Alpine Challenge

Overview

For over 20 years Overland has hiked the Alps—through deep green valleys and over rocky passes, across snowfields and along glacial lakes. On the Alpine Challenge, we’ll backpack the best of the Alps on two world-famous routes: the Alpine Pass Route across the Bernese Oberland and the High Route from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn.

We’ll start in world-famous Gstaad with three days of hiking before we head out on a nine-day backpacking trip across the spectacular Bernese Oberland. We’ll hike by Oeschinensee, the most picturesque mountain lake in the Alps, under waterfalls that tumble down the sides of the steep-walled Lauterbrunnen valley and over passes buttressed by giant glaciers. At the end of the hike, we’ll celebrate our accomplishments in Grindelwald at the base of the north face of the Eiger.

Next, we’ll travel to Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe (15,774 feet), and take on the challenges of the High Route. For 11 days, we’ll tackle high mileages and challenging terrain. We’ll be rewarded with big, spectacular views and small, charming villages. At the end of our hike, we’ll walk triumphantly into Zermatt and scramble up to the top of the 11,000 foot Mettelhorn high above the village where we’ll look across a landscape of snow and ice dominated by the crooked spire of the stunning Matterhorn—a fitting high point and end to our four weeks on the Alpine Challenge.

“The Alpine Challenge was a fun, challenging, learning experience.” Otto Berkes, Seattle, Washington

Highlights

• Cross the Bernese Oberland on the Alpine Pass Route
• Backpack the High Route from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn
• Challenge hike to the top of the Mettelhorn (11,000 feet) above Zermatt at trip's end
• Visit Gstaad, Grindelwald & Zermatt

Grade

For students who will finish grades 9-12 in June 2010.

Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.

Challenge Level

10 (1-10, 1 is easiest)

Start and End Location

Starts and ends in Geneva, Switzerland

Families are responsible for making travel arrangements to and from the trip start/end location. Overland’s leaders will be on hand at the airport for arrival and departure to provide supervision and assistance. Alpine Challenge starts and ends in the Geneve-Cointrin Airport .

Dates and Fees

Sunday, June 27 to Saturday, July 24

$5395 (airfare not included)

“The Alps were stunningly gorgeous.” Aviva Musicus, Lexington, Massachusetts

Itinerary

Trip Start

We'll meet in Geneva and take a train and bus to Gstaad where we'll set up camp and have a brief orientation, learning how to pack our packs, getting to know one another and getting used to the climate and elevation.

Day Hikes In Gstaad

We'll take three day hikes out of Gstaad on the first days of the trip. This is a great way to get over jet lag and get acclimated before beginning our backpacking. We'll also have a few days to enjoy the specatular scenery and take in the beauty of the Alps before strapping on our packs.

Hiking The Alpine Pass Route

From Gstaad, we'll begin a backpacking through-hike of the Alpine Pass Route in the Bernese Oberland. We'll spend some nights camping and some nights in Alpine huts. We'll pass through towns where we'll pick up food and restock our packs before heading back up into the mountains. Over eight days we'll pass through charming villages, visit mountainside waterfalls, enjoy stunning visitas and hike some of the most beautiful trails in the Swiss Alps. Our trek ends in Grindelwald, where we'll get cleaned up and enjoy an afternoon in the town.

Hiking The High Route

From Grindelwald, we'll take a train to Trient on the Swiss/French border to begin our hike on the High Route. From Trient we'll be able to see Mont Blanc, the highest point in the Alps. We'll then, once again, don our packs and set out on a 12-day through-hike on the High Route, which stretches from the slopes of Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn, the two greatest mountains in Europe. Our trek will take us through some of the most stunningly beautiful Alpine scenery in Europe. We’ll hike through quaint villages, camping out and staying in Alpine huts, before reaching Zermatt.

Hiking in Zermatt

We'll take advantage of our time in Zermatt by enjoying a day of exploration as we take a leisurely walk along the valley and visit the town. We'll also climb the 11,000' Mettelhorn and get our final glimpse of the Alps dominated by the crooked spire of the Matterhorn.

Trip End

At trip end, we'll train back to Geneva, where we’ll enjoy a final dinner out and look back on four weeks of the greatest hiking Switzerland has to offer.

“We're fully confident in Overland.  After six trips, you have our complete trust!” Dave Russell, Ellicott City, Maryland

Trip Details

The Alpine Challenge will take you into beautiful mountains-- some of the most dramatic scenery in the world-- and charming Alpine villages. Hiking in the Alps offers an unsurpassed mountainand cultural experience. We will traverse two distinct sections of the Alps on ancient mountain paths that have linked tiny Alpine communities for centuries. Far more than just a hiking trip, the Alpine Challenge is a chance to truly explore another culture while at the same time testing your limits-- as a hiker, as a group member and as a leader.

