UKC

Hi,

I am planning on completing the Classic Haute Route between Chamonix and Zermatt this summer. I was just wondering where people who may have done the route before or been to Chamonix/Zermatt bought their maps from. I looked in the local outdoor shop and a local bookshop to try to find some but the only maps I could find of the area were not detailed enough for navigation.

Thanks for any advice

In reply to HGTS:

I always use 1:25000 maps - there must be half a dozen of them along the Haute Route. 1:50000 are pretty good too. Stanfords have them http://www.stanfords.co.uk/Switzerland-Swiss-Survey-25K-Topographic-Maps_SI...

In reply to jon:

Thank you, looks like the perfect place to start, 25k maps may be the way to go for the extra detail, would rather have them than regret not having quite the same amount of detail on a 50k map.

In reply to HGTS:
I downloaded from swiss Topo https://map.schweizmobil.ch

I can send if you want, print, mark up and laminate

Wow, I didn't realise that all the maps were available to download free online! Would it be possible for you to send over your downloads? I have sent a private email over UKC with my email address.

Thanks so much for the help!

In reply to HGTS:

Using Swiss maps is when you realise how truly spoiled and gifted we are to have OS maps !

In reply to Dark-Cloud:

You are kidding?

In reply to jon:
Nope, weird fonts, too much grey, contour spot heights that melt into features, names aligned with contours, bendy text, all too weird and unfamiliar

In reply to Dark-Cloud:

They just aren't the same.... I guess whatever you are used to is probably easiest.

In reply to Dark-Cloud:

I agree, Swiss maps are beautiful to look at but OS wins hands down on clarity. Different challenges though, mapping the Alps and the UK. Would be interesting to see how the OS would tackle that.

In reply to HGTS:

The whole Haute Route is covered on just two Swiss Maps:

http://www.needlesports.com/3799/products/mont-blanc---grand-combin-5003-.a... and

http://www.needlesports.com/3800/products/matterhorn---mischabel-5006-.aspx , which are 1:50,000.

I've done it twice on skis and never had a problem with 1:50,000 as a scale - in fact you carry a lot less map and it's easier in some ways to plot your path as there is less fine detail to distract you.

In reply to robert-hutton:

I print off these maps at 25k and laminate them back to back. It is then possible to slip them down the back of your sac. I agree that they are not as good as OS maps but they do work.