* Future projects.
Difficulty: The more stars given to
difficulty, the steeper and more strenuous you can expect a walk to
be. Extra stars are given for those hikes requiring particular care or
preparation. Read each walk description for specific details. A walk of
one or two stars difficulty could be accomplished by any able-bodied
person,
including children. A three-star-difficulty walk requires a reasonable level of fitness
and preparation : expect steep grades and plenty of steps, so regular exercise
should be a part of your life. I
would not recommend taking a walk of 4 or 5 stars difficulty as your first
Zermatt walk, unless you are fit and have previous mountain walking experience.
All the High Mountain walks require respect for the mountains and
possession of appropriate clothing (see below).
Popularity: The greater the number of stars 'popularity', the more
people you can expect to share the trail with. In the high season of July
and August, you might see hundreds of other people on a '5 star popularity'
trail. But whatever the
season, you can have any walk much to yourself by walking early mornings or
late evenings (after 6pm). You will see more wildlife then too.
Hours of Walking: This is a bit of
a guide for the time required for actually walking, assuming a couple
of short drink breaks each hour. Allow more time for picnics and extended
stops in particularly beautiful areas. Slightly less time would be required for
very fit
adults walking
non-stop. In Switzerland, as in this guide, mountain walking distances
are not given in miles or kilometres, but in hours of walking
required.
Lift Costs: Some of the walks make use of Zermatt's impressive
mountain lift system, and prices are given here. Walking purists and those
on a very tight budget can therefore easily choose alternatives. Lift
prices are given for adults. Children up to 15 years can receive
discounts of 50% or more. More information can be found in each walk
description. But please always confirm children's prices at the local lift ticket office,
since their policies and offers can and do change.
Trails Open: The given dates indicate
when each particular trail is normally free of snow and therefore 'open'.
The highest walking trails don't open until well into summer, simply
because they are only snow free a few months of the year. Some
of the lower walks have been marked as open 'Year round", not because
they are always snow free, but these are all gentle and relatively safe -
even when snow is on the ground during the winter months (December through April). On the 'year-round' trails, local authorities make efforts
to clear deep snow, put gravel on any ice, and provide ropes for
handholds. Even down in the village of Zermatt snow might fall a few days
each summer. Although a summer snowfall would melt within hours at lower
altitudes, a large snowfall might close the highest walks for days (which makes for great summer
skiing!). As autumn comes to the alps, cooler temperatures prevail and
the snow line marches back down the mountains towards the village of
Zermatt.
As a rule of thumb, winter snows normally melt as follows:
@ 1600m/5300ft altitude (Zermatt village itself) should be 'Snow free' from the end
of March to November
@ 2000m/6600ft altitude should be 'Snow free' from the end of April to November
@ 2500m/8200ft altitude should be 'Snow free' from late May to mid October
@ 3000m/9900ft altitude should be 'Snow free' from the start of July to late
September
Remember
you can check the
local weather forecast
the village of Zermatt, or a
forecast for the high mountain trails above Zermatt (for Gornergrat
3100m/10,135ft). You can also watch the live
cameras to see local conditions and perhaps to follow the 'snowline'.
Call the Tourist Office (+41 (0)27 967 01 81) if you wish to confirm if
a particular walk is open.
What to bring on a walk:
Clothing: On the warmest
summer days, Zermatt itself (1620m/5330ft) can reach 25 to 30 degrees centigrade (80s Fahrenheit).
Even high in the mountains (3000m/10,000 altitude) it can be pleasant in
the sun on a fine windless day. In such conditions short trousers can be
most comfortable, although I recommend packing long trousers on hikes
ascending to 3000m. Several layers of clothing also allow for greater
flexibility to changing mountain conditions than a single thick layer.
Of course in the mountains the higher one goes, the colder
and windier it's likely to become. As a rough rule of thumb, it drops 1c for every 100m
higher you go (about 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit for every 1,000 ft).
But less well-known: the contrast between full-sun and shade temperatures
also becomes greater, and the quicker the temperature can change from one extreme to the other. So the higher
you go the more
important it becomes to be prepared for every eventuality. It's not
uncommon to round a corner on one of the highest trails, suddenly in
shade and exposed to wind coming off a glacier. The temperature (with
windchill) can plunge fifteen degrees in the space of a few steps.
