Lost in the Swiss Alps!

Miles: 15.7!! A new high
Steps: 35989
Flights stairs: 29

Zermatt is an amazing city - it’s carless! There are a few vehicles but only for businesses, buses and taxis - and they must be electric. It sits at the base of the Matterhorn and people flock here to hike and to climb - and these are serious hikers and climbers. 3000 people attempt the climb every year - 500 have died since 1865.

There are at least 8 different cable cars going up into the mountains surrounding the Matterhorn - and a scenic train that climbs to the very top of the mountain next to it. Unfortunately, we’re in the most expensive city, in one of the most expensive countries in the world. So .. can’t do all we’d want to. I wish we could have stayed here a week!

But we read all the literature, found a moderate difficulty level hike, and went for it! We picked the “Matterhorn Glacier trail” which all the information people said was a good choice for our abilities. We took two cable cars to get to the top (10,000 ft) then we hiked 4 miles in about 3 hrs around the base of the Matterhorn. It was phenomenal. Then we decided instead of taking the cable car back down to town, we’d attempt a second trail. Should have been 3 miles, about 2 more hours. All down hill, supposed to be a mountain “stroll” - figured, why not? Well, it wasn’t very well marked and we got lost … really lost. Eventually we were off the trails heading straight down steep hills just trying to get to the river, which we figured we could follow to town.

In the end, after I had another tumble in the gravel, we made it back, obviously. The entire trip tho, which should have been about 7 miles, 5 hours … clocked in at 15.6 miles and 8 hours!!

We’re both in a lot of pain tonight - but oh what memories we made trying to get off that mountain! And … I think I’d do it again if I ever got the chance!!Read more