Gorges in Zermatt

A well kept secret spot indeed! The gorjus gorges of the Gornera are an easy and exquisite way to get away from the crowded streets of Zermatt.

The waters of the torrent are an amazing color and very refreshing. The serpentine rocks have been carved into wild shapes and lead your imagination to thoughts of just how much water has gone through here. There are some surprising arolla pines growing here.

Out of the gorges and into the sunshine! The hamlets of Blatten & Zum See are so cute that they are almost unbelievable. The cows were grazing happily on the flowers used in Ricola candies!

The Cervin, Matterhorn, was as impressive as ever. 

On a sunny day, Zermatt delivers once again to a happy guide & hikers!

Beauty of Zermatt

What a gorgeous walk through the Gorges of the Gornera bach. Nice to do it on a sunny day and take advantage of the freshness.

On a clear day there is just no question why Zermatt is so popular. All the 4000 meter peaks were visible and the glaciers clean & white.

The hills were alive with the sound of wildflowers! And a fabulous lunch accompanied by artists from the music festival were very relaxing.

Another successful Cham to Zermatt trek!

What a great summer I have had! Thanks to all who joined up for all my tours, I really enjoyed myself! I mean look at the picnic spot here! Who can top that?!

Zermatt!

We did it!!!

And the Matterhorn was still there with us & a gazillion tourists taking photos of it!

Day VIII Gruben - Zermatt

ummmm....did I mention lots of rocks yesterday? Well there were even MORE today!

Just before getting to Jungu we got to watch a big daddy bouquetin (ibex) loftily munching on some grass on a death-defying slope below us.

Day VII Grimentz - Gruben

So much to say about today's hike, I really don't know how to cover it all!

Lots of rocks today!
Views of the Zinalrothorn that were unimaginable!
More rocks, granite this time!
Alpine lakes to dip into!
Rocks!
Hot sun!
Rocks!
Descent into the arolla & larch forests!
Arnica & bluebells everywhere!
Swiss-german to be spoken!

Yodeliiihiiihouuuuuu!
(that says it all!)

Day VI Arolla - Grimentz

Heat wave hit us for sure today! But I have to admit after the snowy hikes of July this year I am not too distressed at walking in the heat. The Grand Raid was ending in Grimentz today, so we had a lively time watching bikers and helicopters buzzing around the val d'anniviers.

Houseleek - supposed to protect houses from being hit by lightening. Maybe I should think about attaching some of it to my backpack on these hot days that end in storms?!

Edelweiss

Day V Cabane Prafleuri - Arolla

What a splendid view onto the Grande Dixence dam! Today we saw marmots & lots of edelweiss as we ascended to the Col de Riedmatten. Now this is not for the faint hearted! We made it just after a hail storm soaked us from behind!

A looooooong descent took us to Arolla for the night. The view onto the glacier & cows grazing right by the shining blue ice was spectacular!

What a day! Bravo! Cannot tell you how nice it was to take off my boots in Arolla!

Day IV Verbier to Cabane Pra Fleuri

We hiked from the Grande Dixence dam up to the Cabane de Prafleuri today taking advantage of the good weather to try and see some marmots. But I guess it was too hot for them, as we did not see any.

Day III Champex Lac to Cabane Mont Fort Verbier

Wow, what a beautiful morning to walk around Champex Lac before heading up into the alpine fields of Verbier.

After observing a blue heron we headed off to stroll up to the Cabane Mont Fort to watch the sun-set and have a yummy dinner on the terrace. Can't think of many better ways to spend a day! Ahhhh!

Day II Trient to Champex Lac

Sunny & beautiful day to arrive and plunge our feet into the glorious mountain lake in Champex. We had wild strawberries, rasberries & myrtilles the whole way - why bother carrying chocolate that melts?!? Oh yeah, because it is so goooooooooooood!

Day I Argentière to Trient

 

Started off with a bit of rain on our 10 day hike to Zermatt! Funny that as soon as we crossed the mountains into Switzerland the sun was shinning...hmmmm...!

Is that the Matterhorn?

A perfect bluebird sky! We took the train up the Gornergrat and checked out all the fresh snow. I wish I would have had my snowshoes with me!! The views from up here are just amazing. I got some great views of the 4000 meter peak I had gone up earlier this spring on the border with Italy, the ParrotSpitz.

The Gornergletscher is the 3rd longest in Switzerland, I have to admit I am not sure what the 2nd one is...does anyone know? A picnic in the snow and a few snowballs later it was time to go back to Zermatt where the streets had turned into perfect ice skating rinks!

Dumpin' in Zermatt!

Soooo much snow falling in Zermatt! It was difficult to walk around. So took refuge in the Zermattlantis Museum. Really interesting place to spend time. Tells the history of climbing the Matterhorn. Take the time to check out their shoes!! Yikes!

CherriesWalks goes for a 4* flight!

What an exceptional day! Off in a helicopter for just under an hour to view the Swiss Alps - oh and all the rest of them too as there was not a cloud in the sky! Wowwwy!
Took off from Sion with Jean-Daniel (Heli Alps). He took us into the valley of Herens and grazed the arrête of the Veisivi before taking us up the Glacier du Mont Miné and above the tops of the Tête Blanche, Dent d'Hérens, and the Matterhorn which had 2 people on the top (as well as 80 other avid climbers coming up the ridge!!) Then we did a few 360s to show off and plunged into the seracs of the Glacier de Moiry (literally!) The lac de Moiry was stunning. And poof! Back at home base! AMAZING!

Now this was the most unusual view of the Matterhorn for me! Can anyone guess which glacier this is?

Finished it all off with a 4* picnic in the delightful forest above the Bisse in Savièse. Lots of mushrooms for the trolls to hide in here. Vive les mariés!

Monte Rosa 4000ers

Well evidently doing my 1st 4000 meter peak in Europe was not enough, I had to go back! We ended up in Italy again as the Swiss huts were all booked up with people training for the epic patrouille des glaciers race from Zermatt to Verbier.
From the lifts in Gressoney we had a pleasant walk up to the cabane. After a surprisingly super comfortable night at 3455 meters in the Rifugio Mantova we set out in the wind to climb to the top of the Piramide Vincenz (4213m) at 7 a.m. Then we hopped over to the Christ Roi on the Balmenhorn (4161m)overlooking the Lyskamm at 4532m. We managed a short picnic break out of the wind and set off for the Punta Parrot (4433m). What a magical accomplishment! Never really imagined I could possibly be on top of these mountains which I have admired many a time from Zermatt & the top of Mont Fort in Verbier!

Guiding for Breast Cancer in Zermatt

Europa Donna & Zonta Club Morges La Côte organised for over 80 breast cancer survivors to climb a 4000 meter peak this week-end! An amazing feat and a beautiful day for everyone involved. I guided a high-altitude walk after watching the brave ladies set off from the Klein Matterhorn. We had a fabulous walk and built this 'pink ribbon' cairn to show our support!

Zermatt Matterhorn

4 unbeleivable days hiking around impressive views of the Matterhorn.
It really made me want to eat a Toblerone bar!!!