Any walk to an altitude of 2000m (6500ft) or higher should
include a water and
windproof jacket as a precaution. Mountain hikes to 3000m (10,000 ft) really must
include such a jacket. At 3000m the temperature
can plunge 20 degrees in five minutes. Combine that
sudden drop of temperature with a squall of freezing rain and strong winds, and
hypothermia becomes a real danger to anyone caught unprepared. A good goretex
jacket can potentially save your life and keep you relatively
comfortable. In fair weather, walkers should be fine without water/wind proof
trousers, but if you already have a pair they could be useful packing on
the longer hikes, especially in unsettled weather.
In summer gloves
and warm headgear should be unnecessary unless you really feel the cold, and plan on
hiking
above
3000m (10,000ft). A warm hat and gloves might be useful if you plan to stay at a
mountain hut and
enjoy a beautiful sunset or sunrise. Nights are always cold above
Zermatt - expect it to drop close to freezing at 3000m (10,000ft) - even in mid summer.
Climbers' huts will have little or no heating.
Of course a very good range of high-quality mountain clothing and
equipment is available for sale in Zermatt itself.
Shop sales and discounts are often available in April/May and October/November.
You can also get a year-round 10%
discount on all gear at one of Zermatt's best sports shops.
Shoes: Check the difficulty rating of the walk. A walk of 1 or 2
stars difficulty could be accomplished in any decent walking shoes. A
walk of three stars difficulty would be a real test for a standard pair of Nikes or
Reeboks. Four and five star difficulty hikes require hiking footwear
with excellent grip (eg. vibram soles) and could use some water resistance. Ankle
support is optional.
Food and drinks: On any longer walk it is important to
drink plenty of fluids. The mountain air is fresh but very dry. The higher one
goes the more one must drink to avoid dehydration. Tap water in
Zermatt is fine to drink and take with you. Otherwise fresh drinking
water is normally available for free at the climbers' huts, and soft drinks
(et al) at the mountain restaurants. As a very rough rule of thumb, I would
plan on drinking half a litre per adult (one US pint) for every hour of
walking. But you may want more if the weather is warm or you are really
exerting yourself.
Many of the lower walks feature superb mountain restaurants with professional
table service. Food quality is good, sometimes world class, but never cheap (17 sFr. for a typical
plate of pasta). Don't forget there are countless opportunities for
memorable picnics in the mountains. Take a daypack and buy your supplies
at any of the dozen supermarkets and bakeries in Zermatt.. and don't forget the
Swiss chocolate!
Accessories: A small backpack to safely carry a few necessities is
a recommended inclusion. Sunglasses and suncream are recommended for
all walks, becoming essential for any of the high mountain walks.
Burning UV rays become stronger the higher one goes, and fair skinned people
can still get burned on overcast days. A sun
hat can be very useful for longer walks on fine days.
Mobile phones: Coverage in the mountains around
Zermatt is generally decent, although it can't always be guaranteed. On the
higher walks, the mountain huts will also have radio
phones. Important numbers in Switzerland, are: Emergency: 112,
Police: 117, Ambulance: 144, Helicopter rescue with Air Zermatt: (027) 966 86 86
Local weather
It is always a good idea to consult
a weather forecast before setting out on a longer walk. These external
links offer a great
five day forecast for the village of Zermatt, and a
forecast for Gornergrat (3100m/10,135ft) above Zermatt. The Gornergrat
forecast could be used as a guide to any of the high mountain walks in this
guide. On these Meteo Centrale webpages, you can click on the 'further' tab
to get 'Feels like' temperatures, allowing for windchill.
If you are without internet, local TV, radio and
newspapers also
provide detailed weather reports, but even hotels and some shops post printed
forecasts in various languages on notice boards.
Typical fair weather
patterns last several days in summer. However it would be well to note
that the prevailing weather comes in from the west, and the view west from
Zermatt village (in the valley) is immediately blocked by an imposing wall
of mountains. Therefore one should not rely exclusively on clear skies in
the village as definitive evidence of fine weather continuing. Inclement
weather can arrive without much visual warning. This is another
reason to be suitably prepared (with spare clothing) before setting out
into the mountains.
It's worth noting that it can be pleasant and calm in the
village of Zermatt, while gale force winds are blowing higher up at
3000m/10,000ft. Be mindful of the weather, especially on exposed walks above
the tree line.