“Our leaders were amazing.  They were knowledgeable, and everyone looked up to them." Alice Colquhoun, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Photos

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Videos

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Prepare & Pack

Preparing For The Hiking

Because of the high mileage and rugged terrain on Alpine Challenge, a good level of fitness and well-broken-in boots are essential to your enjoyment of the trip. We cannot overemphasize the importance of well-broken-in boots. There have been students who have had to leave their trip because of blisters from boots that were not well broken in. Please read the training guidelines below on how to train for Alpine Challenge.

Packing For Your Trip

Our packing list is designed to keep you safe and comfortable while hiking and camping this summer. Nighttime temperatures are much cooler when you are at high elevation than they tend to be in the regions most of us are from. The warm clothing and layers listed may seem unnecessary now, but we guarantee you'll appreciate them this summer! Keep in mind, however, that there are a wide range of products available in terms of clothing and equipment. Overland programs are relatively short, and although you want your clothing and equipment to be durable, this does not mean it has to be top of the line. Oftentimes more basic and less expensive options perform just as well. Some of our favorite brands in terms of quality of product for a reasonable price include REI, EMS and L.L.Bean.

Label the following items with your name, address and phone number.  Bring only what you need and pack everything in your backpack. You will have to carry everything you bring in your backpack for the entire trip. Please wear you hiking boots on the plane and carry your sleeping bag and pad with you as carry-on items in case your checked luggage fails to arrive on time.

Please bring only the clothes listed below. Do not wear an extra set of clothes for the flight. By layering you will stay cool on warm days, dry on rainy days and warm on cool nights. You will have the chance to do laundry periodically.

Clothing

• Fleece Jacket or Pullover & Long Fleece Pants
  To stay warm on cool nights. Your fleece can also double as a pillow. Please do not bring jeans or sweatpants. They are heavy, bulky and will not keep you warm if wet.


• Synthetic Long Underwear Top & Bottom
  To stay warm on cool nights. Top can also be worn while hiking on cooler days.


• Insulated Vest
  Fleece, Thinsulate, or down. To stay warm on cool nights.


• Winter Hat & Gloves/Mittens
  To stay warm on cool nights.


• Waterproof, Breathable Rain Jacket & Rain Pants
  Your rain gear must be waterproof (not just water and/or wind resistant). GoreTex is one of the better-known waterproof, breathable fabrics, but there are many of these fabrics to choose from. Ponchos are not acceptable as they are difficult to hike in and don't provide the same protection that a rain jacket does. Rain pants provide protection from wind and rain and are an extra warm layer when needed.


• Hiking Shorts or Pants
  Two pairs. Synthetic only, no cotton, as cotton absorbs moisture and will not keep you warm when wet. Instead of shorts and gaiters, you may choose to wear pants while hiking to keep mud, water and snow off your legs and boots.


• T-Shirts
  Three. At least one synthetic for inclement weather.


• Underwear
  Five pairs.


• Socks & Sock Liners
  Four pairs of wool or synthetic socks made for hiking and four pairs of synthetic sock liners (thin socks worn to prevent blisters).


• Pajamas
  One pair only. Pajamas aren't required as many students sleep in shorts and a t-shirt.


• Bathing Suit
  Optional. Most students swim in hiking shorts (plus a sports bra for girls).


• Sport Sandals
  With a heel strap for to wear around camp. Good quality flip-flops or crocs are also okay if you do not have sport sandals.

Hiking & Camping Equipment

• Hiking Boots
  Waterproof backpacking boots (recommended price range $150 to $225). Choose a comfortable boot that is designed for hiking with a medium-weight pack. Your boots should have a durable leather upper than can be treated with waterproofing wax or liquid, or have a waterproof fabric/leather combination. If the boots you like have a GoreTex liner, that is great, but boots do not need to have GoreTex liners to be waterproof; good quality leather when treated properly is waterproof. Follow the waterproofing instructions from the boots' manufacturer prior to the start of your trip; typically you must wear the boots for at least a week before they will accept waterproofing treatment.


