#riffelberg

[thincso]

GOOD MORNING MATTERHORN.... from a exiled Swiss and gratefulness for parts of the world that still have peace..., WIndows of Europe, pls read my article on ancient windows... Paul Dettwiler oil tempera on canvas 75x60cm, #riffelberg #matterhorn #schweiz🇨🇭 #pauldettwiler #artwatchers #zaw22 #artoninstagram🌍 #wallis #valais #zermatt #fenster #oldwindows #kunstsammler #artcurators #instaart #swissalps #zurichart #artcollections #ModernMasters #perrotin #emergingart #swissalps #switzerland #emergingartist #contemporaryart #artmagazine #artcollections #swissart #fineart #collectartwork #culturalheritage #originalpaintings (på/i Zermatt, Switzerland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CknIPEHIYZf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jaydeemedia]

[ad_1] With snow-capped peaks and plenty of adventure, Zermatt is an alpine paradise set in mesmerizing landscapes. Experience all sides of this mountain playground with our guide to the best things to do in Zermatt. LAST UPDATE: 19 Oct 2023 Anywhere We Roam is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support – Paul & Mark. Zermatt, Switzerland is a picturesque village located at the foot of the Matterhorn, one of the most iconic mountains in the world. The village itself is charming, but the real attractions are the outdoor activities. Zermatt has some of the best hiking in Switzerland. Scenic cable car rides whisk you to dramatic alpine landscapes. Pristine lakes and rivers reflect the Matterhorn’s beautiful pyramidal shape. After several visits, we’ve collected our favourite things to do in Zermatt. We’ve also included practical information to make your visit smoother. 1 – MATTERHORN VIEWPOINTS While the mighty Matterhorn is Zermatt’s crowning feature, the town is set in a valley which curves away from the mountain. So, not every street in the car-free village has a winning view of the Matterhorn. Some of the best Matterhorn views are on the slopes above the town. They can only be reached by hikes, funiculars, or cable cars. OUR FAVOURITE VIEWPOINTS OF THE MATTERHORN Mürini Hill – the best view of the Matterhorn from Zermatt is on this hill in the Le Petit Village area on the northeastern edge of town. Riffelsee – This lake provides the perfect reflection shot of the Matterhorn. Höbahlmen Meadows – These high alpine meadows with incredible views of the imposing north face can only be reached on a challenging hike. Klein Matterhorn – See the Matterhorn and other 4,000m peaks from the 3,883m high Glacier Mountain Paradise viewing platform. Stellisee – A short walk from Blauherd Cable Car Station this lake has another great reflection shot. Trockener Steg – The terrace outside the Trockener Steg cable car station has the most triangular view of the Matterhorn. MATTERHORN FROM HÖBAHLMEN MEADOWS 2 – GORNERGRAT RAILWAY The train ride from Zermatt to Gornergrat is one of the best things to do in Zermatt. Travelling to a height of 3,100 metres, the cogwheel train winds its way up the track from Zermatt. It has almost constant views of the Matterhorn best seen by sitting on the right-hand side of the train. From the Gornergrat Station the views are sensational. Count the twenty-nine 4,000-metre peaks and several glaciers. There are 5 stops on the train (including Gornergrat Station). You can get off at any of them, then back on to finish your journey. However, each section can only be travelled once. STATIONS ON THE GORNERGRAT TRAIN Findelbach (1,774m) – There are some easy walks through the Larch Forest but it’s not important to stop here. Riffelalp (2211m) – The starting point for several hikes, plus the luxurious Riffelalp Resort. Riffelberg (2,582m) – Home to Zermatt’s oldest mountain hotel, Riffelhaus. Rotenboden (2,815m) – Closest station to Riffelsee hike. Gornergrat (3,089m) – Incredible views in summer and the heart of the Zermatt skiing area in winter. 3 – RIFFELSEE LAKE The protected Riffelsee Lake is usually still, making it perfect for photographing the Matterhorn reflecting on its surface. The alpine landscapes at this altitude, (2,582m) are barren yet beautiful. From Rotenboden Station – Riffelsee is a 5-minute walk from the Rotenboden Station on the Gornergrat Line. From Gornergrat Station – The hike from Gornergrat to Riffelsee is one of the best things to do in Zermatt. The 4.8-kilometre trail is mostly downhill and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. You can find all the details on our best hikes in Zermatt article. RIFFELSEE 4 – MATTERHORN GLACIER PARADISE (KLEIN MATTERHORN) The Klein Matterhorn is a 3,883m peak overlooking Zermatt. On its summit

