Medals for the Zermatt marathon

To say that I have outgrown athletic medals is an understatement. Having been a successful three sport athlete in high school, captain of a highly successful lacrosse team in college, and decades as a competitive runner, Nordic racer, and for a time, a competitive karate practitioner; I have massive amounts of hardware ... and of course, T-shirts and other memorabilia.

I have ceased to collect or care about those baubles.

However, this race has such a cool take on this tradition. There are 38 individual 4000m peaks that can be climbed from Zermatt. In order of height, each year this race strikes a commemorative medal of a different peak ... this year ... the Dent Blanche.

Epic travel day

An airport bivy, followed by a full day of travel (two planes, a bus, a train, and 2.5 hours driving) did not do much for my tight legs.

Six hours of sleep and I am back at my desk. It was a great trip though.

Spectacular morning flying home ...

The Swiss alps are impressive. I hope to be back next summer for the Tour du Mont Blanc which passes through France, Switzerland, and Italy.  This was even more welcome after the unpleasant bivy in the Zurich airport last night.

Zermatt Half Marathon

A beautiful day, a well run race, and a challenging course.

The 21k had just under 5000 vertical gain as well as some technical downhills. My goals were to not go out fast, work the uphills, and finish under four hours. I finished in 3:59:40, I did not go out too fast, and up until 16k I was working the hills pretty well and felt on course for a 3:30 or 3:40. My calves started cramping and I feel like I fell totally apart in the last 2k, although the splits had me maintaining my position.

This race put me over 20,000+ total vertical for this trip. Definitely the 12 biggest days since the Tahoe Rim at the end of last summer.

Sub alpine flowers of Zermatt

Sam did a great job collecting photos of the plants in the 7500' - 9000' elevations on our treks.

Zermatt is flooding with trail runners

Less than 24 hours to go, and lots of excitement equally mixed with trepidation ... pretty steep running!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK ... in Zermatt it’s wise to remember

Edward Whymper said it succinctly and spot on, and one stroll through the Zermatt cemetery confirms this passage.

  "Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste; look well to each step; and from the beginning think what may be the end."

Zermatt: what was I thinking?

Finished 11 days of hiking and climbing and all that is left is 21k of trail running with 2000 feet of climbing.

Just picked up bibs and other race miscellany.  My legs are not exactly feeling fresh, hopefully another 36 hours of rest will set me straight.

Running laps on the Riffelhorn

William finishing his fifth lap on a 5.2-5.6 slab. Just an easy day with the trail race Saturday. Today and tomorrow will be all about stretching, catching up on work emails, reading, maybe drinking some wine, and relaxing.

Then the flurry of 21k uphill, trains, planes, driving, furious work, and then an admissions trip to Guatemala.

Blatten

A tiny hamlet above Zermatt, originally a Summer residence for a family and their herd. Now, mostly delightful traditional buildings serving fantastic local food. However, the hay storage structures remain, built on stilts, which are capped by flat stones to keep mice out.

The alps are rich in Christian imagery ...

Every tiny town, even just a summer herding community has their dedicated chapel. Crosses adorn most mountains even smaller peaks like the Platthorn, and it is the rare hiking trail without a memorial cross or three.

Probably would make for a good coffee table book, as they are often in spectacular places.

The Zermatt goat herd

Given the late winter, yesterday was the first day the herd was brought through town up to their pasture in Spiss. With a probable nod to the book HEIDI, and her friend Peter, the goat general, Zermatt goat herders a local children. The herd is composed of Valais black necks. Tourist love this twice a day parade of goats.

That said, Zermatt was always a farm village, and making goat cheese was always a traditional staple. However, these days the town is more about skiing, high end hotels, fancy shops, and guiding the Matterhorn.

Fortifying the body for the 6000 foot descent ...

At the Trift hut after the first 2500 foot descent I had a meringue dish and then Hugo's famed apple torte with whipped cream. After another 1500 feet we stopped at the Edelweiss hut and I had carrot cake with spectacular frosting. Finally, after another2000 foot descent we collected our extra gear from left luggage at the train station. We then had a beer to fortify ourselves for the uphill walk at the end of town where the youth hostel is.

I am thoroughly trashed ... heading out to get some food and watch England play Colombia.

Another long day

Climbed Platterhorn from the hut and back in under six hours, but a two hour knee crushing descent remains to get to Zermatt.

OMG ... biking the Trift Gorge!

This party of three biked over from Schönbielhütte and stopped for an apple tart before heading down the gorge. In addition to the trail being quite narrow, there were serious drop offs ... it blew my mind.

Back at the Trift Hotel

Trying not to shoot our wad before the race, we changed plans ... Mettelhorn and Platthorn, and then Castor from the Klein Matterhorn.

After a 5k hike and 2500' with heavy packs it was time for Hugo's apple tart just out of the oven. Hugo is in charge of the hut, but before he retired he guided 90 Matterhorn ascents, not to mention other peaks.

Not as scary as ...

the Midi tram, but still impressive and a bit higher. We were on the Klein Matterhorn lift yesterday and will be on it today, as we head up the Breithorn.

Zermatt: An easy day

Heading down from the Gandegg hut - our favorite - there was some talk of a polar bear swim. Brrrr, we all decided it was too cold.

The Gandegg Hutte ... our favorite

Zermatt: day 7

Soaking up the early morning sun with another easy day, hiking to Riffelalp. Corbett our fearless leader, guide, EMT, ultra-runner, and book keeper itemizing receipts at the Gandegg hut.

Zermatt: day 6

Did not have the time or inclination to go all the way as it was closed.

Zermatt: day 5

The view from our hut is not too shabby (below)! Folks are a bit fatigued but two easy days are coming up. A great start for Round Lake Campus Expeditions.

Good luck with opening day.

Trift to Schönbielhütte

Yesterday was our longest. We hiked from Trift to the Schönbielhütte. With lunch and rest stops we were on the trail for 8 hours. Fantastic views from Taschhorn to Monte Rosa and on to the Dent d'Herens. We also spent some time gazing up at the North Face of the Matterhorn. 

Hiking up to the Hotel du Trift ...

Uphill all the way, with stops it took us about 2.5 hours, about 2.5 miles and 2500'.

Lucking out with the weather ...

It looks like we will have perfect weather into next week ... something of a rarity in the alps. Heading up to the Trifti Hut in about 90 minutes. If the legs hold up we hope to summit Wisshorn this afternoon.

A great afternoon ...

A little more hiking, time in the museum (to see among other things the rope that broke), and a sobering stroll through the climber's cemetery. The grave in the picture were for the Taugwilders, right next to them was Michel Croz.

Day two in Zermatt

Great morning stretching our legs in the Gorner Gorge and hiking above Blatten and Zum See. Having lunch at a small hut ... potato-celery soup with sausage and prosecco.

First day in Zermatt ...

Flight delays added to a very long day, and so we got to our hotel at 4:30pm. A short hike to Winkelmatten and back helped stretch our legs for 30 minutes.

Last minute packing for Zermatt ...

Lots of crap: rope-small rack-glacier travel gear, hiking kit, and running gear.

First day of summer - June 22 - frost on our pasture

Hard to see and believe, but in the shade at 8 am, the frost had not yet melted. Tough growing season for Selden's garden.