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Waking to a cloudless day could not have been better for our ascent to the perfect viewing point to see the Matterhorn. To get there we needed to travel by the cog rail Gornergrat train. What a magnificent piece of engineering to enable passengers to climb over 1400 metres in perfect comfort to view such great mountain scenery.
From the top of the Gornergrat railway the Matterhorn is dominant. No one can deny its majesty and on such a perfect day the view takes your breath away. It is hard to imagine how such a mountain can be climbed. Once you get your breath back you can then take in the view of the Italian mountains that reach over 4500 metres and the dramatic glaciers down their slopes. With the 360° view you get the opportunity of seeing the highest peak in Switzerland, Mt Dufourspitze, also known as Monte Rosa, on the Swiss side of the Swiss-Italian border.
Large numbers of tourists and locals were out to enjoy the walking trails in the area. Arriving at the summit of the Gornergrat it was obvious something important was taking place. There were banners, public address announcements and a very official finish line.
It turned out that a very gruelling event was underway and part of this event involved running (or walking) from Zermatt to Gornergrat. Talking with an elderly gentleman on the train later in the day he told us that it was a race over three days and involved rollerskating, rollerblading, cycling, swimming and running. Competitors could take part as individuals, teams of two or five. By chance this gentleman was the father of a mountain running world champion and his son and daughter were competing as a team. The event was a Gigothlon and the enthusiastic applause each competitor received from those watching must have been heartening when all your muscles would have been crying out for a rest.
This day had been so special and over lunch we discussed where it fitted in as a highlight of our trip so far. There have been many highlights, all of them quite different, and to rank this day and all the others would be difficult. It will certainly be a day to remember.
Arriving back in Zermatt we were greeted by collections of droppings up the main street. Obviously someone had let the goats out again. After some investigations and with
the help of the hotel receptionist our questions were answered. Now that it is school holidays, and the tourists are in town, the local children take the goats through the town at 9:00am and bring them back at 5:00pm every day. Tomorrow morning we need to head for the station at about 9:00am so we hope to witness this unusual event.
Bed is looking good tonight after a day of mountain air. From the advice of the hotel staff we need to be up at 5:00am and go to the rooftop terrace to witness the sunrise reflections on the Matterhorn. And so ends a day to remember, for tomorrow we return to Preda on the Glacier Express.
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