Tour of Monte Rosa - Hilary Sharp

Situated on the Swiss Italian frontier, Monte Rosa is spectacular from all angles. The Tour of Monte Rosa is an adventure, challenging and very varied, taking a high route around the massif. Monte Rosa claims ten separate summits over 4000m, and in areas of true wilderness on this tour walkers will experience a sense of remoteness rarely found in the Alps. The trek takes walkers over high passes, using ancient trails, to superb viewpoints and through fascinating alpine villages. Italy and Switzerland meet on the summit of Monte Rosa, and the contrast between these two countries, their different culture, food and languages, is what gives this trek its originality. In Italy the walk spends considerable time high above the plains, visiting tiny hamlets, including the fascinating German-speaking Walser settlement, whilst the Swiss section crosses a glacier to reach Zermatt, dominated by the Matterhorn, before taking the impressive Europaweg trail to the spectacular village of Saas Fee. The trek is divided into ten day-stages. The guide also includes: Saas Fee, Zermatt and the Europaweg trail; a glossary, and lists of tourist offices and mountain huts. The author is a qualified Accompagnateur en Montagne (Trekking Guide).