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The Mountain Ranges

1: Chablais Alps

A small area located south of the Lake of Geneva (Lac Léman) in Canton Valais, its most emblematic peaks are those of the Dents du Midi. No summit exceeds 3200m, and there’s very little permanent snow and ice, but plenty of rock routes can be found in the lower-to-medium grades. There are lots of good walking opportunities, including multi-day hut-to-hut routes, and downhill skiing is popular around Champéry and Morgins. Despite its close proximity to the Mont Blanc range, the Chablais district has some surprisingly little-trod corners where activists may experience a degree of solitude unknown in several other regions of the Swiss Alps.

2: Pennine Alps

Extending along the Swiss-Italian border from the edge of the Mont Blanc massif to the Simplon Pass, the Pennines boast the largest concentration of 4000m summits in the Alps, including Monte Rosa, Matterhorn, Weisshorn, Dent Blanche and the Dom. Snow and ice climbs abound, and while the ordinary rock routes are not technically difficult, the length of many climbs, and the exposure and sometimes questionable quality of the rock, tends to raise the standard of seriousness. Ski mountaineering is popular, with classic tours like the Haute Route (Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn) being a major attraction. Some of Switzerland’s busiest downhill ski resorts are found here (Verbier, Zermatt, Saas Fee), but there are also many seemingly timeless villages and unspoilt valleys. In summer day walks and hut-to-hut tours make the Pennine Alps a veritable mecca for mountain walkers of all persuasions.