• Backpack
  4,000-5,000 cubic inches. Before you purchase a backpack, find your backpack size by measuring your torso length and your hips. We recommend getting fitted at a store where you can try on a number of different packs. Follow REI's guidelines on how to find your backpack size:
  Measure Your Torso Length. This is key: Your torso length, not your height, determines your pack size.  Here's how to measure it: 1.With the help of a friend, locate the bony bump at the base of your neck. This is where the slope of your shoulder meets your neck, also known as the seventh vertebra. Tilt your head forward to locate it more easily. 2. Using a flexible tape measure, have your friend start measuring at that spot down your spine, following the curves of your back. 3. Place your hands on your hips to feel your iliac crest, the twin pointy protrusions on the front of your hips. Position your hands so your thumbs are reaching behind you. 4. Finish measuring at the point where the tape crosses an imaginary line between your thumbs. This distance is your torso length.  
  Measure Your Hips. While less critical than torso length, this is helpful if you're considering a pack that offers mulitiple sizes of interchangeable hipbelts. To measure, take your tape measure and wrap it around the tops of your hips. This is the "latitude line" where you can feel your iliac crest, the two pointy bones on the front of your hips. A properly positioned hipbelt will straddle your iliac crest at this line.
  

• Water Bottle
  One 1-liter Nalgene (or similar) water bottle. Overland will provide you with a second water bottle on arrival. A CamelBak or similar water bladder is acceptable if you have one already, but water bottles work just as well.


• Gaiters
  Knee-high gaiters keep water, mud and snow off your boots and legs. Another option is to wear pants, instead of shorts, for hiking, to keep your legs covered.


• Telescoping Hiking Poles
  Hiking poles are great for stability while hiking, reducing strain on the knees and providing balance while crossing streams or on rough terrain.


• Sleeping Bag
  Warm to 30 degrees or less. Lightweight and compact (when stuffed in a compression stuff-sack it should be no larger than 12" x 20"). Synthetic or down is acceptable. Carry on the plane with you.


• Sleeping Pad
  Compact and either 3/4 or full length. Closed cell foam (thin and firm—e.g., RidgeRest) or self-inflating (e.g., Therm-a-Rest) is acceptable. Carry on the plane with you.


• Utensils
  6" to 8" plastic dish or bowl with top, spoon and insulated plastic mug. These don't need to be special camping utensils. A Rubbermaid (or similar) dish and regular spoon are fine.


• Headlamp
  Small and lightweight. This comes in very handy in camp when it's dark and you're using both hands.


• Small Safety Whistle
  Plastic or metal with string or lanyard attached.

Miscellaneous Gear

• Towel
  Medium size cotton towel or synthetic camping towel.


• Plastic Bags
  Ten large ziplocks and five tall kitchen trash bags. The trash bags will be used to line your backpack and to wrap your sleeping bag and pad in. The ziplocks will be used to organize and waterproof the rest of your gear.


• Toiletries
  All travel size (in a plastic bag). If necessary, you will be able to restock en route.


• Moleskin or Molefoam.
  One full package to use for blister treatment if needed.


• Hat (with a visor), Sunglasses, Sunscreen (SPF 15+), Chapstick (with SPF protection) & Insect Repellent


• Paperback Book and/or Journal
  Optional. Your group will collectively keep a group journal, and you will receive a copy of the journal after your trip. If you would like to keep your own journal, you should bring one.


• Camera/Batteries/Memory Card

Optional. Interested in seeing your photographs or videos on Overland's website next year? Bring a camera with lots of pixels (10 or more) and lots of memory (4GB or more). Buying a new camera? One of our favorites is the Canon PowerShot SD960 IS digital camera.

• Valid Passport
  Leave a photocopy of your passport at home just in case.


• Spending Money
  $75/week for souvenirs, gifts and necessities (like more sunscreen if you run out, camera film or envelopes to mail letters).

Note: Please do not bring any type of knife or multi-tool (e.g., Swiss Army Knife, Leatherman).

We do not permit personal electronics on our programs (e.g., cellphones and iPods). We do, however, allow students who fly to their program to carry a cell phone while traveling; on arrival, Overland's leaders will collect all cell phones for the duration of the program and return them for flights home. Perhaps, a better option would be to bring a pre-paid phone card so that the leaders do not have to carry cell phones for the duration of the program.

Admissions

Below is the Admissions Material packet and other information for Alpine Challenge.

Admission Material 2010

Flight & Travel Information 2010

Program Start & End Information 2010

 

Apply

We welcome your interest in joining Overland this summer!

To apply, please complete and sign the application on page 47 of the Overland catalog or download an application. (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download the application).

Please refer to page 46 of our catalog for important information you should know before signing the application.

Send your application and $795 deposit to:

Overland
P.O. Box 31
Williamstown, MA 01267

For overnight mail via UPS or FedEx, please use our street address:

Overland
63 Spring Street
Williamstown, MA 01267

Sorry, we are unable to accept applications by fax, and we do not take credit cards. Applications are reviewed in the order in which they arrive at our office and we cannot hold spots over the phone.

To learn about our admissions process, please click here.