Post date: 29-Oct-2014 13:31:00

The Haute Route Hike was an amazing and unique experience and a roller coaster ride with ups and downs in more ways than one! The Core team, my colleague Nick Searing and I and other Strivers led by Dream guides hiked over 180 km from Verbier to Zermatt covering a 9 day hike in 7 days. Here is a summary below of the days of the hike for those that might want to know more.

Day 1

We started off with the only easy day! Departing Verbier and climbing 1600m up to the Cabane Mont Fort. There was a fair bit of elevation gain but the walking was gentle along paths and tracks through the forest, with some amazing views of the Grand Combin in the distance.

Difficulties on day one singled out those who hadn’t trained properly and a few strivers already started to suffers blisters and thought they might not be able finish the week. We also had to carry all our kit for the first three day so there were a lot of sore shoulders and well as feet.

Sleeping in the dorms in the mountains was also a challenge with over 18 people to a dorm with rows of mattresses on wooden bases on the floor. Ear plugs were handed out to all and most gratefully received! There were just two showers and toilets for 50 people.

Day 2

We climbed from Cabane Mont Fort to Cabane de Prafleuri which was an 8 hour hike with spectacular views from Sentier des Chamois. It was a really long day surrounded by Ibex, a relatively rare Alpine goat! We finally left the world behind and entered the wilderness. The evening was a real high and Nick and I had the opportunity to chat with Richard Branson and tell him about the amazing staff we have working in VC!......... I would have preferred to have met Richard though wearing make-up and fresh clothes rather than ones I had been wearing for two days!

Day 3

The day started with a photograph opportunity with Richard! This day was the most challenging and we set out early in the driving rain, howling wind and bitter cold. Unfortunately, due to the treacherous terrain, we were not able to walk the full route. It was raining from start to finish.

This was also the most terrifying day as we saw massive boulders and rocks dislodge and roll down the mountain around us. We were in a protected area but it was still terrifying to hear and see the boulders crash down.

Our group decided to head back out on their own hike when the weather had cleared a little (the mountain air make you do the strangest things!) and we met a charming local Swiss man who invited us into his home to shelter from the rain and offered us a warming and welcome drink.

Thankfully, our bags caught up with us at the dorms and it was the last day we had to carry our full kit!

Day 4

We set out feeling lighter as we only had to carry the kit we needed for the day and hiked from Les Hauderes to Zinal. The core team took off early on bikes and cycled up to the next town and then hiked an incredible distance. Their day was two days packed into one!

The rest of us taxied up the hill and started at a relatively high elevation. We started off with a killer hill that left many of us huffing and puffing and you could really feel your heart labouring as you reached a higher altitude. We often had to traverse a mountain path with just a chain to hold to which was fixed on the mountain with a sheer drop on the other side. My strategy was not to look up or down and just look at the calves of the person in front. By the end of the hike I could tell who the person was in front of my by their calves! The last 500m of any ascent were a sheer test of endurance as you became slower and slower with the elevation and effort of climbing.

The reward of the most stunning views I have ever seen in my life was worth every painful and often terrifying footstep!

Day 5

We hiked from Zinal to Gruben. It was a long day but thankfully, a bit less intense and our final downhill into Gruben. According to Nick’s Virgin Pulse Max pedometer, we walked a whopping 32,000 steps!

Day 6

The hike took us from Gruben to St. Niklaus, another long day including the 2.5 hour descent into the town (hard on the knees) we were blessed by glorious weather, sun but with a welcome and cooler wind.

Crossing boulder passes I personally found tough you had to follow the boulder pathway way by trying to see the Swiss flag painted on boulders which marked the way. One wrong foot could potentially see you tumbling down the pass and the boulders were often wet, loose and slippery!

Day 7

Our final day of hiking and we set out as a team and walked the whole way together.

We stopped for lunch by the lakeside and many of us jumped in to cool off and it was blissful but freezing!

Entering Zermatt we all felt an incredible sense of achievement and elation.

Nick and I felt so lucky to be sharing the Strive’s vision, goals and being a small part of the story