E-Mails from Europe

July 18, Zermatt and the Hotel du Trift

Hi, Everyone,

Roz and Jim arrive at the Hotel du Trift

On the 17th was our planned big trip. We had reservations (for 6)at a mountain hotel, the Hotel du Trift. We checked out of our hotel(s), leaving our suitcases and large packs in storage at ours. We hiked up (and I mean up! 722 meters, get out your calculator) and arrived 4 hours later.

Zermatt on the valley floor

Laura on the trail	The Hotel with the mountains beyond

The group on the trail going up

We had dinner and breakfast there. The weather was perfectly clear the whole time. It was very cold, Jim saying it was the equivalent of 12,000 ft if we were in Colorado because we were above the treeline. Jim and I had a room and the kids stayed in a dorm. There was a shared restroom which a real toilet and ice cold water from a tap. No showers. Dinner tasted very good starting with semolina soup and ending with pudding. Breakfast, after warming by the stove, included a great museli with cut-up fruit.

Cards in the evening

Heat in the morning!

In the evening, Jim and I took a walk and came upon black and white domestic goats. The next day we saw some brown domestic goats

Goats on the hillside in the evening

Goats on the path coming up for lunch

In the morning, Jim and Tim hiked to the top of the Mettelhorn, a peak more than 3000 meters. Anna enjoyed the ambience of the mountains by herself, and Laura, Adrienne, and I walked up a little with the guys and then sat around the hotel in the sun and started down (3 hours) about noon. It was a great experience and quite a challenge! And the hot shower in our hotel room at the end was great!

Heading up the Mettelhorn the next morning

Laura and Roz, not climbing the Mettelhorn. Tea, mountains, and sunshine are fun enough!

Roz and Jim

  /\        /\   *   /\        /\    *   /\
/    \^^^/   \***/   \^^^/    \***/    \
Roz Dudden and Jim Mills
From our hotmail.com e-mail address while traveling abroad!
Accessed irregularly from mountain tops and cafes
in England, France and Switzerland.
^/\^/\^/\^/\^/\^/\^/\^/\^/\^/\^/\^/\

Hiking activity list

July 10:

day: TGV train Paris to Belgarde; train to Chamonix

night: Chamonix

July 11:

day 1: Jim: Up to PlanPraz 2 hours; Jim and Roz: Grand Balcony South, PlanPraz to Le Flegere, 3 hours

night: Chamonix

July 12:

day 2: Jim: Up to Midi Midway point. 3 hours

night: Chamonix

July 13:

day 3: Jim and Roz: In Saas Fee: Circle hike around to the base of the Glacier. 2 hours

night: Saas Fee

July 14:

day 4: Jim: up by the Hannig to Mellig summit. 7 hours

night: Saas Fee

July 15:

day 5: Jim: up to midway. 3 hours. Roz: 1 hour hike

night: Zermatt

July 16:

day 6: Gornergrat: Roz: 1 hour; Jim: 2 hours

night: Zermatt

July 17:

day 7: Jim and Roz: Up to Hotel. 4 hours; evening walk: 1 hour

night: Hotel du Trift

July 18:

day 8: Jim: Up the Mettelhorn. 7 hours. Roz: Down to Zermatt. 3 hours.

night: Zermatt