is the highest cable car station in Europe which connects you to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise viewing platform. This is a year-round destination and views are staggering. As well as the Matterhorn, witness 38 four-thousand-metre peaks and 14 glaciers. It is an unmissable experience in Zermatt. WHAT TO DO AT KLEIN MATTERHORN Absorb breath-taking vistas from the Panoramic Viewing platform. See sparkling crystals and ice sculptures in the Glacier Palace. Get a guide and climb the 4,164-metre-high Breithorn Mountain. Catch the film about the cable car construction in the cinema lounge. Go skiing at Zermatt Ski Park. HOW TO GET THERE From Zermatt, take the cable car to Furi, then Schwarzsee, Trockener Steg and finally Klein Matterhorn. This forms the Swiss section of the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing which goes all the way to Italy. MATTERHORN GLACIER PARADISE 5 – BREITHORN It’s rare to be able to walk to the top of a 4,000-metre mountain with so little effort. Breithorn is the perfect way for first-timers to get an idea of what it is like to trek in high Alpine ice. The trail begins at Klein Matterhorn (Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable car station). It ascends just over 400 metres to the glaciated summit. The views all along the way are sensational, including the Matterhorn and the peaks of Castor and Lyskamm. The return journey takes just over three hours. Although it’s only a little over three miles, the altitude and snow make it harder going than a regular hike of the same distance. You’ll need a guide, as the route changes regularly. Book a Breithorn guided tour and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. BREITHORN 6 – GO SKIING ALL YEAR Zermatt is home to the highest and largest summer ski resort in Europe with an excellent piste system, all set against the backdrop of the mighty Matterhorn. But it’s not just for winter, you can ski in summer too. The Zermatt Snow Park has year-round skiing on the Theodul Glacier. Over a length of 1,200 metres, you can try one of the 6 courses with freestyle setups and obstacles on natural snow. There are courses for beginners and pros. Access is via the Plateau Rose ski lift from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. The summer season runs from July to mid-October. The winter season is from October to mid-May. 7 – MATTERHORN GLACIER TRAIL This hike, high up above Zermatt, explores a world between rock and ice. Leaving from Trockener Steg cable car station it heads across a rocky wilderness left behind by a retreating glacier. The glacier forms an imposing wall of ice on your left. To your right are views over Zermatt and the mountains that surround you. In front is the Matterhorn, seen from its most perfect triangular side. The walk ends at Schwarzsee where the picturesque Marie chapel sits on the shores of the lake. It’s rare to find such an easy yet exciting hike so high up in the mountains. ROUTE DETAILS // MATTERHORN GLACIER TRAIL Distance – 6.6 kilometres (4.1 miles) | Time – 2 hours and 30 minutes | Elevation – 170m (560 ft) ascent and 515m (1,690 ft) descent | Difficulty – Easy to Moderate | Start – Trockener Steg | End – Schwarzsee | Map – See our best hikes in Zermatt guide. MATTERHORN GLACIER TRAIL 8 – SCHWARZSEE Schwarzsee is the closest cable car station to the Matterhorn with excellent views of the north and east faces. The landscape is beginning to get bleak and barren, and the hut is a great spot for a warm coffee and grand views. Climbers who reach the summit of the Matterhorn, visit the Marie Chapel on the shores of Schwarzsee to give thanks for making it back in one piece. You can stroll down to the chapel, but the Matterhorn isn’t visible from this point. SCHWARZSEE 9 – HIKE TO HORNLIHUTTE This out-and-back hike is one of our favourite things to do in Zermatt. The destination is Hörnli Hut, base camp for the Matterhorn summit climb. The trail begins at Schwarzsee and works its way up a series of ridges to the hut.

