The Walker's Haute Route (2)

Leaving Zermatt - click on any picture for a better version and access to a slideshow

Wednesday 6 July - Zermatt to Europa Hut

Wisely we started our backpack of the 'Walker's Haute Route' on the underground funicular to Sunnegga, thus effortlessly gaining 600 metres in a few minutes. And so, after getting the 9:15 funicular (they start early and run every 15 minutes) we set off walking at 9:30, following 'Europaweg' signposts which led us down a broad track to Tufteren (2215 m).

The 180 km route - we are doing it from a Zermatt start

The team: Gaynor, Sue, David, Betty and Dave

Tufteren

Lots of views to Zermatt, and the Matterhorn engulfed in mist. Lots of flowers, suntan cream applied, and Betty's new walking poles came out.

Helicopters zoomed about, fulfilling a number of differing (building, supplies, rescue?) tasks. Here we left the broad track to join the Europaweg proper  - a wide path rising gently, soon passing a junction of a path to Fluhalp. Betty wrestled with her new walking poles as the rest of us enjoyed the sunny day.

A large black ferret like animal shot across the path in front of me. We continued on a pleasant belvedere through woods, rising eventually to Taschalp (11:50 - 12:20) where we went indoors (cool outside) at 2170 m for hot chocolates, etc. 

The weather looked threatening so soon after Taschalp we stopped beside the belvedere bath at 2200 m for a quick lunch (12:30 - 12:50).

Edelweiss

Looking back to Taschalp

Dark Mullein

Lovely flowers, increasing cloud, and final views of a Matterhorn shrouded in cloud. The path took us on an undulating route across the mountain, encountering a small suspension bridge and tunnels to avoid landslips - corrugated wormholes in which one could easily stand.

The guide book recommended torches, but we found a switch and operated the electric lights.

Chicken of the Woods

A wooded glade was found for the first brew stop of the trip, mid afternoon, before we continued in damp cloud to the Europa Hut. My paclite overtrousers ripped on a rock at the brew stop, and the smock was also ripped shortly before the end of the day. 

We were quite tired when the hut appeared out of the mist all of a sudden at 4:45 pm.

At the hut, Dave E and others lost their hats - hidden by a small boy. Uno was introduced and we had a pleasant evening, with wine, an average meal, and good dormitory accommodation - as the hut wasn't full we had a room for 6 for David and Sue, and a room for 8 for the rest of us.

Today we discovered that London had beaten Paris in the bid to stage the 2012 Olympics.

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