The 100-Mile Hike Club Podcast · Emma Fry

Hiking The Tour Du Monte Rosa In The Italian & Swiss Alps With Madeline Williams

·29 min·2 clips

Maddy shares that the Orestes Hut is a fully vegan mountain hut in the Alps, a rare find for hikers.

This episode features host Emma interviewing Madeline Williams, a guidebook author from Cicerone, about hiking the Tour du Monte Rosa in the Alps. Maddy has hiked the full circuit twice, most recently in 2023 and 2024. The trail is a roughly 100-mile loop traversing the Italian and Swiss Alps, typically completed in 10 to 11 days. The route circles Monte Rosa, the second-highest peak in the Alps, and offers views of seven of the range's ten highest mountains, including the Matterhorn. Maddy describes the trek as more challenging and less crowded than the popular Tour du Mont Blanc. Optional sections involve glacier crossings, requiring proper equipment and the flexibility to alter plans due to weather. She recommends the hiking season from mid-June to mid-September, coinciding with the opening of mountain huts. Accommodation includes huts and refuges, which can sometimes be booked last-minute, though some key stops require advance reservation. A notable highlight is the fully vegan Orestes Hut, a rare find in the Alps. The total elevation gain and loss for the circuit is approximately 11,500 meters. Maddy suggests starting in the car-free town of Zermatt, Switzerland, accessible by train from airports in Geneva, Basel, or Zurich. She advises allowing a day or two for acclimatization before starting, as the first day is entirely uphill. Cicerone plans to publish a dedicated guidebook for the route in May 2025. A memorable story involves Maddy and her father attempting the hike in August 2023, when a surprise snowfall forced them to abandon the first stage after seeing professional mountain guides turn back. They improvised by taking trains and buses through Milan to reach their next booked hut in Italy. This underscores the importance of respecting mountain conditions and being adaptable. The episode has a conversational and informative tone, blending practical advice with personal anecdotes. Listeners interested in challenging Alpine treks, seeking alternatives to busier routes, or with specific dietary needs like veganism would enjoy this episode. Those looking for a beginner-friendly or consistently predictable hiking experience might find the terrain and required flexibility less suitable.

As heard by us

An Alpine loop with practical notes and enough shape to invite planning.

The Tour du Monte Rosa is presented as a clear Alpine loop: just over 100 miles, 10 to 11 days, and a route that moves through striking country on both the Italian and Swiss sides of the border.

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Why you'd press play

A big Alpine circuit with hut logistics and a clear starting point.

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