There are a few metal staircases and a very short narrow section where a head for heights is useful. Otherwise, there is nothing technically difficult.   The 700 metres of ascent and descent requires a reasonable level of fitness, but the hut is well positioned for a midway break. The views are sensational, but the real thrill is the sheer sense of adventure in a rugged and wild Alpine scene. At the hut, keep an eye out for climbers preparing to summit the next day and bring some binoculars. There may be a few climbers still on the impossibly narrow-looking ridge to the top. ROUTE DETAILS // HÖRNLIHÜTTE Distance – 8.6 kilometres (5.3 miles) | Time – 4 hours | Elevation – 695m (2,280 ft) ascent and descent | Difficulty – Moderate to Challenging | Start – Schwarzsee | End – Schwarzsee | Map – See our best hikes in Zermatt guide. 10 – FURI SUSPENSION BRIDGE (HÄNGEBRÜCKE) Furi is the first stop on the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing from Zermatt to Italy. It’s in a lovely position, set amongst the trees and meadows. Cattle graze beside charming wooden barns. There are several atmospheric restaurants overlooking the meadows. The highlight is the nearby 100-metre-long suspension bridge that hangs 90 metres above the Gornerschlucht Gorge. To get to the bridge, take the 2.9-kilometre circular hike from Furi. 11 – GORNER GORGE & BLATTEN The Gorner Gorge is a river gorge, cut through the cliff walls by the Gornervispe River. A series of elevated wooden walkways through the gorge provide a very accessible way to experience Gorner Gorge. It’s a great thing to do on a cloudy day when the mountains are obscured and you’re looking for an easy activity. The gorge is a 25-minute walk from the main train station in Zermatt, just past the Forest Fun Park. From Blatten // You can also get to the Gorner Gorge by following the scenic trail from Furi to Zermatt. This mostly downhill trail is 3.6 kilometres long. Access to the gorge is from the village of Blatten which has a traditional alpine restaurant that you shouldn’t miss. BLATTEN 12 – EDELWEISS TRAIL One of the best views of the Matterhorn is from Höhbalmen Meadows. The only way to get there is on the Edelweiss trail – one of the best hikes in Switzerland. It starts from Zermatt Village and climbs up to Edelweiss Hut. After the hut, there’s a strenuous climb (with little relief) to Trift Guesthouse. This makes a great place to stop with two-thirds of the ascent out of the way. They also do an excellent iced tea. From here the path continues to rise, contouring a grassy slope. Suddenly the Matterhorn appears ahead, stretching above Höhbalmen Meadow. From here, the trail descends gradually with the Matterhorn in front of you all the way, before descending to Zmutt and then on to Zermatt. This hike is not to be underestimated. It’s over 20 kilometres and takes about 7 hours with 1,200m of ascent and descent. All the details are on our favourite hikes in Zermatt article. ROUTE DETAILS // EDELWEISS TRAIL Distance – 20.7 kilometres (12.85 miles) | Time – 7 hours and 30 minutes | Elevation – 1,200m (3,940 ft) ascent and descent | Difficulty – Challenging | Start & End – Zermatt | Map – See our best hikes in Zermatt guide. 13 – ROTHORN & THE GOURMET TRAIL The funicular and cable car up to Rothorn includes several of the best things to do in Zermatt on the one excursion. SUNNEGGA (2,288M) The first stop is Sunnegga at 2,288 metres. To get here, take the funicular from Valley Station in Zermatt (a 10-minute walk from the main train station). Sunnegga provides excellent views of the Matterhorn with minimal effort. It’s also a great place for families. In summer, take a dip in Leisee Lake or unleash the kids on the playground. In winter, there’s skiing and snowboarding. STELLISEE (2,537M)  Stellisee is another of Zermatt’s famous lakes with excellent reflection shots of the Matterhorn. It definitely earns its nickname as “mirror lake.” Take the cable car from Sunnegga to Blauherd. From here, it’s a 20-minute walk to the lake.

