St. Niklaus to Zermatt

The gnome's lantern beckons us to our final walking destination of Zermatt:

This was a mostly ambling, but uphill neighborhood and trail walk.




We enjoyed our final visit through rural Swiss farmlands:







Don eating pastries (and making Kelly coffee) in our dry lunch spot from rainy skies.











Three big mileage days in a row really add up and Kelly looks! First order of business in Zermatt is dropping the pack and trading out boots for Chacos!






We are shocked by the number of tourists in this car free Swiss village. In ten minutes in Zermatt we easily tripled the number of people we've encountered in 14 days!

















After a travel weary and culturally shocking stroll through Zermatt we still had to hike 45 minutes more (straight uphill of course) to our stay for two nights:






But we made it!! (36 miles in three days) And we love the peace it offers as we our nearing the end what has been The Best Vacation EVER !!

Gruben - St. Niklaus

As we dropped into Gruben yesterday you couldn't help but notice what was on store for the next day. It looked steep and daunting. The guide book said it was the best of the trip. And it was.


Either the grade of the trail was more moderate or the fitness of our legs had become more accustom to the Alp trail. Either way we reached the high point of the day, Augstbordpass well before lunch. Up till today we had enjoyed virtual solitude on many our hikes (we passed a few and were passed by even fewer). Today we passed 23 Korean hikers! All hiking at a very slow pace one right behind the other.


The trail then dropped down a patch or two of snow, rock fields and then stream strewn meadows.


Then the trail worked its way to a traverse and some of the finest trail work of the route.


The trail hanging on to its traverse.


Then it rounded to the Twära viewpoint.


Don enjoying the view.


Then to more impressive trail work:


A drystone wall led us to the hanging hamlet of Jungen:



A view of Jungen from above:


Grass being cut, blowers being used to gather in rows, small nimble machinery bailing it into rolls, mini walk behind trucks hauled bailed hay to ancient hay barns.


At Jungen we were able to catch a tram down to St. Niklaus where beer and fellow Trekkers found each other.


The view from our bedroom window:


The alleyway where we found our room (it is the geranium clad building):


Tired, but very satisfied with the days adventure we strolled back though cobble stone streets and straight to sleep!

Mottec - Gruben

Sad to leave our Mazot retreat:






But not really... We are rested and ready for several long days of walking ahead.









Many thanks again to Penny and Eric for our mid vacation rest. The village of Mottec is sleepy as we set off in the morning:









Beautiful blue skies and green hillsides greeted us this morning. The hills were alive today !









Don filling Kelly up, ready for some sunshine and uphill walking:









Another steep Swiss uphill. We're making back that rest day in no time:









Clear waters glistening on the down hill side of the col made for a relaxing and beautiful afternoon.







Endless landscapes and nobody in sight, this walk was easily one of Kelly's most favorites.








Wouldn't you want to be the cow who had this watering hole view everyday?









The vast and open quietness of the Alps to keep us company on a rather long day of walking:









After logging 19.7 k and 8 hours for the day, we were pleased to find a lovely bed, clean room, and friends next door! We enjoyed meeting up with our fellow walkers from the UK and enjoying a beer on this deck outside our adjoining rooms:








Kelly was asleep in this cozy bed before the sun set!