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The tour of the Matterhorn is a superb alpine trek with a huge variety of scenery and culture. As the Matterhorn straddles the Swiss - Italian frontier, the trek visits both countries, each with its own unique traditions, way of life and scenery. The tour goes over high passes reached by delightful footpaths and through charming alpine villages where life has hardly changed for centuries, providing a precious insight into local life. Not only is the Matterhorn seen from all sides, but there are also superb vantage points for views of many of the other high summits of the region. The tour of the Matterhorn is regarded as a relatively 'new' tour as it has been documented only in the last few years. The paths it uses though are generally anything but new - these are often ancient ways over passes leading from one valley to another. The tour includes two glacier crossings and usually takes about eight to ten days to complete. This guide includes suggestions for shorter variants as well as information for the ascent of peaks along the way.
Introduction The Tour of the Matterhorn The Region Ancient Passes Glaciers How to Use this Guide Practicalities When to Go How to Get There Accommodation Languages Currencies Difficulty of the Trail Maps Footpaths and Waymarks Lifts and Buses Safety Emergencies and Rescue Equipment Glacier Travel Alpine Weather Guided Treks Information Zermatt The Matterhorn The Valleys 4000m Summits Flowers and Vegetation Wildlife Things to Do and See Shorter Trekking Alternatives The Trek Route outline Stage 1: Zermatt to St Niklaus Alternative: Zermatt to St Niklaus valley route Stage 2: St Niklaus to Gruben-Meiden Stage 3: Gruben-Meiden to Zinal Stage 4: Zinal to Les Hauderes Link route: Les Hauderes to Arolla Stage 5: Arolla to Prarayer Stage 6: Prarayer to Breuil-Cervinia Stage 7: Breuil-Cervinia to Zermatt Information boxes Transhumance Marmots Chamois Herens Cows Ibex The Breithorn Ulrich Inderbinen Appendices Appendix I Further Reading Appendix II Accommodation Appendix III Useful Contacts Appendix IV Glossary and Useful Terms Appendix V Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue Techniques
Hilary Sharp is British, a qualified Accompagnateur en Montagne (Trekking Guide), and is based permanently in the village of Vallorcine near Chamonix Mont Blanc in the French Alps. She runs her own trekking business, Trekking in the Alps, guiding walks in winter, spring and summer (info@trekkinginthealps.com; www.trekkinginthealps.com). Her love of walking and climbing has taken her to many parts of Europe and further afield. Hilary contributes to several British walking magazines and is author of Trekking and Climbing in the Western Alps (New Holland, 2002).
'The introduction contains a mass of information, not just practical, but also social and historical. The tour is in the high mountains, a circuit with views of all the Zermatt and Arolla peaks. This is a wonderful route for the competent hillwaker.' (Irish Mountain Log Magazine, Summer 2006)
