ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND AUG 21-24

ZERMATT

In Zermatt we got a room at the worlds most expensive hostel, 200 dollars for a room for 2, with dinner and breakfast. Zermatt is an expensive and touristy town, but a must for mountain lovers. Kim and I stayed here in 2004. Got no sleep with Mike`s snoring. The first thing we did was rent Via Ferrata equipment to climb the local klettersteig. You get a harness, two straps and carabiners are used to clip in to the metal cable. Only unclip one at a time so you are always protected. This course took over 4 hours, long but easier than Engelberg and Leysin`s klettersteigs. At the first ladder Mike turned around. I ended up following a 9 year old and his Dad, it was tricky passing them as they leaned into the cliff. It`s not easy feeling studly following a 9 year old. The ladders were swinging and hanging. There were narrow wood boards to walk across staring into the void. I was alone and it was quite hot, I used up 2 litres of water. There were 2 steep climbs and lots of traversing along the cliff. There was a shady cave near the top I could finally rest, gazing over the Zermatt valley, a true feeling of alpine bliss!

Here are some pics of the climb

Mikes first klettersteig

We then hiked up to the Schonbielhutte. First we climbed 2300 feet to Trifft, following a river with glaciers above. We stopped for a hot ovomaltine, then continued 4 hours to the hut, racing an oncoming storm. There was a final 1200 foot climb just before the hut at 8840 feet. We got Mike a private room for his snoring. Dinner was festive and delicious, though 75 dollars to sleep and get the 2 meals. We rinsed off with cold water. I slept downstairs to escape the snorer, but people woke me up all night long going to the bathroom. At 3AM I gave up and went back upstairs. Here are some pics from that day

Racing the oncoming storm

North Face of the Matterhorn and Schonbielhutte:

The next day Mike returned to Zermatt while I went up to the Matterhornhutte (aka Hornlihutte). We dropped 1600 feet together before I climbed 3300 feet on a monster of a steep trail. All I could think about was how to make my pack lighter next time. I was bonking near the top from not eating. I made my own dinner to save money, it cost 35 dollars to stay there, but 8 dollars for a liter bottle of water since there was no water there. The hut is at 10,500 feet. Climbed up a bit using the fixed ropes, but a fall would have been bad so I came down. Slept poorly again, but the next morning I left at 6:40AM, watching the sun rise over the Monte Rosa massif and matterhorn. Truly an alpine bliss experience. It took 2.5 hours to drop 5300 feet back to Zermatt, I was sore for 2 days. Here are the pics from these 2 days:

See the hut on the ridge

Alpine horns in Zermatt

swiss hamlet above zermatt