Training Log Archive: Bash

'Bent and I took the cable car up the Klein Matterhorn to Matterhorn Paradise where they have a restaurant (of course!), access for mountaineering and ski-mo, and a marked, crevasse-free (we hoped), snowy trail along a wide ridge - all at almost 4,000 m elevation. 'Bent and I hiked to the Italian border at the end of the groomed path and hung out for awhile hoping that our bodies might make some extra red blood cells. :) We had spectacular views of the Matterhorn, Breithorn, Monte Rosa, Mont Blanc and more.









The groomed trail







We checked out what we could see of our race route - daunting but pretty.

On the way down, we stopped at Schwartzsee and hiked toward the Matterhorn for a better look. We stopped at 2,770 m elevation and resolved to return some day to hike to the Hörnli Hut.





This is Monte Rosa.



On Day 2 of Ultra-Tour Monte Rosa, we'll start down in Zermatt and climb 1600+ m over Theodulpass into Italy, crossing a glacier on a marked path. I'm sure the Hockley Valley prepared me for that. ;(

Yay!!

So far our Deluxe Matterhorn View room is working out really well.



It wasn't worth taking a cable car up high today so 'Bent and I ran and hiked up the valley toward the Matterhorn, stopping for lunch in the small hamlet of Zmutt. It's a popular, well-maintained trail.







This is Zmutt. Like our hotel room, it has a fabulous view of the Matterhorn. I know that because I googled it.







It is the hub for trails to everywhere.

After lunch, we ran back down to Zermatt at a good pace.





Back in town, we visited the Mountaineers' Cemetery including the grave of the Unknown Climber. Most other tombstones had names of one or more climbers and the mountain they died on.



From reading the tombstones, it's clear that men should never climb mountains between the ages of 20 and 30. Sadly, that demographic was greatly over-represented.

'Bent and I arrived in Zermatt this afternoon. It cost a bit extra for a Matterhorn View room but we are eternal optimists. The sky has to clear up eventually, right?



I can't resist the chocolate croissants but I'll be skipping this.

No training and not much sleep - not the week I was aiming for.

Look what I found at Sail! I'd like to know the story. FB?