Separate Ways

Tony and I went our separate ways today. He took the gondola up to Schwarzesee and then fulfilled his ambition for the visit by climbing up to the Hornli Hut and touching the base of the Matterhorn. He also brought back a slice of Matterhorn rock for his rock garden in the allotment which is going in his luggage!

Back story: Whymper had been trying to climb the Matterhorn for four years from the Italian side without success when in 1865 he decided to try for the summit from Zermatt via the northeast ridge. He wanted to beat the Italian team who were headed out that season. On his ninth attempt Whymper succeeded, accompanied by three mountain guides and three other British climbers. Sadly on the way down one of the British climbers slipped, taking three other members of the team off the rock face. A quick thinking guide threw the rope round a boulder but it snapped and all four fell to their deaths. For some time, Whymper was accused of cutting the rope but a court cleared him and the guide.

Meanwhile I took a walk up the valley to the right of the Matterhorn to the high village of Zmutt, then returned to Zermatt by a higher path which was bordered by meadows filled with alpine flowers, very beautiful! We met up in the afternoon and walked down into the town to watch the elite orienteers have their street races. Sadly no Brits survived the cut for the semi-finals. Tomorrow we get to have a go on the same map!

I apologise that the Matterhorn has sneaked into yet another of my blips but really chuffed that two of my Matterhorn blips hit Spotlight this week! This blip was taken as I headed up towards Zmutt.

If you haven't had enough of my Zermatt blips, there are more here!