The Great Crossing of the Hautes Vosges

Program

Day 1

Munster
Reception around 6pm at the hotel located in the valley of Munster (famous for its cheese of character…), one of the largest and most beautiful valleys of the Alsatian side of the Hautes-Vosges. Set up for one night.

Day 2

Munster (370 m) – Schratzmaennele (1045 m) – Orbey (531 m)
6 hours walk (14 km). Difference in elevation 750, Difference in elevation 650m
Magnificent increase in power of your stay. Very varied landscapes thanks to a very gentle progression of the different layers of vegetation crossed. A discovery of the heritage of the 1st world war (Memorial of Linge 987m – possible visit of the museum – and the German military cemetery of Baerenstall 975m) as well as the scattered farms of the Welche country. You will finish your ascent at the top of the Schratzmaennele before descending to the Alsatian mountain village of Orbey. Installation for two nights

Day 3

Orbey – Tête des Faux (1219 m) – Lac Blanc (1058 m) – Orbey (531 m)
6 hours walk (21 km). Difference in altitude positive 950mn, difference in altitude negative 950m
A beautiful hike that combines nature, with the Etang du Devin peat bog, and history, with the discovery of many relics of the Great War. From the hotel you arrive at the unusual peat bog of Etang du Devin. The path then winds its way up to the Roche du Corbeau (1122m – beautiful panorama), the former arrival station of the cable car. We continue with the summit of the Tête des Faux, the highest point of the day and a listed historical monument, which overlooks the villages of Le Bonhomme, Lapoutroie and Orbey, and especially the Bonhomme pass, which was considered strategic by the French in 1914. Descent to the Duschesne Cemetery to discover the Lac Blanc (lake of glacial origin) before finishing the descent to Orbey.

Day 4

Orbey (531 m) – Lac des Truites (1065 m) – Schlucht Pass (1139 m)
6h30 walk (19 km). Vertical rise 950m, vertical fall 600m
One of the most beautiful stages of the crossing of the Vosges with the passage at the edge of three splendid glacial lakes and on the path of crests (GR5) offering splendid panoramas on the valleys of Alsace and the Vosges and further on the Black Forest and the Alps. Passage to the Schlucht pass before reaching our mountain Chalet Hotel located at 1100m altitude. Installation for 2 nights.

Day 5

Col de la Schlucht – the Hohneck (1363 m) – Col de la Schlucht (1139 m)
5h30 walk (17 km). Positive elevation gain 700m, negative elevation gain 700m
Climb to the Hohneck massif to the Falimont pass to join the “sentier des Névés”. This panoramic path runs along the immense glacial cirque of the Wormsa and is one of the best places to see chamois. We leave the trail at the Kastelbergwasen farmhouse and start a “deep” discovery of the two glacial cirques of the Wormsa and Wormspel, which are home to two beautiful mountain lakes: the Fischboedle and the Schiessrothried. Ascent of the Hohneck (the 3rd summit of the massif) before reaching the hotel.

Day 6

Schlucht Pass – Kastelberg (1350 m) – Markstein (1200 m)
6 hours of walking (18.5 km). Positive altitude gain 560m, negative altitude gain

A stage of crests and summits, at high altitude, between 1200 and 1316 m, with successive viewpoints over the whole of the Vosges Massif: sublime! After having climbed the Hohneck (1363 m) you follow the summit ridge of the massif which separates the Vosges from the plain of Alsace. On the way, many small peaks dot this ridge, the Kastelberg (1350 m), the Rothenbackhopf (1316 m), …. But you don’t have to climb them all! Below, glacial lakes pearl in the middle of the coniferous forest.

Day 7

Markstein – Langenfeldkopf (1290 m) – Petit Ballon (1272 m) – Munster (370 m)
5 hours walk (21 km). Positive altitude gain 660m, negative altitude gain 1460m
This is the wildest stage, the landscapes are very endearing, with a variety of vegetation of pines, heather and juniper. Transfers to the Markstein. We cross the ancient stubble fields of Markstein and then those of Steinlebach before reaching the Oberlauchen pass (1211m). The path follows the ridge up to the Petit Ballon and then begins the descent to Munster, which is beautiful! End of the hike around 4pm in Munster, possibility to visit the village : abbey, church, Albert Schweitzer and Fecht parks, exhibition in the Balloon Park…