ADVENTURE

HAUTE ROUTE FROM CHAMONIX TO ZERMATT
FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND
Estimated time 12 to 14 days
Distance 110 miles
Highs This is the quintessential Alpine adventure, linking the two historic climbing centres of Chamonix and Zermatt. A challenging traverse going against the grain of the mountains that crosses a series of spectacular passes, each with deep valleys in between and each yielding its own unique perspective on Europe's most celebrated mountain range.
The hard yards 11,000m of ascent, 10,000m of descent and a few short glacier crossings. Those unprepared or unable to undertake these will find easier detours available.
keadventure.com/trip/chr/classic-haute-route-high-alpine-trekking.html

KHAMA VALLEY, KANGSHUNG GLACIER AND THE EAST FACE OF EVEREST
TIBET
Estimated time Eight to ten days from Kharta
Distance 80 miles
Highs This trek gives a real flavour of the tranquillity and stupefying beauty of the highest peak on Earth without having to endure the thronging trails to Everest in Nepal. A seldom undertaken hike to Pethang Ringmo, basecamp for the awesome Kangshung Face.
The hard yards Altitude acclimatisation is the secret to enjoying any trek in Tibet. The capital, Lhasa, is almost 3,700m above sea level. There is much to distract you while achieving this. The Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, and the historic towns of Shigatse and Gyantse on the road to Everest are unmissable.
keadventure.com/trip/kaf/kangshung-face-of-everest.html

THE WELSH 3000S CHALLENGE
SNOWDON, UK
Estimated time 24 hours
Distance 25 miles from the summit of Snowdon to Foel Fras, with a total of 4,500m of ascent.
Highs There is an eccentric appeal to a midsummer challenge like this — you are required to peak all 15 mountains over 3,000ft within a day. Who would pass up an opportunity to bivouac on the summit of Snowdon with a crowd of like-minded folk ready for a dawn start at 4am?
The hard yards Most people will have a support team waiting for them with sandwiches/soup/stretchers at strategic points en route, and in a car with celebratory beers and Champagne at the final pickup. The route is fairly straightforward, though the arête on Crib Goch is steep and exposed enough to make a slip potentially fatal. It also has the dubious distinction of being the wettest place in the UK, averaging almost 4½m of rainfall annually.
welsh3000s.co.uk

THE DHAULAGIRI COURT
NEPAL
Estimated time 23 days from Beni to Jomsom
Distance 180 miles
Highs Nepal lures tens of thousands annually and popular trails are increasingly busy. Those seeking a dose of solitude with their mountain delights need to look further afield, to mountains like the stupendous 8,167m Dhaulagiri. Through primitive villages and steep, densely wooded valleys, this trail eventually winds its way right beneath the dizzying heights of Dhaulagiri's west face, where 4,500m of vertical rock towers overhead.
The hard yards The crux of the trek is the crossing of French Pass, where you can marvel at the audacity of Kurt Diemberger and Enst Forrer's first ascent of the peak in 1960. You might also wish that daredevil pilot Ernst Saxer, who flew the two of them up to the northeast col to begin their climb was on hand to take you down to the fleshpots of Marpha, three days, another pass and 4000m below.
keadventure.com/trip/dlg/dhaulagiri-circuit-trek-via-the-french-pass.html

THE BIAFO-HISPAR GLACIAL TRAVERSE
PAKISTAN
Estimated time 16 days
Distance 100 miles
Highs Nothing can prepare you for the rugged beauty of the Karakoram. The Biafo and Hispar Glaciers reach out from Snow Lake like two enormous icy arms, and together form the longest stretch of glacial ice outside the polar regions. From an icy camp on the crest of the Hispar La you can watch the sun set on a jaw-dropping panorama of Karakoram giants and look across to The Ogre, where British mountaineer Doug Scott broke his legs just below the summit after making the first ascent in 1977.
The hard yards This trek is almost exclusively on the glaciers. Conditions underfoot are rough, so ropes and experience in such terrain are certainly required to venture here.
keadventure.com/trip/sl/snow-lake-and-the-hispar-la.html 

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