Stellisee is one of the best locations to watch sunrise around Zermatt. Check the cable car times before you set off. After Stellisee, either walk back to Blauherd or follow the Five Lakes walk down to Sunnegga. ROTHORN (3,103M) From Rothorn you can see the highest peaks in the Valais Alps. It also has one of the best views of the Matterhorn. In winter it has direct access to the ski pistes, in summer, it’s a popular place for paragliding. If you only do one hike in the area make it the Crystal Trail which winds its way to Fluhalp Hut, has views over the Findel Glacier, and then passes Stellisee on the way to Blauherd cable car station. GOURMET TRAIL Another highlight on the Sunnegga-Rothorn Cable Car line is the Gourmet Trail. This 9-kilometre hike starts from Sunnegga and finishes in Zermatt. Along the way, the trail passes several excellent restaurants. Start by heading from Sunnegga down to Findeln, following the signs marked Gourmetweg. SUNNEGGA STELISEE ROTHORN 14 – ZMUTT Zmutt is a tiny hamlet in the valley west of Zermatt, set among lush alpine pastures. Made up of around 20 traditional wooden houses in a beautiful location, it’s one of our favourite places to visit in Zermatt. To get to Zmutt from Zermatt, take the path that heads south from the main street, Bahnhofstrasse, on the west side of the Zmutt River. The well-marked path meanders through beautiful alpine scenery. The gentle echo of cowbells accompanies meadows dotted with wildflowers and pristine streams. Another great option is to hike down from the Furi cable car station. Zmutt has a few restaurants which are a great place to stop for lunch. 15 – ZERMATT VILLAGE Although many of the star attractions are outside the town, the village of Zermatt has some great things worth checking out. Kirchbrücke Viewpoint – Arrive just before sunrise to catch the first rays of light hitting the Matterhorn. Matterhorn Museum (Zermatlantis) – Learn about the development of Zermatt and the first ascent of the Matterhorn. Mountaineers’ Cemetery – A sobering reminder of the dangers of mountaineering. Hinterdorf – This is the oldest part of Zermatt with 30 traditional wooden buildings and ancient barns. Bahnhofstrasse – Check out the designer shops on the main pedestrian street. ZERMATT HOW TO GET TO ZERMATT? The most convenient airports to Zermatt are Zurich (254 kilometres away) and Geneva (230 kilometres away). By Train — There are direct trains to Zermatt from Zurich and Geneva airports. From Zurich, the fastest train takes 3 hours and 12 minutes. From Geneva, the fastest train is 3 hours, 32 minutes. Trains run every hour. By Car — Zermatt is car-free, so to get here, you need to park at Täsch which is 5 kilometres away. There are regular shuttle train services from Täsch and plenty of parking at the station. HOW MANY DAYS IN ZERMATT? We suggest spending a minimum of 2 full days in Zermatt. That way you can visit most of the iconic viewpoints and hike several of the best short to medium-length trails. Ideally, we recommend spending 3 full days. This would allow you to complete most of our best things to do in Zermatt without having to rush around. If you are a walking enthusiast, 5 days gives you enough time to see the best sights and hike the more challenging trails in in the area. ITINERARY FOR A VACATION IN ZERMATT Here is our suggested Itinerary for Zermatt. If you are trying to cram everything into two days, then combine days 2 and 3 by heading up the Gornergrat in the morning and Rothorn-Sunnegga in the afternoon. Day 1 – Visit the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at Klein Matterhorn and hike either the Matterhorn Glacier Trail or the Hörnlihütte. Assuming conditions hold up, you could do both. Day 2 – Take the train to Gornergrat and hike the Riffelsee Trail. Day 3 – See all the sights on the Rothorn-Sunnegga Cable Car including Stellisee and the Gourmet Trail.   Day 4 – Hike the challenging Edelweiss Trail that heads over Höhbalmen Meadows.

Day 5 – Organise a guide to conquer 4,164m high Breithorn. If you don’t want to climb Breithorn, explore the Gorner Gorge, Hanging Bridge, and lovely restaurants around Furi. WHERE TO STAY? Zermatt is a car-free village with access via train from Täsch. Most accommodation is easy to get to from the Zermatt train station, either on foot or by porter transport arranged via your hotel. There are four main areas you’ll want to consider when deciding where to stay. Zermatt Village  Zermatt Matterhorn Express  Zermatt Mountain Hotels  Zermatt Mountain Huts  All the details, along with hotel recommendations, are in our guide to the best places to stay in Zermatt. MORE SWITZERLAND GUIDES ANYWHERE WE ROAM IS READER-SUPPORTED If you found this guide useful, a small donation helps fund our work – Big thanks, Paul & Mark. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM USE OUR RESOURCES PAGE [ad_2] Source link

[isvicreninsesi]

