Hut to hut in the swiss alps

[EwanUK]

Hi all,

Singletrack world has directed me to the forum as a place I might find some people who've done hut to hut trips in the swiss alps. Some background....

We did a massive point to point bike trip in 2015 riding from Champery to Moutiers via every good track we knew in the alps (we've been to lots of the resorts so knew our way around) - we stayed in Alpine huts each evening. Was pretty much the best trip i've ever done - ending the days ride at the top of a mountain instead of a ski town really was something.

For this year we've decided we want to do a similar trip but this time going from Chamonix to Zermatt in Switzerland – the main resorts being: Chamonix, 4 Vallees (Verbier), Grimetz, St Luc, and Zermatt.

We've started by mapping which lifts are open - and finding existing bike trails that look good (we are pretty happy riding down anything really and we'll be carrying everything in 30L camelbaks). However, as in our french trip we need to ride on some hiking trails that aren't mapped as bike trails. I'm struggling to find information on the legaility of this, and if it's not technically allowed, whether anyone will care (our experience in France is that most of time no one cares as long as it's not a honeypot route and you don't act like an idiot / go out of your way to give way to people).

I think these are all in the Canton of Valais, so if anyone has any real world advice or experience on riding on hiking trails then this would be very helpful

[Matt]

You need Gairy to look in or message him

[In Reverse]

The Haute Route goes from Chamonix to Zermatt and is mostly doable on bike if you don't mind some carrying

Thread from last year here, my route's about halfway down:

http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... te#p125520

Didn't plan on using lifts but you could at the very least get one out of the top of the Chamonix Valley (le Tour up to Col de Balme) and from le Chable up past Verbier.

[Alpinum]

Hi Ewan

You'll be just fine. I'm swiss and grew up doing stuff in the Alps, biking being one of them. They are my playground. If you need detailed info on what so ever just give a shout. I can only give limited help with hut, as I tend to stay clear of them, but know a few like the Becs de Bosson.

You are absolutely right about the honeypot trails. Stay clear. If you really must ride them, choose week days and ride them early or late.
The places you mention are well acquainted with bikers. You can hardly do any thing wrong.

Technically, there is a national law in Switzerland (dates back a bit) that says something like 'use of walking and hiking paths with motorised vehicles and bicycles not suitable for such are prohibited'. The thing is, bikes are made for such.
It's legal. Some cantons are slightly restrictive, but Valais, Berne, Grisons, Vaude, Ticino - those with the best trails - are all good to go.

Then there are local legislations but basically the not legal trails are indicated and mostly around tourist hot spots in gorges etc. But trust me, they are very, very far from frequent.

Switzerland and France are as free as it gets.

Just take care of the single tracks, they're not a bike park track and use brakes wisely, especially on the steeps. You make one mistake in braking and water will do the rest by erosion.
Be respectful and get off when passing other trail users. Be it ibex or human.

Col du Tsaté during a 2 day bikepacking trip with my girlfriend


Close to Col de la Tsevalire on the same trip


Not far from there we rode a 2150 m vert loss descent. In one go. Plan to drop down to the valley floors. There are many options for post busses to take you back up into mountain villages. It's super fun to explore the deep folds of the Alps this way.

[Alpinum]

The Haute Route goes from Chamonix to Zermatt and is mostly doable on bike if you don't mind some carrying

Thread from last year here, my route's about halfway down:

http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... te#p125520

Didn't plan on using lifts but you could at the very least get one out of the top of the Chamonix Valley (le Tour up to Col de Balme) and from le Chable up past Verbier.

If you're into uplifts, there are many options on the rough route Cham - Zermazzz.

Mind, we're drowning in snow right now. Valais around Saas Fee and Zermatt has got as much snow as the record year of '99. It may be late into summer 'till it's all gone. Also in September there are less hikers about. Except for Cham and Zermatt. It's always 'crowded' there.
We made this end September a bunch of years ago
https://vimeo.com/101354758
Colours are stunning too at that time of year

[gairym]

Howdy,

Not much to add really as Gian had covered pretty much everything.

Early September is always my advice when discussing the TMB or Haute Route possibilities with people.

Weather (usually) still good, quieter trails and lots of the lifts are still running.

There are a bunch of trails around Chamonix that are off limits to bikers in July and August too but not sure any that'll affect your plans.

And yeah, it's gonna be a fair old white before all this snow buggers off!

