Down to Zermatt

We left our hut at 8:30 am when Livio our guide arrived. We had lightening last night but no thunder and teeming rain. We roped up and walked down a snowmachine track which is built on the Theodule Glacier. There were crevasses but safely away from us. The snow was slushy and lots of water was running. The Theodule glacier and pass was used as a route in the past when there was no ice present. We unroped at the bottom and hiked towards the Matterhorn with spectacular views of it and Monte Rosa. Kim collected some rocks at the bottom of the Theodule glacier to bring home as souvenirs. As we were walking towards the Matterhorn we had flashbacks to the time we were there previously. The glacier that Val had touched on our previous visit (7-8 years ago) seemed to have retreated several metres. When we arrived at the gondola lift we headed down to Zermatt and checked into our hotel. At the museum in Zermatt we saw an old sword that archaeologists had discovered at the Theodule glacier from a traveller passing many years ago. At the museum we also saw old hiking equipment artifacts. It was neat seeing the advancements in this equipment (water containers, boots, crampons, ice axes, and hats). Tonight we are eating together. Anne left to go back to Paris and Severine and Hamish are leaving tomorrow to go back to the UK.Read more