Zermatt'ta Çinli kadın 100 metreden düşerek öldü

VALAİS-  Riffelberg bölgesine bağlı Zermatt'ta çok dik bir araziden düşen kadın olay yerinde yaşamını yitirdi. Cuma günü Valais'te ölümcül bir yürüyüş kazası meydana geldi. Kanton Polisinden yapılan açıklamaya göre, üç kişilik bir grup Rotenboden/Riffelberg bölgesinde yürüyüş turundaydı. Deniz seviyesinden yaklaşık 2250 metre yükseklikte, bilinmeyen nedenlerden dolayı gruptan ki kişi kar üzerinde kaydı. Birisi yüz metre sonra bir taşa tutunurken, diğeri ise çok dik arazinden düşerek olay yerinde hayatını kaybetti. Hayatını kaybeden kadının, Tayvan'da ikamet eden bir Çin vatandaşı olduğu öğrenildi. Read the full article

[breathtakingdestinations]

Riffelberg - Switzerland (by Arwen) 

[talataki]

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬. 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐮 • Heaven is everywhere if we just walk with our eyes and heart open. 😍 I really wish to be able to travel more on this heavenly planet as there is so much beauty all over 🌎! • Do you also always get so sad after a trip or after you travelled❓ I think it‘s called „Post-Vacation-Depression“ and I always have this. 😭😂 • • • posted on Instagram - https://ift.tt/31ayuEg

[blowwfish68]

last hiking day along the Mark Twain Weg up to The Gornergrat 3,089m with the view of the Matterhorn the whole time. . . . #zermatt, #zermattswitzerland, #beautifulzermatt, #hikinginzermatt, #riffelalp, #riffelberg, #hikingseasonisback, #hikinginswitzerland, #marktwain, #marktwainweg, #gornergletscher, #monterosa, #mountainlife, #mountainfeeling, #perfecthikingweather, #beautifulswitzerland, #helloitaly (hier: Mark Twain Weg) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfvmTV4KpbZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lillibiteverywhere]

❄️Snowy weekend #3 After starting 2019 at the beach of Sri Lanka🏖️, I jumped straight into winter☃️. I cannot wait to finally explore my favourite places in Switzerland covered with snow. PM, if you know a place I need to see in this Wonderland! @myswitzerland @swiss.views @visitswitzerland @riffelberg @zermatt @matterhorn @valais @roxy #valais #wallis #matterhorn #zermatt #riffelberg #schweizeralpen #swissalps #alpenblick #bergwelten #snow #winterhike #view #panorama #earthoutdoors #switzerland #switzerlandwonderland #outdoorgirl #outdoors #mountains #MountainStories #feelthealps #switzerlandmylove #amazingswitzerland #switzerland_bestpics #switzerland_destinations (at Zermatt Matterhorn) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtFuCE_ljCw/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1l7ag9lpzzexu

[czechthecount]

Riffelsee to Stellisee

September 4th, 2018

After experiencing one of the most beautiful sunrises at Riffelsee, where we ran  back and forth between the lake and the Gorner Glacier to make the most out of the beautiful morning blue and orange glow, we set off on a 10km hike, that felt a lot longer due to the heavy backpacks. We did make a stop at Riffelberg to warm up a bit from the freezing cold morning and to recharge our batteries a bit, then after a slight detour to our planned hiking trail being closed, we made our way to Grünsee, a lake named after its distinct green color. Then after climbing from the bottom of the glacial basin we made one last stop at Grindjisee to enjoy the beautiful reflections of the Matterhorn surrounded by trees. And finally we reached our destination of Stelisee, where despite some wind and clouds, we got to see the famous “Toblerone” reflections of the famous Matterhorn.

[skyaway]

September 26th, 2018. Riffelberg, Zermatt, Switzerland. Memories of Holy Mattehorn, bright blue sky, lake Riffel and red mountain train. 눈부시게 파란 하늘과 마테호른, 리펠 호수, 빨간 산악열차의 추억. . . . 🇨🇭🏔️ #Riffelberg #MountainTrain #Matterhorn #MontCervin #Zermatt #Gornergrat #ZermattMatterhorn #Mountain #RiffelSee #Alps #Landscapes #Landscape #ClearSky #SkyBlue #BlueSky #IceMountain #Swiss #Switzerland #Nature #Heaven #Travelgram #Travel #Traveler #CanonImages #CanonCamera #Canon6D #CanonDSLR #CanonEos6D #Canon6DPhotos #Canon6DMark2 #Canon #NoFilter(Riffelberg에서) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqUJKGeFKzx/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12cm2b6l01fma

