Swiss Alps
Tête Blanche 3-day Mini Haute Route
Technical lev. : 4 / 5
FAIRLY EASY MOUNTAINEERING:
You should be comfortable walking in the mountains and on varied terrain. Easy climbing. If you have already done a glacier trek, it is better, but not compulsory, if you have a good physical and mental condition. Learning the techniques of progression at altitude for fairly easy routes and easy rescue techniques.
Physical lev. : 4 / 5
SPORTY & TRAINED PEOPLE:
Effort corresponding to approximately 1200 - 1700m of ascent per day.
You like and practice endurance sports at a good level.
Discover the Mini Haute Route, a 3-day course in the Swiss Valais to learn about mountaineering in complete safety! Supervised by expert guides, progress on glaciers and panoramic ridges while learning the technical basics. Accessible to motivated hikers, this adventure combines discovery, thrills and magnificent landscapes. An unforgettable experience to take the step up to the high mountains! Book your place and experience the thrill of mountaineering.
Dates & Prices
Discount if booked 4 months before departure
Trip
The Mini Haute Route is a condensed and accessible version of the famous Haute Route, ideal for those who wish to discover mountaineering in an exceptional setting. This three-day course, organised in the Swiss Valais, allows participants to learn the techniques of progression in the high mountains while progressing on majestic glaciers and panoramic ridges. Supervised by experienced guides, you will learn to use specific equipment, such as crampons and ice axes, while familiarising yourself with the essential safety rules.
This course is intended for sports enthusiasts who want to discover mountaineering, or people who enjoy easy mountaineering and want to be amazed!
We have a similar programme of easy mountaineering in the Swiss Valais around Arolla over 4 days. Feel free to take a look here.
Program
Elevation gain: + 1330
Duration: approx. 5 to 6 hours
Meet the Guide directly in Arolla at 7.30 am.
From the village of Arolla, the ascent begins gently through the mountain pastures before reaching the Mont Miné glacier. Equipped with crampons and roped together, we progress across this expanse of glacier surrounded by imposing peaks, discovering glacier walking techniques and safety rules for alpine terrain. The route becomes more spectacular as we approach the refuge, perched at an altitude of 3,311 metres on a rocky outcrop overlooking the valley.
Arrival at the Bertol hut is a truly satisfying and marvellous experience. Accessible via a final climb equipped with metal ladders, it offers a breathtaking view of the highest peaks of the Valais Alps, including the Dent Blanche and the Matterhorn. After a day of exertion and learning, budding mountaineers can enjoy the friendly atmosphere and the spectacle of the sunset over the glaciers. This stage, combining glacial ascent and magnificent panoramas, is an unforgettable experience and a perfect introduction to high mountain mountaineering.
Elevation gain: +/- 1100
Duration: approx. 6 to 7 hours
We will begin the ascent of the Tête Blanche. At dawn, we will leave the refuge and make our way along the Mont Miné glacier, a vast field of ice offering a spectacular sight in the morning light. The route climbs gradually towards the Tête Blanche pass before reaching the summit at an altitude of 3,710 metres. This ascent, although technically accessible, requires good effort management and a mastery of the basics of roped glacier walking.
From the summit, the reward is magnificent: a 360° panorama of the Swiss and Italian Alps, with a breathtaking view of the Matterhorn and the Dent d'Hérens. After a well-deserved break to enjoy the landscape and capture the moment, the descent is via the same route in the direction of Bertol. The return journey allows you to refine the techniques you have learnt, in particular how to manage descents on snow and ice. Back at the hut, we will have a well-deserved rest.
Depending on the weather, the terrain and the group, the guide may consider the possibility of adding another summit to this beautiful and already very full day.
Elevation gain: - 1330
Duration: approx. 5 to 6 hours
We finish our course with the descent between the Bertol hut and Arolla, which offers a spectacular route, combining high mountains and a gradual return to the valley. After leaving the refuge via its famous ladders, we descend the Mont Miné glacier, roped up to ensure our safety on the snow and ice. The grandiose landscape of the surrounding peaks accompanies this progression, before reaching the moraines and more passable paths leading to the mountain pastures. Little by little, the high mountains give way to denser vegetation, marking the return to Arolla. This route, although mainly downhill, requires constant vigilance, especially on the glacial sections and scree slopes. The arrival in the village marks the end of an intense adventure, rich in learning and breathtaking scenery.
