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ZERMATT 2007 ITINERARY
Day 1, Saturday,
June 23, 2007
Arrive 6:00 pm. A
Swiss welcome aperitif with Swiss wine and cheese, introductions and
orientation followed by a “get acquainted/reunion” dinner. If everyone
or almost everyone arrives by noon, I may elect to do the 4 HR.
ORIENTATION HIKE ON THIS AFTERNOON
Day 2, Sunday,
June 24, 2007
ORIENTATION HIKE:
since Zermatt is situated at 5,315 ft. elevation, a good first day’s
hike with a moderate altitude increase is a practical idea. We will
hike 1 hr. to the quaint hamlet of Zmutt and then 1_ hr. to the
Staffelalp mountain restaurant which is a possible place for lunch.
Many hot cheese specialties are served here under the shadow of the
Matterhorn Glacier and the stark Matterhorn north face. Then we will
hike for another 1_ hr. to the “Gornerschlucht” (Gorner Gorge) ----a
magnificent natural gorge with roaring waterfalls fed by the Gorner
Glacier high above Zermatt. On the way we will pass by a mountain
chapel in the tiny hamlet of Blatten before arriving at Winkelmatten
for homemade strudel and cream. Total hiking time: 4 hours. Suggestion
after hiking: visit the Alpine Museum in Zermatt (near the English
church built in 1871) and become acquainted with the climbing history
of the Zermatt peaks. Rating: Easy.
Day 3, Monday,
June 25, 2007
ZERMATT –
UNTERROTHORN – OBERROTHORN:
We will start the day
by taking the underground Sunnegga funicular followed by a gondola ride
to Blauherd, and then the Rothorn cable car climbing to the summit at
10,000 ft.–saving 5,000ft of climbing. We will hike for a 1_ hr. with a
slight descent followed by a hard climb to the Oberrothorn and some of
the best views of the region. Then hike back to the Rothorn (actually
the “Unterrothorn”) and then down the backside of the summit towards
the mountain restaurant “Fluhalp” (2_ hrs.). Then for those who wish,
we will take about 45 minutes and hike along the moraine of the Findeln
Glacier just above the restaurant and then return to the restaurant for
lunch and a great view of the Matterhorn. After lunch, we will
hike down towards the well known mountain lake “Stellisee” with
beautiful Matterhorn reflections. Next, we hike to the Blauherd gondola
station but we bear left for the trail to the Sunnegga summit and our
funicular ride back to Zermatt. Total hiking time: 6 – 7 hours. Rating:
Moderate
Day 4, Tuesday,
June 26, 2007
ZERMATT – TRIFT –
ROTHORN HUT:
Time to get serious!
We will begin this day behind the main rail station hiking 45 minutes
up to the Edelweiss restaurant and then another hour hiking to Trift.
After a break and perhaps a snack at the restaurant here we will tackle
the 2_ hour difficult leg to the Rothorn Hut. The first half is not so
steep, but when we begin to climb up and on the moraine our way will
continue to be steep, narrow, and rocky all the way to the Hut. The
views make it all worthwhile. It is much easier going back, watching
carefully for the loose rocks on the decent from the Hut until we reach
the flat rock section off the moraine. It will take about 2_ to 3 hours
to hike from the Rothoprn Hut back to Zermatt. Total hiking time: up 3
_ - 4 hrs, down 3 hrs. Total hiking time: 6 _ to 7 hours. Rating:
Strenuous.
Day 5, Wednesday,
June 27, 2007
ZERMATT – MONTE
ROSA HUT:
We will take the
Garnered mountain railway to the Rotenboden stop (37min.). We will
follow the trail for about one hour across the southern slope of the
Gornegrat and well above the Gornegrat Glacier (2nd longest in
Switzerland). Next is a 1 _ hour hike on the glacier to the Monte Rosa
Hut. We must stay on the marked trail here and I will check the weather
report to insure clear weather all day. We will return then to the
Rotenboden station for the train back to Zermatt. For those who want
more hiking, instead of taking the train, I will lead a coalition of
the willing to the Riffleberg or the Riffelalp and then catch the train
from there back to Zermatt. Total hiking time: 5-6 hours. Rating:
Moderate.
Day 6, Thursday,
June 28, 2007
DAY OFF WITH TWO
RECOMMENDATIONS:
This is an open day
for touring, sightseeing, resting, shopping or a combination of all the
above.