[stressedstreetmaps]

Kapelle Riffelberg, Bruder Klaus, Mark Twain Weg, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland

[thincso]

GOOD MORNING & EVENING MATTERHORN.... from a exiled Swiss and gratefulness for parts of the world that still have peace..., WIndows of Europe, pls read my article on ancient windows... Paul Dettwiler oil tempera on canvas 75x60cm, #riffelberg #matterhorn #schweiz🇨🇭 #pauldettwiler #artwatchers #zaw2021 #artoninstagram🌍 #wallis #valais #zermatt #fenster #oldwindows #kunstsammler #artcurators #instaart #swissalps #zurichart #artcollections #ModernMasters #perrotin #emergingart #swissalps #switzerland #emergingartist #contemporaryart #artmagazine #artcollections #swissart #fineart #collectartwork #culturalheritage #originalpaintings (på/i Zermatt, Switzerland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CizbU4TIy39/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[withabackpackandcamera]

October 15th, 2021

Day 14: Hiking To See The Toblerone Chocolate Mountain

This morning, we had breakfast at the hotel before walking into town to catch the Gornergratbahn to the top of Gornergrat Mountain. The weather was beautiful and sunny this morning, making for an excellent day for hiking. The tram ride up to the Gornergrat was pretty cool. Along the way, we rode through different alpine landscapes sprinkled with some fall colors and saw nice, unobstructed views of the Matterhorn. 

While Cynthia and I were on the train and before we reached the top, we decided that we would first get off at the Rotenboden stop to see Riffelsee Lake, which was known for its beautiful reflections of the Matterhorn. Because we had skipped the opportunity to enjoy the sunrise views at Riffelsee Lake this morning, we wanted to at least see the lake before conditions soured and you couldn’t see good reflections of the Matterhorn. So we jumped off and hiked down to see Riffelsee Lake. We spent time there taking photos and enjoying the morning views there before hiking back up to the station and catching the next train up to the top of the Gornergrat. 

It was decently crowded at the top of the mountain. Everyone, like us, was there to see the epic, snowy mountaintop and glacier views that stretched out for miles in every direction you looked. We explored the top and even stopped by the virtual reality center called “Zooom The Matterhorn” to see the exhibit there and to try out the multimedia VR paragliding experience it offered. It was pretty cool! 

Once we were done with the Gornergrat summit, we started our planned hike and descent down to Riffelberg, a supposed short, almost-entirely downhill hike that ended up being a whole lot longer than we expected (probably because we took a wrong turn somewhere along the way, made a bunch of stops for photos, and had to deal with tricky areas of ice and snow). Anyhow, we hiked from the summit down toward Riffelsee Lake and then, from there, all the way down to Riffelberg Station. The views along the trail were amazing! The landscape was so unique and the views of the Matterhorn were breathtaking! Because of the many times we stopped for photos, it ended up taking more than three hours to get down. By the time we arrived back in town, we’d spent around six hours of our day on the mountain! A productive and worthwhile day! Especially since we paid so much for the tickets to the top (though we did get them at half-price with our Swiss Travel Flex Passes). 

Once we were back in Zermatt, because we had activated our Swiss Travel Flex Passes for the day, we made our way over to check out the Zermatlantis Museum, one of the museums that we had missed out on visiting yesterday due to our random, last-minute itinerary changes. I’m glad we made it down in time to see the Zermatlantis Museum because it was a treasure trove of interesting history and cool exhibits. 

By the time we finished at the museum, the sun was starting to dip in the sky. Because it was already getting late and we were so close to sunset with a potentially great show in store, I convinced Cynthia to stick around Zermatt until sunset so I could rush back up to the viewpoint for a second attempt at sunset photos of Zermatt and the Matterhorn. And so I did. With Cynthia choosing to hang out at the hotel, I ran up to the same spot we visited the other night and took some photos of sunset. The scene I saw tonight was a little better than the one I saw two nights ago, thankfully. I didn’t stay to take photos for long and before I knew it, I was running back down to the hotel. Because I happened to come across a train with an earlier departure time than the train we had originally planned on boarding (this earlier train was much more conducive to our tight evening schedule), I ran into the hotel and grabbed our stuff and rushed a calm-but-now-annoyed Cynthia over to the train station to catch the earlier-than-planned train toward Interlaken, our next stop on the trip through Switzerland. 

