Friends frequently ask me what my next planned adventure will be. Aside from local hikes and several spring groups to Havasupai and the Grand Canyon, my big summer adventure will be hiking the Haute Route in the Swiss Alps. I'll be leading a group of no more that 10 from Verbier to Zermatt along the walker's Haute Route from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn. We'll stay in charming mountain villages like Arolla, Grimentz, and Gruben. Along the way we pass 10 of the 12 highest peaks in the Alps.

We soak up stunning mountain and sub-alpine scenery every day, then drop into a small village in the afternoon where chalet-style inns await with 5-course Swiss cuisine and eiderdown comforters. A shuttle transports our luggage, so all you need to carry is a small daypack. This trip was just announced and there's still space. If you want more details, go online at http://murdockescortedtours.com/ . The tour is an incredible deal since it includes air from Salt Lake City (other air gateways available). I've looked at similar tours that don't even include airfare and they charge the same price.