Advertisement
Published: January 10th 2007
Edit Blog Post
Zermatt: The land of huge mountains and skiing
From Interlaken we set out for the very southern end of Switzerland which borders Italy. As you head south the mountains only get bigger in the Alps and therefore the number of tunnels increase and their size is amazing. Earlier in the trip we drove through a tunnel that was 15.4km long (roughly 12 miles). But this trip definitely took the cake on tunnel size and complexity.
As we approached Zermatt, Tom Tom was telling us to take a ferry which made me a little upset because I was envisioning a boat trip that would be long and expensive. Instead we were surprised that we had to drive onto a train. The train trip was pretty cheap considering (only 20 SF ~ 15 US dollars).
After a brief wait we followed other cars onto a train that was covered but open at the sides. After everyone drove onto the train it set out on what seemed to be the longest tunnel of my life. The tunnel was completely dark and everyone had turned off their lights which was probably a blessing because you can’t get claustrophobia in the
dark. I would guess that the train drove us about 20km, about 15 miles through a mountain.
We were both glad to see the other side because it felt like we had sat in our car forever! Once out we had to take a ton of switch backs to get down to the valley floor. From there it was another half hour until we had to park our car. Zermatt allows no cars so we had to take a 20 minute train into town. This was the first time in awhile we had to carry our packs through a town. We had forgotten what a joy it was!! (hahaha)
Our hotel is right on the main street of Zermatt which is basically a small, rather crowded little town of Tyrolean houses. This place is exactly what places like Vail are trying to look like. Much like Vail the place has really only one purpose, take the tourist dollars and give them a chance to ski.
We didn’t do much the first day we arrived except walk around a bit, look in a few shops and make plans for skiing the next day. Despite Switzerland’s expensive nature the
skiing is actually pretty reasonable.
Skiing with the Matterhorn as a backdrop Despite the fact that we were both apprehensive about skiing on a real mountain we went and rented our skis. Kel was feeling a little more excited about skiing after renting our skis because she managed to snag a cute pair of pink skis which she thought were great. With a little less trepidation we went to the train and bought our passes which are all inclusive for all the mountain trains and lifts on the Swiss side of the Matterhorn. Its more expensive to get a pass that will allow you over to Italy and we figured we’d stick with the easy trails on the Swiss side.
The train that takes you up to the first stop, Sunnegga Paradise, is really interesting. It starts at about a 35 degree angle in a tunnel at the base of the mountains. As it travels through a tunnel up into the mountains the angle reaches what seems to be 45 degrees which is wild. Once out of the train you step out onto the mountain at close to 7000 feet above sea level. Zermatt itself
is already about 3500 feet above sea level so this isn’t that spectacular a climb. From Sunnegga Paradise you can, if you wish to, ride up to more than 10,000 feet which is ridiculous.
We decided to stay at the Sunnegga Paradise level because there are three or four beginner trails at this level. As you round the building to the trails you can see the Matterhorn which is amazing. Its hard to describe how big this thing is because it doesn’t see that large as you stand there. This is purely a trick of the eyes and perspective. Once you realize that the “small” mountain next door to Sunnegga has skiers on it that appear about the size of ants, you realize that small is a relative term.
We started on the easiest of the easy trails and ran it about eight or nine times back to back. Even though its only been a couple of days since we had been skiing in Kitzbuhel it took some time for the skills to come back. After about eight tries I decided to take the steep section of the trail which is probably a 30-35 degree angle. This time,
unlike in Kitzbuhel, I was successful which gave me more confidence that I could handle myself on the slopes. I won’t say I flew down the hill, I stuck with the snow plow the whole way but I made it and that’s all that counts right!?!
We stopped at 1pm for lunch and ate outside with the Matterhorn in the background. The pics of Kel’s face and the Matterhorn over her shoulder were taken at lunch to give you some perspective. After a quick lunch we went back to the slopes. Unfortunately our legs had locked up some while we ate so we had to almost start from scratch to get our skills back.
I talked Kel into taking the steep section with me. Unfortunately about a third of the way down she bit it and was stuck in a heap off to one side of the trail. The slope was so steep that she couldn’t find a place to stand still and put her skis back on without sliding down the mountain in the process. I stopped but was about half the slopes distance from her and was unable to get back. I had the hardest time
getting started again and was afraid I would be stuck up there with her but after a little work got going down the hill.
I sailed down the hill and took the lift back up. As I passed her overhead she had tired out from the lack of oxygen (at this height the air is thin so we were both constantly out of breath). It was kinda funny from my perspective because she was lying on the slope looking like she was waiting for a servant to start feeding her grapes and fan her with palm fronds.
I ditched my skis at the top of the hill and walked down to help her. After I had put some tracks in snow with my boots on the way down it was much easier to get back up. We both huffed and puffed our way to the top and stood there panting waiting to catch our breath. Kel was fine but a little shaken up by being stuck on the steep section with little choices about how she was going to get down.
I’m really proud of her! Not only did she try the hard section of the slope
but she immediately shook herself off and took another couple of runs down the regular slope as soon as we both caught our breath.
After those runs, Kel was exhausted from walking up the very steep hill and the skiing back to back. I was pretty tired myself but had set a goal for myself to try the other “beginner” trail that was much longer. Kel headed back to the top and got an Irish coffee while she waited for me.
When I started I had no idea how long this other trail was. I was already tired before I started but after the trip down I was pooped. I had snow plowed my way through most of the trip because I was unsure of the path and was tired. By time I made it back to Kel I was shot…done…finished!!
Since returning to the hotel we have both been laying on our butts. My calves are killing me but will be fine for our final skiing day in Switzerland, tomorrow. In less than a week we will be in sunny Dubai which is crazy. We have been traveling for more than two months. In that time
we have seen 26 cities and 8 countries. WILD!!!!
Hope you are all doing well! We miss you, one and all!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.302s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 25; qc: 86; dbt: 0.1956s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.4mb
Bruce / Daddy
non-member comment
Mike and Kel, It sure has been fun tagging along with you guys on this trip. It’s been entertaining, exciting, adventurous and informative. It’s been very inexpensive as well (for me). Mike does such a good job of describing the cuisine I often feel I can almost taste the food. Wherever we are headed next, bring it on. I’m ready.