Exodus Haute Route Trek July 2003

Day 9 Cabane Prafleuri to Les Haudères

Restless night, 18 packed into the dorm. Facilities, although indoors, were cramped and very communal! More Chamois came to the salt lick before breakfast. Off at 7.15 up the Col de Roux. Good views including Chamois on the hill. The meadows along Lac Dix were everything a Swiss Alpine meadow should be; brilliant sunshine, a blue sky, lots of butterflies and wild flowers with a blue lake, glaciers and mountains in the background. We walked past a farm converted into a hut, round the lake to the hydro-waterfall at the end. Then a hard climb up to a grassy lunch spot with views of the Dix hut, the remains of the Mt Blanc de Cheilon glacier, Mt Blanc de Cheilon and Le Pleureur. An even harder climb to the Col du Reidmatten, steep and lots of scree but the view of the Matterhorn and Dent Blanche made it worth the effort. Good views on the way down of the Pigne d'Arolla and the icefall at the bottom of the western glacier. A long walk down to Arolla which turned out to be quite a climbing centre. Beer and ice cream before getting the Post bus down the valley to the campsite below Les Haudères. It was full of Dutch families who were slightly bemused by our arrival. Very hot; cold beer most welcome. Bruce's hors-d'oeuvres appeared for the first time. Sixto was very passionate about Rioca and Jonathan Swift!!

Exodus Trip Notes

Day 9 This is a longer day starting with a short climb to cross the Col de Roux (2,804 m.). We descend across large boulders to Lac Dix (2,364 m.) and walk around its shoreline before climbing again above the glacier Dix, through meadows, which during the summer are quite often filled with edelweiss, to make a steep ascent on loose scree to the Col du Reidmatten (2,919 m.). Finally, a long descent brings us to the small and charming village of Arolla (1,998 m.), from where we catch a bus to Les Haudères (1,436m). Here we rejoin the support vehicle.

Campsite near Les Haudères.

Lac Dix and Mt Blanc de Cheilon
Mt Blanc de Cheilon Glacier
Hyro waterfall into Lac Dix
The remains of the Dix Glacier
Col du Reidmatten
Pigne d'Arolla and the icefall at the bottom of the western glacier
Mt Collon
Camp at Les Haudères