Materiel
If you have any doubts or simply need more information about the equipment you should take with you on your climb, you can take a look at our blog page ‘What equipment do I need for mountaineering?’
IMPORTANT: if a person is not properly equipped and dressed, the mountain guide may decide not to allow them to take part in the climb. We ask you to carefully read the equipment list provided in the PDF programme of the climb and to call us if in doubt.
Level
SPORTY & TRAINED PEOPLE:
Effort corresponding to approximately 1200 - 1700m of ascent per day.
You like and practice endurance sports at a good level.
FAIRLY EASY MOUNTAINEERING:
You should be comfortable walking in the mountains and on varied terrain. Easy climbing. If you have already done a glacier trek, it is better, but not compulsory, if you have a good physical and mental condition. Learning the techniques of progression at altitude for fairly easy routes and easy rescue techniques.
Useful info
Meeting point on the first day at 7.30 a.m. in Arolla, the last inhabited hamlet at the foot of Monte Rosa, at the departure point of the Gabiet cable car.
Group to disperse on the last day in the afternoon between 14:00 and 16:00 in Arolla (Valais, Switzerland).
Cancellation and repatriation insurance is compulsory, as is insurance covering mountain search and rescue (minimum guarantee of 10,000 Euros).
Esprit Montagne recommends the following insurance: https://www.assurance-multi-sports.com.
French-speaking IFMGA mountain guide from our team.
Half board at the refuge included
You are responsible for your own lunches.
Remember to bring food that you like to eat before you set off (cereal bars, dried fruit, chocolate, etc.).
The following boots are recommended for mountaineering: Scarpa Triolet GTX
The currency in Switzerland is the Swiss franc (CHF).
We strongly advise you to bring cash!
When you register online, you can choose whether or not you want to car-share to get to the starting point of your course. After you have made your booking, when you log back into your personal Esprit Montagne account, a section dedicated to car-sharing will be available. You will find the contact details of the participants in your course who are interested in car-sharing, enabling you to get in touch with them directly.
. Supervision by the IFMGA High Mountain Guide from our team and his accommodation and meal expenses.
. Half board at the refuge (dinner and breakfast).
. The Staffal cable car to Punta Indren.
. Equipment for the group (ropes, lanyards, carabiners)
. Cancellation/interruption of stay/loss of luggage insurance and emergency assistance.
. Picnics and snacks for each day.
. Drinks and personal expenses.
. Tips.
. Anything not mentioned in the section ‘The price includes'.
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The best time to do the Haute Route is from the end of June to the beginning of September. Conditions are particularly favourable in July and August, when the glaciers are ‘dry’ and temperatures are milder.
Leaving early in the morning, around 4-5am, means you can take advantage of more stable snow and avoid the risk of avalanches. Supervision by a guide is essential in order to adapt to the changing conditions of the terrain.
The weather plays a decisive role: aim for a window of 3 consecutive days of stable good weather to maximise your chances of success. As the refuges are very popular in high season, it is necessary to book 2 to 3 months in advance, especially between mid-July and mid-August.
The Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route is a legendary 100-kilometre crossing through the most beautiful landscapes of the French and Swiss Alps. This adventure connects the two historic capitals of mountaineering by crossing 11 mountain passes.
The route crosses majestic glaciers and offers spectacular views of more than 20 peaks over 4000 metres, including Mont Blanc and the famous Matterhorn. Hikers mainly move between 2000 and 3000 metres above sea level.
The classic route takes 5 to 7 days, alternating between technical passages on glaciers and mountain trails. The diversity of the terrain encountered makes this crossing a unique experience, combining mountaineering and high mountain hiking.
Contrary to popular belief, Pico Veleta in Spain holds the record for the highest paved road in Europe, peaking at 3,396 metres in the Sierra Nevada near Granada. This spectacular road is not open to cars, however.
In France, the famous Route de la Bonette reaches 2,802 metres, making it the highest paved road in the country. The southern portal of the Ötztaler Gletscherstraße tunnel in Austria is slightly higher at 2,829 metres.
For lovers of the great outdoors, these roads offer exceptional panoramic views of the surrounding mountain ranges. By way of comparison, the highest roads in the world are in Tibet, such as the Semo Pass, which rises to an altitude of 5,565 metres.
