Out to Lunch at Schoenbiel Hutte

Monday 29 August 2016

Caught the cable car to Schwarzsee and then walked for 3 hours to the Schoenbiel Hutte for lunch. We were tasted up for Rosti and fortunately they were open. The Hut has views of the north face of the Matterhorn and several glaciers. Walked back to Zermatt. Total stats: 21kms, 6hrs 20 mins, 679m ascent & 1601m descent.

 

Zermatt - Rest Day

Sunday 28 August 2016

After a rest day yesterday in which we caught up on washing etc we decided to get back on the trail. Caught the Gornergratbahn to Gornergrat and walked back to Zermatt via Riffelsee where we got the statutory reflective shots of the Matterhorn and the on to the glacier garden before returning via Furi. Approximately 1500 descent. Also finally encountered some Marmots which stayed still long enough to be photographed.

Stage 12 - St Niklaus to Zermatt

Friday 26^th August 2016

18km, 479m height gain, 5hrs 20mins walking

Today was the final day of the C-Z. Some of the trekkers with us opted to catch the train but we decided to finish it and walk into Zermatt. Gary and Gill (Team GB) walked with us. We set out at 7.50am and with the instructions in the guide hard to follow we opted for a signed track between the railway line and the river which basically gently climbed up the valley. Views of the Matterhorn were only gained at essentially the last bend before we entered Zermatt. The day was hot and we had little food so treated ourselves to a celebratory lunch of spinach and cheese pastry, salad, coffee and strawberry tart. Staying at Hotel Stockhorn with Matterhorn views from the verandah.

 

 

Stage 11 - Gruben to St Niklaus

Thursday 25^th August 2016

16km, 1072m height gain, 1767m height loss, 7hrs 30mins walking

Once again we knew today would be tough so we left at 7am. We arrived at Augustbordpass (2894m) by 10am. This was faster than estimated in the guide book which we were pleased about. Shows we are getting fitter. As we descended we got views of the Zermatt valley for the first time as well as some of the highest peaks we had seen. Caught the cable car from Jungen to St Niklaus  thus saving 880m of the descent. Stayed in Hotel la Reserve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stage 10 - Zinal to Gruben

Wednesday 24^th August 2016

14km, 1199m height gain, 1052m height loss, 7hrs 45mins walking

We knew today would be tough so once again we left the dortoir at 7am hoping to reach the Col before the sun hit the mountain. The day started with a 500m ascent followed by a 4km belvedere. On the second ascent we had to veer from the track as it had become a river of cow shit because the farmers higher up the mountain were doing their end of season barn hose out. We then ascended to Forcletta (2874m) at 11.30am. As we crossed the pass we left French speaking Switzerland and entered the german speaking part as we entered the Turtmanntal Valley. We got spectacular views of the Turtmanntal Glacier and our first +4000m peak, the Weisshorn. Descended 1000m in the sun with larch forest for the last hour or so. All staying in Hotel Schwarzhorn the only accommodation in Gruben.

 

 

Stage 9 - Cabane de Moiry to Zinal

Tuesday 23^rd August 2016

14km, 462m height gain, 1612m height loss, 6hrs 45mins walking

We decided to walk with Gill, Gary, Dani and Evan today as we knew it was going to be a fairly undemanding day. Descended from the cabane and then joined a belvedere track around Lac de Moiry before a 400m ascent to Col de Sorebois (2847m). Descended a further 400m to the Sorebois cable car station where we had lunch and then caught the free (tickets supplied by the cabane) cable car to Zinal. We had our first problem with accommodation here when we arrived at Auberge Alpina to find she didn’t have our booking. The owner kindly organised us a bed down the road at Relais de la Czoucdana, which we were very happy with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stage 8 - La Sage to Cabane de Moiry

Monday 22^nd August 2016

10km, 1617m height gain, 459m height loss, 7hrs 30mins walking

We knew this day was going to be tough with a 1200m ascent to start so hit the trail at 7am. It was a cold ascent with dew on the ground. Andy had an unexpected surprise when we came across a naked mountain woman bathing in a glacial stream. We also passed a beautiful mountain tarn with reflections of the mountains. Made it to Col du Tsate (2868m) by 10.30am and descended to a larger glacial lake for lunch. We then walked up to Cabane de Moiry, a very tough 400m ascent along a lateral moraine before steep zig zags up to the cabane. Cabane de Moiry is situated beside the Moiry Glacier with absolutely spectacular views.