CHOICE 1: TRIP TO
SAAS-FEE:
Take a break from
Zermatt and make a day trip to Saas-Fee. Board the train at the Zermatt
Station for the “Stalden Saas” stop (1hr.). Next, take the Post Bus for
a scenic ride to the “Pearl of the Alps”, Saas-Fee at 5,900 ft.
elevation (40 min.). It is here the glaciers almost touch the village.
A ride on the “Alpin Metro”, the world’s highest underground funicular
will bring you to a great lunch destination at Mittalallalin and the
highest revolving restaurant in the world at 11,480 ft. There are many
choices of half day hikes all around Saas-Fee.
CHOICE 2:
ZERMATT – TRIFT – HOHBALMEN:
I will lead the most
strenuous hike of the week and one of the most spectacular hikes in the
Zermatt region as well as anywhere in the Alps. We will hike 1_ -2 hrs.
again up to Trift. At the Trift Hotel you’ll see a sign that points
left (south) to Hohbalmen. We cross the stream bridge, walk across the
meadow, and ascend the slope. After an hour from the Trift Hotel we
reach the shoulder of the Hohbalmen (2,609 meters) where the path
swings over the shoulder and around to our right. We will have a view
of many mountains and glaciers – a full circle of 4000 meter peaks.
Then we hike on a narrow grass meadow which is parallel to the route to
Zmutt 600 meters below (2 hrs.). Our climbing is now finished and the
trail begins to descend as we reach the Arben valley. We continue on
switch-backs beside the waterfall and turn left at the junction of the
trail to the Schonbielhutte to return to Zermatt via Kalbermatten and
Zmutt (3 hrs.). Total hiking time: 7 – 8 hours. Rating: Strenuous.
Day 7, Friday, June 29, 2007
ZERMATT – SCHWARZSEE
– MATTERHORN HORNLIHUT:
This hike for many of
us may be the highlight of the week. We have a choice of a moderate or
strenuous hike. I will try to accommodate both depending on the
consensus. We can hike for a tough 3 hour ascent via the forest path to
Zum See and Hermettji to Schwarzsee or we can take the gondola from
Zermatt to Furi, followed by a cable car to Schwarzee. For the latter
group the hiking starts now. From Schwarzsee (8,373 ft.) we begin a 2
hour ascent to the Hornlihut (10,696 ft.) on the east ridge of the
Matterhorn-guaranteed to hold your attention!! It is from this point
that the final 4 to 6 hour technical ascent for the summit begins by
climbers/mountaineers. Total hiking time (from Zermatt): 8 hrs. (reduce
this time for those taking the cable cars both up and down by 4 hours
to only 3-4 hours). If some choose to use the mountain lifts up but
hike all the way down to Zermatt the total hiking time would be about
6-7 hours. Rating: moderate and /or strenuous.
Day 8, Saturday,
June 30, 2007
ZERMATT –
SCHONBIELHUT:
This is the 2nd of
the two most spectacular hikes in the Zermatt area; thus I saved it for
the last day. This hike also includes substantial changes in altitude.
We begin by taking the low route to Zmutt where a sign indicates the
way to Schonbiel. Below, on our left, is the Stafflelalp dam, fed by
the Zmuttbach and the Zmutt glacier. Above on our left, is the immense
north face of the Matterhorn. An hour past Zmutt we come to the tiny
Kalbermatten restaurant (2,105 meters). We ascend steadily below some
rock walls. The trail enters a cleft to the right, climbs beside a long
waterfall, and crosses a wooden footbridge where a sign points toward
the route to the hut. The route leads onto a moraine with the stream
below to our right and then climbs up onto the knife edge of the
moraine, where the path becomes very narrow. Leave the moraine and
climb the switchbacks up to the Hut (20-30 minutes). The view from the
hut (2,694 meters) is panoramic and breathtaking. Allow for 3 hours
back to Zermatt. Total hiking time: 4 _ hrs up, 3 hrs down, total of
7-8 hours. Rating Strenuous.
This evening will
feature our farewell dinner.
Note: We have available a total of 7 full hiking days including the
“day off”. However, I have scheduled a total of 8 possible hikes; thus,
if we are not able to include the “orientation hike” on the arrival day
I will need to cancel the “orientation” hike or one other. Also,
participants are always free on any day or any part of a day to opt out
of the scheduled hike being led by me to pursue their own plans. At
each evening’s dinner, I will review the day’s hike and describe the
next day’s hike that I will be guiding. I ask anyone not choosing to
join our group to let me know. The scheduled itinerary is subject to
change for any reason but primarily will be altered due to weather or
possibly if I come up with a better idea or more compelling place to
hike.
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