Tour Around the Matterhorn

Tour around the Matterhorn – 6 – 20 July, 2012

In July I went on a two-week hutting tour of the Matterhorn with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. We were eleven in the party, including the leader, and were blessed with almost perfect weather and wonderful views of many of the famous peaks in the Pennine Alps, including the Matterhorn itself.

For me, there were two especially memorable days on the tour. The first was during the crossing from St Niklaus over to Gruben-Meiden, in the next valley, when we took time out to go up the Schwarzhorn (3,201m) from the Augstbordpass (2,894m).

Although only just over 300m difference, the ascent was longer than expected due to the difficult terrain. However, when we arrived on the summit we were rewarded with a super 360º view of the surrounding mountains, as well as many in the Pennine Alps, also including some in the Bernese Alps to the north.

Part of the group on the summit of the Schwarzhorn, with the snow covered mountains in the Mischabel range behindView to the south from the Schwarzhorn, the Weisshorn to the left and the Dent Blanche towards the right.

We returned to Zinal, the start point of the tour, on the twelfth day, and on the last two days of the holiday there was an extra excursion up to the Cabane du Grand Mountet for an overnight stop, returning to Zinal the following day. This was the second highlight for me as the Cabane is in a superb situation at 2,886m, surrounded by wonderful mountain scenery – a lovely way to end an excellent tour.

Approaching the Cabane du Grand Mountet with the Ober Gabelhorn behind.The Dent Blanche from the Cabane du Grand Montet, Point de Zinal to the left and Roc Noir in the foreground.