Zermatt and Matterhorn


Klaus and Esther planned yet another wonderful weekend for us.  This time it was off to Zermatt and then up the mountain to a lodge situated at the base of the Matterhorn.  (The REAL Matterhorn, not some Disney paper mache!)

Zermatt is about 3 hours from Zurich by train and we arrived in mid-afternoon.  As charming as Zermatt is, it is also very touristy.  We walked through the town quickly in order to get to the tram that would take us up to our lodge.

 Nice homes in Zermatt

Sign in Zermatt--which trail to choose?  There are many choices!

 View from the top of the tram.  Zermatt is the town nestled between the mountains

We stayed 2 nights in the simple Schwarzee Lodge.  The four of us shared a small room with bunk beds (shower and bathroom down the hall) and the lodge provided breakfast and dinner.

 The Schwarzsee Lodge and THE MATTERHORN without Photoshop!


The Schwarsee Lodge from another direction

We took a small hike the day we arrived and it was hard going (at least for me).  The altitude is 2583 meters.  I needed to acclimate!  But what views!


 View from the lodge


View of the lodge from partway up a trail

While we were eating dinner at the lodge, these black-nosed sheep showed up.


Around EVERY turn a new wonder to see:  mountains, glaciers, rocks, waterfalls.  Words and pictures just can't capture the magnitude (but I'll try!)


Esther, Miles, me and Klaus beginning our hike on the Glacier Trail



Close up of dripping glacial ice

Monte Rosa



After about 5 hours of hiking, it was time for lunch.  Yes!  So just over one more hill and a little more climbing, we stopped at the Gandegg Hutte (elevation 3030 meters).  We were assured by Esther and Klaus it was worth the view from the other side.  And of course, they were right!

 Gandegg Hutt

Esther, Klaus and me enjoying sun, waiting for lunch

And what a view!  You are literally eating lunch from a porch next to the glacier!  Absolutely immense!

 View from porch

Little Matterhorn

 
 Close up of glacial cracks--HUGE!


Here are a few various angles of the Matterhorn.  It looks so different from other sides!


This is the standard view from the east

See the tiny white speck to the right of snow patch?  That's the base camp hut for those who want to mountain climb up the Matterhorn.  This is a very popular activity (crowds of about 100 climbers a day during the season) and very, very dangerous.  In fact, a hiker died falling off the mountain the day we were hiking around the base. (There's a special cemetery in Zermatt for some of the first fallen hikers).  Do not underestimate the mountain!


View from south (much wider)

 View from north east

 View from north

On our next (and last) day, we planned to hike down the mountain back to Zermatt.  Of course, Esther and Klaus had to show us another glacial area, only a small detour (it was worth it!)


 Glacier

Close up of glacier mouth

 Another glacier

Yet another glacier

 Gorge on the way down the mountain

Stone roof tiles along the way

Time for lunch!  We stopped at Z'mutt, a tiny cluster of wooden houses.  There are a couple of restaurants and the season is quite short--June - Sept.



 Ready for beer, bread and sausage!

 The round stone discs under the storage hut keep mice out--Swiss ingenuity!

 After lunch, back on the trail back to Zermatt

Yet again, another magnificent adventure, thanks to Klaus and Esther.  We would have never seen such sights without them. We were simply overwhelmed!!!









Comments

  1. Miri and LarrySeptember 18, 2017 at 5:36 PM

    WOW, friends in high places! Talk about up close and personal with the Matterhorn. You captured such a diversity of views of that spectacular mountain. We were in Zermatt in January of 1978. Brr...but beautiful, raclette and all. You certainly saw some amazing vistas and glaciers. What a special hike that must have been.

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