At the three valley lift stations in town, there are
also computerized displays noting
temperature and wind conditions at the mountain stations. Otherwise one can sometimes get an idea
of wind strength by
looking at the Matterhorn itself. If you can see clouds moving about the
faces of the Matterhorn with the naked eye, be prepared for very windy
conditions at higher altitudes.
Additional safety precautions
Keep moving on
trails that cross an area of loose rock on steep slopes (known as scree). On trails below
cliffs,
rock fall can happen, albeit rarely.
Remain alert for recent rock fall. Fresh rock fall
should be obvious by its sharp edges, random scatter, and lighter, unweathered colour. If
you see any on the path ahead, exercise caution.
In the same vein,
be mindful of dislodging stones downhill, especially on the highest and
steepest walks. Even small stones can be dangerous when they gather speed.
There may be people or property below.
Ignore closed
trails at your own peril. The paths around Zermatt have been used for
centuries and are rarely closed without good reason. A dangerous trail may
be blocked with a rope and yellow 'closed' or 'danger' signs in several
languages, including English. Even if a closed trail appears to be safe, there may be danger of
snow or rock falling from out of sight above.
In bad weather, if
necessary, retreat back to Zermatt or the shelter of one of the mountain
restaurants or lift stations. Forecasts on the internet
for
the village of Zermatt,
and a
forecast for the high mountain trails above Zermatt (for Gornergrat
3100m/10,135ft).
Special Walk Recommendations:
Mountain Views: All of the walks have very nice
views, but for the most outrageous, jaw dropping views, I
recommend these in fine weather: the Gornergrat Descent, Ober
Rothorn, Hörnli Hut, Höhbalmen,
and to the Schönbiel Hut.
Matterhorn Views: Most every walk about Zermatt features a nice view
to the Matterhorn (except those up the narrow Trift valley (Edelweiss and
to the Rothorn Hut). For a particularly memorable experience, try the Hörnli
Hut hike for unmatched close up views and great ambience by the
Matterhorn. For outstanding views up the shear north face, try the
walks to Höhbalmen or the Schönbiel
hut.
The Gornergrat descent features
beautiful views to the east and north-east faces, while the
walk to Findeln has a picture postcard view to the north-east face.
Wildlife: The following walks can be recommended for wildlife: the
"Easy Forest Walk" (deer at
dawn or dusk), Edelweiss (marmots), Zum
See and Blatten (deer), Gornergrat
descent (Ibex, Steinbok, mountain sheep, marmots, mountain goats,
deer), Höhbalmen (marmots, Ibex, Steinbok,
mountain sheep, Stone Eagle), etc. It should be noted that you
increase your chances of seeing wild life considerably by walking early
mornings or toward dusk. The Bambi-like deer in particular are very shy
and will rarely be seen outside of dawn and dusk - when they are quite
common.
Wildflowers: These walks feature outstanding wildflower displays: Zmutt,
the Easy Forest Walk, Zum
See and Blatten, Edelweiss and Trift, as
well as Findeln. The prime time of year to see
wildflowers is from mid May to mid June at the altitude of Zermatt itself
(1620m). After mid June, try ascending above 2000m to find the prettiest
wildflower displays.
Good walks in Bad Weather: The forested trails deep in the
valleys offer some protection from rain and winds. Try Zum
See and Blatten, which also offer charming and excellent mountain restaurants for breaks. The Easy
Forest Walk is quite short and protected. Both of these walks don't feature
constant mountain views in fine weather, so you shouldn't feel
that you are missing Zermatt's best views on a bad day. The walks to Zmutt,
and Findeln are a bit longer, but still offer
a little bit of protection from the elements, as well as featuring charming
restaurants for shelter and sustenance. Remember you can check the local
weather forecast at our website here.
Winter walks: The following walks are also open in winter: Zmutt,
the Easy Forest Walk, Zum
See and Blatten, as well as Findeln and Tufteren,
and the walk around town of course. On these 'year-round' trails, local authorities make efforts
to clear snow, put gravel on any ice, and provide ropes for
handholds. Phone the Tourist Office (+41 (0)27 967 01 81) if you wish to confirm if a
particular walk is open. Some of these winter walks will not be opened
until a few days after a big snowfall.
Some Visual Highlights of the walks:
Click on the photos to see a larger version of the photo. Click on a
text link to take you to the appropriate walk description. |