Saturday 1st August
Travelling to Zermatt in Switzerland for our annual break. Plane then train from Geneva to Visp, then change Visp to Zermatt. It is pouring with rain and very cool so perfect for travelling! The journey from Visp to Zermatt looks outstanding though and I can't see much of it - poor visibility. Have a sore throat, hope this is not another virus starting. No promised Matterhorn view from Alpen Resort Hotel.
Sunday 2nd
Wow, sun is shining and there she appears, the mighty Matterhorn! Think the sore throat was a neck pain due to body pump Friday night - it's getting better! Went for a wander up Zermatt wearing skirt and Teva sandals. Because the weather is so good though we ended up walking uphill to Schmutt, having an omelette at a hut there, then walking on to the dam then back on to Zermatt. Beautiful clear sky and sun is shining - feel just like Heidi, I'm happy!
Wow, sun is shining and there she appears, the mighty Matterhorn! Think the sore throat was a neck pain due to body pump Friday night - it's getting better! Went for a wander up Zermatt wearing skirt and Teva sandals. Because the weather is so good though we ended up walking uphill to Schmutt, having an omelette at a hut there, then walking on to the dam then back on to Zermatt. Beautiful clear sky and sun is shining - feel just like Heidi, I'm happy!
Monday 3rd
Sun is splitting the trees. Had a long lie but then after breakfast started walking up to Wisshornweg, down into Trift then back to Zermatt past the Edelweiss Hotel, great day. And back into town for a four scoop cone, yum yum!
Sun is splitting the trees. Had a long lie but then after breakfast started walking up to Wisshornweg, down into Trift then back to Zermatt past the Edelweiss Hotel, great day. And back into town for a four scoop cone, yum yum!
Tuesday 4th
Late start today, think it was around 11.30 but we walked up to Blauhherd. Followed a lot of the marathon route which starts in St Niklaus, follows the valley up to Zermatt, then climbs drastically in the second half all in all over 2500m! Had a picnic but it started raining and there was thunder for around twenty minutes so we didn't bother continuing to Rothorn, we will do that another time! Walked back down into Zermatt for four scoop cone (there's a pattern here), quick swim in the hotel pool, another fantastic day.
Late start today, think it was around 11.30 but we walked up to Blauhherd. Followed a lot of the marathon route which starts in St Niklaus, follows the valley up to Zermatt, then climbs drastically in the second half all in all over 2500m! Had a picnic but it started raining and there was thunder for around twenty minutes so we didn't bother continuing to Rothorn, we will do that another time! Walked back down into Zermatt for four scoop cone (there's a pattern here), quick swim in the hotel pool, another fantastic day.
Wednesday 5th August
Rest day today. After
breakfast took the gondola then cable car up to Klein Matterhorn. It
was really scary at first, the big cable car was fine though, much
better. The views from the top were amazing, saw people walking on the
Breithorn and I'm feeling quite jealous, it looks so good. We had our
picnic on the top viewing platform, it was actually sooooo warm! Think
this has been the hottest day so far! When we came back down had our
usual four scoops of ice cream, then a wander up the street.
At five saw
the goats being herded up the Main Street by kids.
Then at night after dinner saw the Matterhorn all lit up! This was installed to mark the 150th anniversary of the first ascent.
Thursday 6th August
After breakfast another scorching day so we walked all the way up to
Schwartsee, passed a pizza hut half way up! Had our picnic overlooking a lake and little chapel then
walked further up towards the Hornli Hut. Schwartsee also had live music
playing at the restaurant there! Bizarre! We then had an airy walk up
past the Hiri hut and then onto a metal walkway clinging to the rock!
Scary if you looked down. A bit like walking up the Tolbooth steps just
at 3000 metres! Walked back down to Zermatt for the usual four scoops.
Another brilliant day!
Friday 7th August
Took the underground train and cable car to Rothorn, taking up where we left off the other day to climb the 3415m Oberrothorn. Highest mountain I've climbed this holiday. Quite happy with my fitness levels especially in this heat. It was stunning! Another fantastic day! Walked back down to Blauherd, then train back down.
Took the underground train and cable car to Rothorn, taking up where we left off the other day to climb the 3415m Oberrothorn. Highest mountain I've climbed this holiday. Quite happy with my fitness levels especially in this heat. It was stunning! Another fantastic day! Walked back down to Blauherd, then train back down.
Saturday 8th August
Ewan wanted to go climbing so we took our heavy sacks and headed up on the cable car to Furi, a quick and easy way to get up there. Had a wander but couldn't see any sign of climbers or climbing crags. Quite unusual for a Saturday as in France, entire families go out cragging on a good day. maybe not so in Switzerland with so many big mountains to climb. Walked up to the Hanging Bridge a long suspension bridge over a huge gorge, very scary indeed! Took a few deep breaths then went for it. However I couldn't look down or take any photos whilst on it!
Had picnic lunch then went back down in the cable car for our four scoops ice cream. There is a lot happening in Zermatt this weekend, a food festival and a folklore festival. Started raining so we did some shopping for pressies! Another quick day!
Sunday 9th August
Woke up to pouring rain and thunder but don't mind because we have had a really good innings conidering we are in the Alps!
After breakfast we went down to the Main Street on Zermatt and watched the parade (part of the folklore and food festival) it was great with all the little villages in the parade, was quite a long parade! Afterwards bought some chocolate to bring home, then we had some food in the square, traditional sausage and potato salad whilst listening to traditional live music, great stuff - I love Switzerland!
Woke up to pouring rain and thunder but don't mind because we have had a really good innings conidering we are in the Alps!
After breakfast we went down to the Main Street on Zermatt and watched the parade (part of the folklore and food festival) it was great with all the little villages in the parade, was quite a long parade! Afterwards bought some chocolate to bring home, then we had some food in the square, traditional sausage and potato salad whilst listening to traditional live music, great stuff - I love Switzerland!
Monday 10th August
Last full day! It is dull again and visibility is poor. There is no point in going up high so we just decided to wander the streets of Zermatt and looking in the shops for pressies. It is all the same tat though - a bit like a Swiss Callander! There are also very expensive designer shops like Moncler, Patek Phillipe and Tag Heuer.
We went to the Zermatt Matterhorn Museum too and found out how they used to live, also how Edward Whymper came to Zermatt to take do illustrations and sketches of the mountains, but became enthralled by them, so started climbing. his was the first ascent of the Matterhorn, a race to beat the Italians up the other side. However after completing the ascent, four of the party slipped and fell to their death. Whymper was saved because the rope broke with the fall. There is some dispute around this story and whether in fact the rope broke or was cut!
Last full day! It is dull again and visibility is poor. There is no point in going up high so we just decided to wander the streets of Zermatt and looking in the shops for pressies. It is all the same tat though - a bit like a Swiss Callander! There are also very expensive designer shops like Moncler, Patek Phillipe and Tag Heuer.
We went to the Zermatt Matterhorn Museum too and found out how they used to live, also how Edward Whymper came to Zermatt to take do illustrations and sketches of the mountains, but became enthralled by them, so started climbing. his was the first ascent of the Matterhorn, a race to beat the Italians up the other side. However after completing the ascent, four of the party slipped and fell to their death. Whymper was saved because the rope broke with the fall. There is some dispute around this story and whether in fact the rope broke or was cut!
Tuesday 11th August
Travelling home. Last view of the Matterhorn with its pink tinge on top in the morning light. Great journey down to Visp with the mountains looking fantastic! So sad to leave this wonderful place but still lots to do so will be back one day!
