Breithorn, Zermatt
The valley at Zermatt is surrounded by nearly three dozen peaks with summits higher than 4,000 metres above sea level. The Breithorn is well-known as the “easiest” to ascend: although easiness is, of course, a matter of reference. The number of tiny, ant-like climbers on the slopes leading from the Breithorn Plateau was quite amazing, when Jo and I visited the…
Jungfraujoch, Switzerland
The Jungfraujoch is the prime tourist destination in Switzerland’s Jungfrau region. High atop a mountain “saddle” between the Mönch and Jungfrau peaks, it’s accessible by taking a cog-wheel train which makes its way to the summit through a tunnel carved into the mountain. Temperatures in winter can plunge a low way below freezing, but we were lucky enough to…
Gries Pass
Attempting to get away from baking temperatures, we headed for the mountains and a hike across summer snow fields to the Gries glacier.
Hike to Steingletscher
A long-held ambition fulfilled: to hike to my favourite glacier near the Susten Pass in Switzerland.
Glacier 3000
Glacier 3000 is the name of a tourist destination in the French Swiss region of Les Diablerets; the number in question being the (approximate) height in metres above sea level of the upper part of a sizeable glacier, easily reachable by cable car and snowed-over the whole year round. As well as the usual outdoor restaurant terrace and puff-inducing…
The Saddle
The Jungfraujoch station, tourist destination and meteorological research centre sits on the “saddle” between the Mönch and Jungfrau peaks. The weather was fine enough to spend some time outside when we visited, so I took the opportunity to stomp through the snow to the very base of the Mathildespitze, a high outcrop beneath the main Jungfrau peak. From…
Back in Zermatt
Zermatt is one of the Swiss destinations most well-known outside Switzerland, thanks mainly to its proximity to the Matterhorn, probably the most famous mountain in the country.
Into another world
Last weekend, we chose to head for the Eigergletscher ("Eiger Glacier") station high above Grindelwald: to appreciate the astounding beauty of the autumnal landscapes below the station, to be enthralled by the massive cliffs of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, and also to visit the polar dogs who are kenneled next to the station.
Rhone Glacier
Can you spot the Meads? Despite the rapid rate at which the glacier is shrinking, it’s still a very impressive sight.