Women seniors, Taking the MyWay Alpine trip in early to mid June. Looking for your successful packing ideas for weather at that time. Chamonix and Lauterbrunnen V. And what did you wish you had brought?
Posted by
Bay Area, California
1638 posts
The key is layers, layers, and layers. Alpine weather is fickle and it may drizzle during your hike. Good boots with traction are recommended too.
Posted by
Cleveland
168 posts
We did the trip the last 2 weeks in August. I brought hiking shorts and lightweight hiking pants, Long sleeve lightweight hiking shirts. Lightweight rain jacket, a sweater, hiking boots, hiking socks, sandals a scarf, sun hat. That's all I wore. I just looked at photos, and we all appear to be in shorts in Chamonix. Lightweight pants and shorts while hiking out of Lauterbrunnen. Everyone in our group dressed pretty much the same. I can't think of anything I wish I'd brought. We had amazing weather. Every day the forecast would be rain, and it hardly rained at all. Hope you have the same!
Posted by
Schaumburg, IL
283 posts
Mid June in Lauterbrunnen/Wengen-most days shorts and a t shirt- been there many times in June. Weather says rain a lot but most days have been clear blue skyes.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17556 posts
Mid-June is very different from August in the Alps. It is still spring, and weather can be unsettled. We have hiked in Zermatt in a blizzard on July 1, and in sunshine the following day. Earlier that same trip we were in Wengen and Múrren, alternating days of drizzle and fog with clear sunny days. At no time was it hot enough for me to wear shorts, but others may tolerate cold better than I do. When we have been there later in the summer the weather has been more consistent, and sometimes downright hot. Then the shorts come out. But I would not bring them unless you normally wear them for hiking at home.
You need to be prepared for anything from 40 degrees and rain to 75 and sun, and everything in between. My standard outfit for hiking in the Swiss Alps from June through September is lightweight capris, lightweight merino shirt (short or long-sleeved depending on the temperature), UPF 50 sun shirt if appropriate, and a sun hat In my daypack I carry a lightweight fleece and a good rain jacket with hood, as well as rain pants if rain is forecast, plus wool gloves and Buff neck gaiter I can turn into a beanie if it turns cold.
Posted by
OP
Sacramento
3 posts
Thanks for all your replies, very helpful. I'll plan for the uncertainty of the June weather. Still looking for a reasonably priced but quality packable parka to carry, if any of you have any suggestions, let me know.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17556 posts
This is my packable jacket for summer, a Patagonia Nano-puff. The grey one on sale for $118 is a bargain for Patagonia quality.
The jacket is also on sale on other websites, in other colors and sizes, with or without a hood, for $138-145. Backcountry.com is a good company and offers an extra 15% off to first-time purchasers. Here is the hooded one in navy blue: