Reynolds knows these areas well. He's walked them for years and yet always manages to bring a freshness and vitality to his writing, a rare thing amongst modern guidebook writers.' -TGO magazine

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kev Reynolds is a freelance writer, photojournalist and lecturer. A prolific compiler of guidebooks, his first title for Cicerone Press (Walks & Climbs in the Pyrenees) appeared in 1978; he has since produced 27 titles for Cicerone, with others being researched at present. He is a member of the Outdoor Writers' Guild, the Alpine Club and Austrian Alpine Club.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Cicerone Press Limited; 4 edition (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852845139
• ISBN-13: 978-1852845131
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Travel > Reference & Tips > Guidebooks
  • #75 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Hiking & Camping > Excursion Guides

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive guidebook for walking the Haute Route, January 2, 2009

By 

Cotty Lowry "Cotty" (Minneapolis, Minnesota United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chamonix-Zermatt: The Walker's Haute Route (Mountain Walking) (Paperback)

If you are only thinking about a hike in Switzerland, this book will definitely stimulate you.

Once en route, you will realize you don't need additional maps, other books, you may not even need a compass and certainly not, heaven forbid, a GPS!

This book takes you in exquisite detail over 11 passes, 39,000 vertical feet up and 36,000 feet down in the Haute Route's 110 mile experience. In additiona to being a fantastic guide, Kev's writings are poetic in his descriptions of his beloved Alps. You will go back and reread and relive your trek via this book. I cannot recommend it enough, but if you buy it, do the trip. It will change your life.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guidebook for spectacular trek!, March 1, 2009

By 

John Borders - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chamonix-Zermatt: The Walker's Haute Route (Mountain Walking) (Paperback)

This book is all that is needed to make the spectacular trek from Chamonix to Zermatt. The author, Kev Reynolds, is an experienced and knowledgeable pro and Cicerone guides are the best. The book has distances, elevations, estimations of difficulty, and generally clear directions. My daughter and I relied upon it exclusively although I would suggest obtaining Swiss topographical maps as well. Caution: Reynolds' pace is fast and yours will likely be slower, perhaps significantly. It is important to adjust for these differences in your planning, especially since his days are often long. A six hour day for Reynolds may be nine hours for you, with no place for food or lodging in between. This is a pocket-sized practical guide, not a picture book, although the few color photos are beautiful and indicative of the views the length of this outstanding trip.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic guidebook, great nostaglia, June 10, 2010

By 

B. H. Ogle "hidden light photography" (MD, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chamonix-Zermatt: The Walker's Haute Route (Mountain Walking) (Paperback)

This guidebook is fantastic. The routes and variations are easy to follow (as are French and Swiss sign posts). Mr. Reynolds is clear and concise in everything he writes, making this a perfect pocket sized guidebook.

I actually enjoyed this book even more after I hiked the Haute Route. I was able to look back on his writing and reflect on my own experiences. It was neat to compare the two, and it certainly brought nostaglia.

Some suggestions for improvement would include better pictures. While a few of the pictures are good representations of what you will see, the pictures in the book are few and far between and certainly not up to date with modern imaging technology (check out Hidden Light Photography for a better visual description). In any case, the fact that this book fits in your pack more than makes up for the lack of current and comprehensive pictures.

Also, it would be great to have a fold out map of the route. Not that the book is not easy enough to follow, but, after trekking the classic Haute Route, you might want an additional souvenir.

Great Job Mr. Reyonlds!