ZERMATT 2009 ITINERARY

A Swiss welcome aperitif with Swiss wine and cheese, introductions and orientation followed by a “get acquainted and reunion dinner. This is a good day to explore Zermatt, with its famous Alpine Museum, Churches, Hotels and cemetery all dominated by its historic Alpine Mountaineering history.  If the majority of our group arrives at the Butterfly Hotelby by 10:00 AM on June 23, I will lead an orientation hike on that day. 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 45 min. up to the Edelweiss restaurant and then about another hour to the quaint hamlet of Zmutt. Then we will hike 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 _ hour 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: 5 -6 hours.  Easy to Moderate

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. which will save 5,000 ft 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. Next, we hike down the Abenteuerweg through the Rothorn Paradise to Tufternalp about 1 _ hr. We then can hike 30 min. to the Sunnegga summit and our funicular ride back to Zermatt. I will continue the hike on a lovely alternative path on the Direttissima with wildlife thru the forest amidst alpine roses all the way to our Hotel in Zermatt. This will take 1 _ hr.
Total hiking time: 5-6 hours. Rating: Moderate with one strenuous section of only about an hour hike up to the peak of the Oberrothor.                                                             

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, we will tackle the 2 _  hour difficult leg to the Rothorn Hut at 10553 ft. 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 4 hrs., down 3 hrs. Total hiking time 6 to 7 hours.
Rating: Strenuous - vertical- 5238ft.
Alternative hike based on the trail conditions: From Trift instead of hiking to the Rothorn Hut, we hike up to the peak of the Wisshorn 2927 meters ( 9659 ft.)  vertical = 4344 ft. Total hiking time- 6 hours                                          

We may also hike for an additional 1 hour to the Gornegrat  Glacier (2nd  longest in Switzerland).

We take the GORNEGRAT BAHN, mountain railway, 40 min., from Zermatt up to Gornergrat, 10870 ft. Before we start the 5555 ft. hike down to Zermatt, we can take in the incredible view from the Kulmhotel Gornergrat, the highest hotel in the Swiss Alps. Highlights: view of 29 four-thousand-meter peaks including the Matterhorn. The Matterhorn is reflected in the Riffelsee Lake. Hike with spectacular views following Mark Twain's footsteps in his famous book “Climbing the Rifflebergs”. Pine and Larch forest, The Findelbach bridge and waterfall.
Total dedicated hiking time- 3-4 hours. 12.8 km 8 miles.
Rating easy to moderate- Descent 5555 ft.
If we add the alternative: 5-6 hours; 11 miles

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  one of the most spectacular hikes in the Zermatt region as well as anywhere in the Alps. We will hike 1 hr. &  45 min. 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 and the most incredible view of the Matterhorn. 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 5 hours.
Rating Strenuous -15 km  9.3 miles. Ascent & descent – 3300 ft.

This hike for many of us may be the highlight of the week. We  will take the gondola from Zermatt to Furi, followed by a cable car to Schwarzee. From Schwarzsee (8,373 ft.) we begin a 2 _ hour ascent to the Hornlihut (10,696 ft.) on the east ridge of the Matterhorn which is guaranteed to hold your attention!! We will be hiking along a few edges on this hike which can get the heart rate up a notch. It is from this point that the final 4 to 6 (8-12 round trip) hour technical ascent for the summit is begun by climbers/mountaineers. Then we hike 1 _ hours back down to the Schwarzee Restaurant, a good place to have lunch.
Total hiking time -4 hours. Ascent & descent: 2323 ft. 9 km, 5 _ miles.  

At this point anyone may choose to take the lifts back down to Zermatt. I will continue the day's hike now down to Furi and then down to Zermatt. Highlights of this part of the hike: wildlife, including chamois, alpine flora, larch forest, lovely view of the Monte Rosa Glacier. For those who choose to hike all the way back down to Zermatt the total hiking time would be about 6-7 hours. Ascent: 2323 ft., descent 5300. 19 km. 12 miles. Rating moderate.

 

Today we want to get an early start, 7:30 am if possible. The reason for the early start is so we can witness the glorious early morning reflections of the Matterhorn in the well known mountain Lake at Stellisee. We start the day by taking the underground Sunnegga funicular followed by a gondola ride to Blauherd. From here we walk about 30 minutes to the Stellisee. After much picture taking, we then hike on to Grindjisee mountain lake; then to Grunsee mountain lake, a wonderful place for lunch. After lunch we continue on to the mountain lake at Moojisee, Leisee and Sunnegga. From here anyone may take the funicular back down to Zermatt.
Hiking time: 3 _ hours, 8 km. 5 miles.  
Rating: Easy.  Moderate ascent and descent of about 900 ft in total.

After Leisee, I will lead a hike back to Zermatt through Finden. 1 hour of additional hiking. Extra 4 km. 2 1/5 miles. 2100 ft. descent. If we get back in time, this may be an ideal day to take a round trip ride on the highest cable car in Europe, the Matterhorn glacier paradise up to 12,800 ft.

Our trip ends after breakfast.