OMG
After my Glacier Express train trip, I arrived in Zermatt one cloudy Friday afternoon with one day to see the Matterhorn. (Gayle and I were here 20 years ago, and got a brief sighting but that was it.) As tourists to Seattle know, that sort of time restriction on seeing Mt. Rainer can be problematic for sure.
So, Saturday AM, with the peaks still in the clouds, I embarked upon the historic cog railway to Gornergrat at 10,200’ in hopes of a sighting. With the previous week’s trips up into the Swiss mountains, I assumed that I would get there, see nothing, fight hurricane force winds and be back in town in an hour or so.
As we chugged up the railway, the clouds above us did not part. Still scenic, but….. then….
OMG
NOTHING prepares one for the first sighting of this iconic mountain. Everyone has seen pictures, but seeing it yourself from so close is an experience without words.
Dan, Mr. Unemotional, was on the verge of tears of joy with the 360 degree view of the pinnacle of the Swiss Alps. 29 peaks of over 14,000’ right in front of you. Glaciers everywhere. And, bright sunshine, no wind, amazing.
Yes, Switzerland is expensive, but if you get lucky and can replicate this experience, you will never regret it. Go.
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| Hopefully this will work for you. My first attempt at including a video |
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| The Matterhorn from my room upon arrival. (Not visible) |
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| That first sighting as we get above the cloud layer. |
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| Unforgettable. |
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| So close to glaciers. |
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| Telephoto view of the peak. Hard to imagine anyone climbing it! |
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| A probably new glacier lake. |
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| An iconic Swiss photo. The Matterhorn, a train, and a clock. And, yes, it is working. |
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| Trails everywhere, even up here, and always well marked with time to the next point noted on the sign. |
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| My proof shot that I was there. Although no wind and sunny, the temp is just slightly above freezing. Some bits of fresh snow here and there, and puddles were frozen. |
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| What can I add here? |
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| Mid day clouds starting to move in. |
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| The view of the mountain from my table having lunch outside in the sun. What a life they have here. Every junction has some sort of full facilities. In this case, about 40′ away was a herd of sheep grazing by the hotel. |
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| Telephoto view of the peak in the clouds. |
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| And, finally, the view again from my hotel room in Zermatt, now with the peak visible. |