[Alpinum]

Hi Ewan

You'll be just fine. I'm swiss and grew up doing stuff in the Alps, biking being one of them. They are my playground. If you need detailed info on what so ever just give a shout. I can only give limited help with hut, as I tend to stay clear of them, but know a few like the Becs de Bosson.

You are absolutely right about the honeypot trails. Stay clear. If you really must ride them, choose week days and ride them early or late.
The places you mention are well acquainted with bikers. You can hardly do any thing wrong.

Technically, there is a national law in Switzerland (dates back a bit) that says something like 'use of walking and hiking paths with motorised vehicles and bicycles not suitable for such are prohibited'. The thing is, bikes are made for such.
It's legal. Some cantons are slightly restrictive, but Valais, Berne, Grisons, Vaude, Ticino - those with the best trails - are all good to go.

Then there are local legislations but basically the not legal trails are indicated and mostly around tourist hot spots in gorges etc. But trust me, they are very, very far from frequent.

Switzerland and France are as free as it gets.

Just take care of the single tracks, they're not a bike park track and use brakes wisely, especially on the steeps. You make one mistake in braking and water will do the rest by erosion.
Be respectful and get off when passing other trail users. Be it ibex or human.

Col du Tsaté during a 2 day bikepacking trip with my girlfriend


Close to Col de la Tsevalire on the same trip


Not far from there we rode a 2150 m vert loss descent. In one go. Plan to drop down to the valley floors. There are many options for post busses to take you back up into mountain villages. It's super fun to explore the deep folds of the Alps this way.

Sorry, the second photo should have been this one:

[EwanUK]

Great info guys - we're fairly locked into the first week of July for the trip due to me going on honey moon and my wife being a teacher....

One other question I have - does anyone know which lifts are open around the Burchen area? (we're mapping all the lifts we might be able to use onto a google earth file at the moment). I found http://www.moosalpregion.ch/ete/sportet ... is webpage that says "Postbuses from the Moosalp, the chairlift from the Brandalp or the gondola to Unterbäch will transport your bike", but I can't actually find out what the two lifts or gondola's are actually called - could be a few: Unterbach Brandalp, Blatt, Reidlift or the Moosalp express.

Also trying to work out where to find the route for the Postbus which takes bikes - I found this page https://www.postauto.ch/en/excursion-ti ... salp-linie which says it goes from Visp to Moosalp but doesn't actually give the route (which is needed for route planning). Am i missing something obvious on the webpage?

[Alpinum]

July is a bit early. If I were you I'd prepare some alternative routes - given you're thinking of going past Col de Prafleuri and Col de Riedmatten.

In the Bürchen area you can get the cable car from Raron (SBB train station) or more precise from Turtig to Unterbäch and Eischoll. Also in the vicinity: Turtmann-Unterems-Oberems, then Gampel-Jeizinen, Stalden-Staldenried-Gspon, St. Niklaus-Jungen just to name a few.

On the other lifts around Bürchen/Unterbäch they (usually) don't transport bikes.

Check this https://map.wanderland.ch/?lang=de&bgLa ... rs=Station
If you don't see thousand of stations, just activate Bahn/Bus/Schiff on the right hand side.
If you hit the blue icon on the map it'll give you the name of the "station" (sometimes just a sign by the road).

I guess you're already familiar with https://www.sbb.ch/home.html

Give a shout if you need precise info. I know that area like the back of my hand.

Toptip, deposit gear at Moosalp and ride/HAB up to the summit of March/Violenhorn, if you're a very strong technical rider Augstbordhorn, and enjoy riding from above 2800 m all the way down to 650 m (Visp). Go back up by Poschi (post bus), fetch gear and ride on towards Zermatt.

I don't want to give the impression you can't ride the Alps beginning of July, just have a plan B.

Photo is from the summit of the Augstbordhorn sometime in July, think it was in the first half. The path goes up on the west side of the ridge and can not be seen. If you look very closely, you can see it ascending the lower, flat summit which is Violenhorn/March.

[EwanUK]

Thanks Alpinum – very helpful indeed. Couple of questions…..

Found the ski lift Gampel – Jeizinen here: https://goo.gl/maps/92nMaaR8j7A2
Found the Raron one here: https://goo.gl/maps/uvz4pZyFeoJ2
Found the Turtmann-Unterems-Oberems here: https://goo.gl/maps/tMgcEGoBnGv
Found Stalden-Staldenried-Gspon here: https://goo.gl/maps/ZN9gTQvYp6k
Trying to work out what you mean by St Niklaus – Jungen – can’t find any ski lifts there. Do you mean the train station here: https://goo.gl/maps/kdJyTdqqB3r

Would you happen to know when the above lifts open – assume they’re not all year round (or are they?)? If the lift stations appear on the wanderland site, does that mean they’re all year round?

