July 9th
Distance: 18,9 km
Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
Vertical distance: 530 m uphill, 2240 m downhill
Left the Bertol Hut at 5 a.m. and climbed up to the Tête Blanche with other groups doing Chamonix to Zermatt. It had frozen that night and walking with crampons was a real pleasure. So much so that we went on without stopping and were soon on the moraines of the Zmutt glacier below the Schönbiel Hut. These were tedious but we emerged in the end onto paths leading to Zmutt and Zermatt, both of us quite footsore. Dave took a train to Martigny to fetch his van from the Grand-St-Bernard tunnel entrance, while I had a pleasant afternoon and evening with Sally and Neil who had come up by train.
Night: Hotel Cima Garni, Zermatt
Congratulations Rupert, on reaching Zermatt. You are doing incredibly well. I look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks. Too bad about having to skip a few peaks, maybe you — or we — can fill in the gaps another year. Peter
Glad your guides are keeping you safe! Thinking of you dad. I hope it rains soon so you can take a proper break. Xoxo
Rupert, you seem to be making steady progress, shame about the Dent d’Heren, but I guess you can always come back another day. The main thing is to enjoy the adventure and experience! Wish you well on the next stage of the trip across the big 4000’s, take care.
Ps Envious of you being out in the high mountains right now, I am just back home from my hip operation and adjusting to a limited excercise routine on flat lands of Cambridgeshire.
Play safe and best regards
Graham
Hello Rupert, Reading your latest news, I am pleased to note the joy you show conquering the high sumnits, even the Terrible Twins and not being unhappy when skipping a few. It’s a change after the rainy ‘Jura. Congratulations to you and take care.
Best wishes. Lilette