The Matterhorn, as seen from Zermatt with the aid of the zoom feature on my camera © Ricky Yates

At the end of my previous post, I said that I hoped to go up into the mountains surrounding Zermatt and that there would be more photos. A little belatedly, here are the promised photos and a further blog post.

On Friday 27^th December, my plan was to head to the mountains, once I’d successfully banked the collections from my Christmas services. But, by the time I had approved and responded to numerous, most welcome comments on my previous post and answered a couple of emails, it was just after midday when I reached the post office.

When I did get there, I discovered it had just closed for a rather lengthy lunch break that didn’t end until 13.45. Then, when I returned, just before 14.00, the lady at the counter kindly informed me that the paying in slip that I had was only for Euros. I needed another with a different QR code for my Swiss francs. By the time I had once more been up and down the hill to the Chaplain’s flat, found the correct form on the laptop computer and printed it off and then returned to the post office, it was too late to think of setting out into the mountains, allowing for the short hours of daylight in late December.

Standing on a bridge over the Vispa river in Zermatt © Ricky Yates

Therefore on Saturday 28^th December, which had to be my last full day in Zermatt, I set off from the flat, straight after breakfast, and walked to the station from where the cable cars or gondolas leave. To get there, I had to cross the Vispa river. A young couple, who were busy taking photos of each other with the Matterhorn in the background, kindly offered to take a similar one of me 🙂

The Matterhorn from Trockener Steg © Ricky Yates

The first stage of my cable car journey took me from Zermatt (1620m), to Trockener Steg (2939m). Here there is a restaurant and a viewing platform from where you can see the Matterhorn at closer quarters.

Me & the Matterhorn © Ricky Yates

Out on the viewing platform, I got talking to three young American ladies who were in Zermatt for a skiing holiday but had decided just to go sightseeing that day. They were busy taking photos of each other and one of them kindly took this one of me and the Matterhorn.

View of the surrounding mountains from Matterhorn Glacier Paradise © Ricky Yates

View of the surrounding mountains from Matterhorn Glacier Paradise © Ricky Yates

Breithorn (4164m), as seen from Matterhorn Glacier Paradise © Ricky Yates

The second stage of my cable car journey took me to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. At 3883m above sea level, it is the highest cable car station in Europe. A Swiss couple from Basel with whom I spoke on the way up to Trockener Steg, warned me that because the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is so high, the air is thinner. I certainly did struggle a bit to breathe but that was a minor discomfort to endure. The amazing views made it more than worthwhile to suffer a little bit of breathlessness 😉

Appropriate liquid refreshment accompanying my lunch at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise 😉 © Ricky Yates

For the first part of my return journey, I had a cable car all to myself. This enabled me to get this photograph of the Theodul Glacier with its deep crevasses, as I travelled above it.

Theodul Glacier © Ricky Yates

Further down, Zermatt comes into view.

Descending to Zermatt © Ricky Yates

Zermatt © Ricky Yates

Then followed, the return walk back to the Chaplain’s flat, passing through the scenic heart of Zermatt.

Zermatt © Ricky Yates