Your top tip sounds good – how do you get to Mossalp tho? I think you’re saying that there isn’t a lift up to Moosalp from Burchen (sorry if I misunderstood!) – do you mean get the postbus up to moosalp? I'm assuming that you can get the raron gondola to unterbach and then traverse (or is there a direct route to Burchen from the valley i've missed?).

I see there are quite a few bus stops from the wanderland website in Burchen – it just one bus that winds it way through the villiage before going up to Moosalp?
Don’t suppose you have a GPX for the route down from March / Augustbordhorn – I see it’s about 800m vert to the top from Moosalp – how much of that is rideable up (and down I guess) I’m assuming you mean go up the spine of the mountain to March, then Violenhorn and then onto Augstbordhorn? We’re fine with pretty techy stuff.
(Or any GPXs for the area really)

[Alpinum]

Exactly
There's a small cable car that goes up from just behind the train station (train line Visp - Zermatt) at St. Niklaus (mind, locals call it Sanniglaas). The ride down from Jungen is steep and the terrain seems very exposed, but (and it's a big but) the path is easy to ride and rather wide for a mountain path. Also perfect to combine with Augstbordpass (part of the hikers Haute Route).

Some lifts are often closed in summer or only open for hikers. I can't recall Brandalp running in summer (I once onnly was able to take my bike on it for a run on the ski slope in winter).
Those listed are small (except for Raron-Unterbäch) cable cars which serve as public transport to the villages and run all year round except for a few days a year while they are being serviced.

They run very regularly. If you miss one over lunch time, you have many options to go for a good meal. To be honest, there are so many cable cars in that area...
well any how
http://www.gampel-bratsch-tourismus.ch/ ... n/fahrplan
http://www.unterbaech.ch/bergbahnen/luf ... nterbaech/
http://www.luftseilbahn-staldenried.ch/ ... infos.html
https://eischoll.ch/informationen/lufts ... -eischoll/
http://www.jungenbahn.ch/fahrplan.html
https://www.torrent.ch/fahrplan-preise/ ... sommer.php There's a bus (check sbb.ch) from Leuk trainstation to Leukerbad.
There's a funiculaire from Sierre - Crans Montana (sbb.ch)

... and I've not even included the thousand of options post busses give you...
Like Visp - Moosalp, Brig - Simplon and oohhh my

I think I'm loosing it now

So... back to your question:
There's a post bus during summer months that runs from Visp to Bürchen and then onwards to the Moosalp. The climb to March is done best by going up past point 2300 m (marked) and then joins the other, more direct but tough track at Arb at 2520 m. From there it's obvious. Up to about 2400 m you can ride all of it, from there on it's a push/carry. Towards the top of March it's rideable again. Further up it's all push/carry again. Riding down from Augstbordhorn are a few sections perhaps Danny Madskills could ride but I can't. They are very brief though, just a few meters. From March onwards there's a boulderfield at the bottom of the ridge at Arb I can't ride, but again, it's just a few minutes of pushing. From there the rest is all glossy magazine superstar single track.
If you want a proper challenge, there's a small track from Arb to point 2253 m - I'll pay a round if you can ride that section without putting your foot down.

Of course, I can send you some gpx files. If you are registered (35.- CHF/year) on https://map.schweizmobil.ch/?lang=de&bg ... &N=1189000 - the wanderland site, you can get my routes and download them into basecamp, check them (wanderland has magnetic routing and before throwing them into a Garmin you might want to check and add some way points), export them as route or track into your device and ride. And of course draw your own routes.

We can also do it through this page, which is free but has no app (but does offline and works on smartphones) and is not quite as handy as the wanderland site.
https://map.geo.admin.ch/?lang=de&topic ... .16&zoom=6

Or, I just send you the gpx files as they are, in which state I don't think they work in the wanderland site, just in the map.geo.admin.ch site.

Sorry... there are so many options...

[Alpinum]

Ewan, I'm afraid we have to PM if you want gpx files.

Try this first:
Augstbordhorn - Visp
https://map.wanderland.ch/?lang=de&bgLa ... Id=4159949

If the whole process works with downloading etc. I'll post the rest this way.
If it doesn't, we'll PM our email adresses