Luca In The Alps

  Overview: Starting point:   Champéry (1,000m) Arrival: Haute Cime (3,254m) Altitude gain: 2,300m Duration: 2 days Difficulty: Medium Technical difficulty: Easy Download GPS file For years, I had dreamed of reaching the Haute Cime, the highest peak of the Dents du Midi in Valais, Switzerland. I had attempted it once before, but we started too late and faced early snow in late September. That time, we had to turn back. But this time, it was midsummer, and I was determined to make it! Choosing the Route There are two main routes to the summit: one from Lac de Salanfe and one from Champéry . The first time, I tried the Salanfe side, but in hindsight, I’d recommend the Champéry route. The final ascent from Salanfe is longer and includes a section with falling rocks, making it trickier. So this time, I started from Champéry . No lifts, no shortcuts—just a pure mountain trail. I left my car in the large parking lot near the winter cable car, 500m past the village, and set of...

Overview Starting point:  Staffal (1800m) Arrival point:  Capanna Margherita (4554m) Lift dropoff:  Punta Indren (3200m) Altitude gain:  1300m Time:  2 days (at least for normal people like me) Difficulty:  Difficult (especially due to the altitude) Technical difficiulty : Easy Download GSP file If you love mountaineering, you can't miss  Capanna Margherita . At  4,554m , it’s the highest mountain hut in Europe and, surprisingly, accessible to anyone with  average fitness . I went with a friend, joining a  guided tour  organized by  MonteRosaBooking . It cost us  €420 , and I can say— worth every cent! You can start your ascent from  Staffal (Gressoney)  or  Alagna . Either way, you take the lifts (included in our tour in our case)  up to Passo dei Salati (3,000m).  There we met our guide, Fabio. He immediately made us feel at ease, provided the necessary gear ( crampons and harnesses ), and then....