After a crowded, standing-room-only train ride and a slightly longer-than-expected, windy bus ride that was also standing-room-only, we finally arrived at Interlaken. From the bus station, we walked and lugged our bags for several blocks before reaching our AirBnB for the next three days. Once we had dropped off our stuff, we quickly left the apartment in search of dinner. Because we hadn’t had any food to eat since breakfast, we were starving for something warm and yummy and ultimately made our way over to Aare Korean BBQ, a highly-rated Korean restaurant in town. There, we enjoyed the Kimchi Pancake, Spicy Pork Bulgogi, White Rice, and Veggie Fried Rice for dinner at 10:30pm. The food was alright but because we were hungry and were craving not-so-heavy Asian food, it was good enough. Anyhow, thinking back, it was a good thing that we made it to the Zermatt station in time to catch an earlier train to Interlaken today because doing so saved us 45 minutes and provided us with enough time on the backend to make it to Aare for dinner before it closed. Lucky! 

We walked back to the AirBnB after dinner and were welcomed with no hot water for the evening. Ugh. Because of that, we had to wash up and make hot water the old fashioned way. After cleaning up, we spent some time figuring out the next few days in the Interlaken area before heading to bed to rest and recharge our tired bodies. What a long but productive day. 

5 Things I Learned/Observed Today:

1. The first ascent of the Matterhorn, standing tall at 4478m, was completed on July 14th, 1865 by Edward Whymper and his crew of climbers and guides. Unfortunately, that amazing feat was overshadowed by the tragedy that took the lives of four of the team members as they were making their way down the mountain as a group. The only survivors were the now-famous Edward Whymper and the Taugwalder father and son mountain guide duo. The stories that Whymper later shared with the world after the tragedy were told in a way that made him look better and blamed the Taugwalders for the tragedy. To this day, people aren’t exactly sure what happened and who was really at fault because so many different accounts of the story have been fabricated and passed along since then. 

2. When you’re at the summit of Gornergrat Mountain, you’re surrounded by 29 four-thousand-meter peaks (also called four-thousanders). SO MANY! 

3. The four faces of the pyramidal peak of the Matterhorn correspond exactly to the cardinal directions on a compass. So the faces of the peak face north, south, east, and west! That’s pretty wild! 

4. The rock composition of the Matterhorn summit is African in origin and consists entirely of remnants of the African tectonic plate. Crazy how things have moved and shifted on the Earth over a very, very long period of time. 

5. Zermatt was just a simple farming village in 1847. Up until the 1920s, most of the clientele that visited Zermatt were rich Brits. And until 1927, tourists only came to Zermatt in the summer when the weather was nice. By 1975, Zermatt, the farming village, had become a world-famous resort area. How tourism can quickly change the landscape and economy of an area.

[color-switzerland]

Bruder Klaus, Riffelberg Chapel

Rotenboden 駅で下車し、リーフェル湖を通って Riffelberg駅までの1時間弱のトレッキングコースの終盤にある、山岳の教会です。標高は2,600mほど。

この日、マッターホルンには雲にかかっていましたが、アルプスを背にした教会の佇まいはスイスならではです。

[aprilbarton]

Rotenboden-Riffelberg hike for #Matterhorn views! #lastdayof2020 #NYE #tripaway #exploring #nannylife #snow #mountains #walking #winter #itwasfreezing (at Rotenboden) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJj2ZnugFHu/?igshid=qzqru5l03eou

[talataki]

“𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞.” -𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 • And there it is: The Matterhorn Between the clouds 4478m over sea. Another dream of mine came true! Unbelievable but I had to grow this old to see our Swiss national mountain for the very first time 😱! I almost had to cry of joy and gratitude to be honest. I can‘t even express how amazing it looks! 😍 Another dream accomplished 🤗! • • • posted on Instagram - https://ift.tt/2NBXIaU

[hamoudablog]

The dance of clouds by sylviafurrer This view is a detail of the picture "The Cloud" (with the chapel), taken on the Riffelberg above Zermatt, Valais. Diese Sicht ist eine Detailaufnahme vom Bild "The Cloud" (mit der Kapelle), aufgenommen auf dem Riffelberg oberhalb von Zermatt, Wallis. https://flic.kr/p/2jz6qFv