Richard Rutz
Are you looking for active adventure travel in exciting new places around the world? You now have a chance to experience adventure in the Alps with other fun and capable Mountaineers, led by an experienced volunteer leader.
Hike the Matterhorn Alps of Switzerland
Sun, Jul 26, 2020-Sat, Aug 8, 2020
Day hike for two weeks in the high Alps of Switzerland, one of the must-see places of Europe. See and photograph the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, and many other glacier-clad peaks. Hike far above the picturesque valleys, through flower-filled mountain meadows, and up to lofty alpine huts. This exciting trip comes with comfortable accommodations and tasty food in the evenings.
On this trip we will be day hiking on higher-elevation mountain trails. On most days we will take a cable car, funicular, or chairlift to skip the low-elevation approaches. From our first base in the town of Saas-Fee we’ll hike along trails that traverse the mountainsides high above the valley; one of these has interpretive signs for the flowers. Another path winds high around the mountain cirque that contains Saas-Fee, and gives great views of the Dom (14,911 feet). Another cable car will take us to our start on the slopes of the Allalinhorn, for a visit to the Britannia Hut (perched at 9,940 feet) and a ridge traverse back to town. We’ll even hike over a high pass into Italy, passing a shrine and having lunch at an Italian hut. There are good opportunities to see alpine ibex and chamois on these trails.
In the next valley to the west is the resort town of Zermatt. Seven of the ten highest peaks in the Alps are here. But the landscape is dominated by the presence of the Matterhorn, one of the most iconic peaks in the world, as well as the 15,203-foot Monte Rosa. We’ll travel on a cog-wheel railway, then hike up to a 10,000-foot overlook with stunning views of the Matterhorn. We’ll hike on a trail next to glaciers, with a view to the north face of the mountain. One day we will go to a high point with a 360-degree view, then down a steep ridge and onto a panorama trail to return. We’ll also take a cable car high into the mountains, visit a hut with spectacular views of Monte Rosa and its glaciers, and traverse right beneath the face of the Matterhorn.
To see photos of the area and a sneak preview of the trip, attend one of our upcoming information sessions:
Wednesday Oct 23
Kirkland Library (308 Kirkland Ave.)
7-8:15pm
Thursday Nov 7
Online meeting and webinar. Email Richard Rutz to receive the link to the meeting.
7-8:15pm
