Switzerland/2012
Japan to Zurich

Grindelwald
- Day 01
- Day 02

 Maennlichen
- Day 03
 Jungfraujoch
 Kleine Scheidegg
- Day 04
 Kleine Scheidegg
 Wengen
 Maennlichen
- Day 05
 First
 Bort

Muerren
- Day 01

 Allmendhubel
 Schilthorn
 Gruetschalp
- Day 02
 Bern
- Day 03
 Schilthorn
 Lauterbrunnen

Zermatt
- Day 01
- Day 02

 Rothorn
 Sunnegga
- Day 03
 Zmutt
 Gornergrat
 Rotenboden
- Day 04
 Gornergrat
 Rotenboden
 Riffelberg
 Riffelalp
 Klein Matterhorn
- Day 05
 Riffelalp-Sunnegga
 Findeln
- Day 06
 Trockener Steg
 Klein Matterhorn
 Schwarzsee
 Zmutt

Baden
- Day 01

Zurich to Japan

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On the 6th day of my stay in Zermatt, I went to Klein Matterhorn(3899m) again because of the fine weather. There was not a cloud in the sky!

Trockener Steg(2939m), which is one stop before the summit of Klein Matterhorn, is a popular spot for shooting the pictures of the Matterhorn. The Trockener Steg region allows a much closer look at the Matterhorn and you can enjoy a complete view of the Matterhorn right before you!

Looking at its right shoulder carefully, you can also see a mountain lodge,"Hornlihutte". It is well-known as the nearest base camp to access the Matterhorn from the Swiss side. During the summer months, the Hurnlihutte offers a nice restaurant and it bustles with hikers. However, areas above Hornlihutte are limited to seasoned climbers!

It was perfect weather for skiing and everybody seemed to be having fun. It seemed to be just another ski slope. But...be careful, it is actually harder than it looks!
Doing anything at such an altitude isn't easy because of the thin air.
The oxygen concentration of the summit of Mt.Fuji is 2/3 that of sea level, and Klein Matterhorn is at a height of 3899m above sea level which is even higher than the summit of Mt.Fuji(3776m)!!

The view from Klein Matterhorn.
To tell you the truth, the sight of the Matterhorn from there wasn't attractive. Its distinctive appearance was absent so it was very boring.

Klein Matterhorn is also marketed as the "Matterhorn glacier paradises". It houses the highest glacier palace in the world. The beautiufl palace is about 15m below the surface of the glacier. You can get there with lifts directly from the station and best of all, "Zermatt Peak Pass" includes admission to the glacier palace.

I went down to Schwarzsee(2520m) from Klein Matterhorn and I started to hike down to Zermatt.
Seeing the Matterhorn on my left side, I walked down along the valley. Perhaps, the shape of Matterhorn is more familiar from Schwarzsee.

Schwarzsee is abundant in trails and it is known as a starting place for all levels hikers and climbers.
One of the hiking trails leads to the Hornlihutte. If you want to get to the Hornlihutte(3230m), it is about a 2-hour hike from Schwarzsee. It is about 4km and the difference in elevation is about 700m.
I heard that you can reach the mountain lodge even if you are not a seasoned hiker. But you have to use a ladder set on the face of the huge rock and in places you have to walk on steep slippery rocks with chains. Even in mid-summer, there are places with snow still on the ground. Therefore, you are required to pay attention while walking the trail.
They say its only 700m to the summit. Year right..."only" 700m.

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