{"id":1686,"date":"2018-07-17T15:32:52","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T19:32:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whereisbobl.com\/blog\/?p=1686"},"modified":"2018-07-17T15:33:07","modified_gmt":"2018-07-17T19:33:07","slug":"so-shes-a-tease-does-it-really-matterhorn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.whereisbobl.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/17\/so-shes-a-tease-does-it-really-matterhorn\/","title":{"rendered":"So She’s a Tease – Does it really Matterhorn?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Having hiked in the white mountains, I felt woefully unprepared for a hike rated as\u00a0 medium difficulty. But then I realized that here, medium difficulty means more than 45 minutes between cafes.\u00a0 Cotton office slacks, cotton denim shirt, sneaks.\u00a0 No gloves, warm hat, rain suit, or even a plastic bag for my camera.\u00a0 Yes, I am prepared to tackle one of the most difficult climbs in the world.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Of course, I am not climbing, just walking.\u00a0 \u00a0And if I get tired, there is a gondola or a train within an hours walk of anywhere I might possibly go.\u00a0 \u00a0Or, more importantly, a Cafe.<\/p>\n

Every year we try to do a memorial hike for Irene on her birthday.\u00a0 \u00a0 Since I was in Europe, I was going to have to plan one on my own.\u00a0 \u00a0When Irene and I were here in 2015, the one thing she regretted was not seeing the entire Matterhorn mountain.\u00a0 \u00a0So…. I was determined to hike around the Matterhorn (no, I am not crazy enough to actually try climbing the Matterhorn) and get a photo of the entire mountain during the hike.\u00a0 \u00a0For this I was going to have to start fairly early, as the mountain tends to be cloudy later in the day.\u00a0 \u00a0For that, I was going to have to stay in Zermatt, Switzerland.<\/p>\n

Zermatt is a car free town.\u00a0 \u00a0Motorcycle free as well.\u00a0 \u00a0OK, it is usually a motorcycle free town.\u00a0 \u00a0In 2015 we did not see the sign, and kept riding up the road until we got to the town, and since the barricades were moved, we rode into town.\u00a0 \u00a0Someone quickly corrected our error and we went outside the barricades and parked in a parking garage.\u00a0 \u00a0Since we could find no place to pay, we asked around.\u00a0 \u00a0When we found someone who figured out what we were asking, they looked at us in horror as if we were criminals.\u00a0 \u00a0This is Switzerland after all, and there were rules.\u00a0 \u00a0And we broke at least one of them.\u00a0 \u00a0That is not possible.<\/p>\n

Anyway, we stuck around only long enough to realize that the Matterhorn was not going to reveal her secrets.\u00a0 \u00a0A few days later we visited the southern\/Italian side.\u00a0 \u00a0Same thing.\u00a0 \u00a0The lower two thirds of the mountain were clear in bright sunlight, but, like a Fan Dancer, the peak was hidden.<\/p>\n

So … I got to Zermatt.\u00a0 \u00a0The correct way, by train.\u00a0 \u00a0The bike was parked safely, hopefully, in a parking garage in Tasch, the last town you can drive to.<\/p>\n

Ms. Matt was visible from my room, well, at least the important top third.\u00a0 \u00a0Well, it would have been if it had been clear.\u00a0 \u00a0The bottom two thirds were bright, but the top was not completely visible.<\/p>\n

The next morning, she was visible.<\/p>\n

At 6:30 am she wasn’t visible.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At 6:40 am she was, from the room.\u00a0 \u00a0Then she wasn’t when I got downstairs with my good camera.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And then she was when all I had was my phone camera.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And then she was again, almost completely, but this was before the hike.\u00a0 \u00a0Remember, the goal was to get a photo ON THE HIKE.\u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

On the way to the first cable car, I saw this sign.\u00a0 I took it as a sign.\u00a0 \u00a0(pun intended)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So I hiked.\u00a0 \u00a0The Five Lakes Hike ( I would call them ponds) is supposed to have great views of the Matterhorn from what the Swiss call her good side.\u00a0 \u00a0Look at a package of Toblerone Candy if you want to understand.\u00a0 \u00a0 It is a good hike for Matterhorn views.\u00a0 \u00a0I started by taking the first cable car of the day that went close enough to where I wanted to start my hike.<\/p>\n

Nope, top still hidden \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

One of the 5 “lakes” that were supposed to have Mirror Images of Ms. Matt.\u00a0 Not today.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

None of the other 5 lakes had a mirror image today, but the hike had stunning views of the area around the Matterhorn, and the hiking was easy.\u00a0 \u00a0The first cafe was closed though.\u00a0 But it was only 8:30 am and I had had enough coffee so no harm done.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Later on, still no points, but if you look closely, you will see two black specks. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

That would be the military practicing.\u00a0 \u00a0 They look pretty tiny against this massive mountain. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A bit later, the sky turned blue near the mountain, and it looked like it was going to reveal everything, then the fans covered up the interesting bits and the moment was gone. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Even when closed the cafes offer great views. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I really think Irene was messing with me.\u00a0 \u00a0See that blue sky to the left, a minute ago it was at the mountain, but somehow the clouds never left. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Yes, that trail is on the edge of oblivion.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And then it goes off into oblivion.\u00a0 Good thing hikers don’t stare into their phones when they walk.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A little excursion for a view of a nice glacier. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And another fake out.\u00a0 \u00a0What a tease. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This lake offered a mirror image of the same bottom two thirds of the mountain I have been looking at all morning.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

But at least people are having fun.\u00a0 \u00a0The updrafts in the area mean that a paraglider can take off and head UP for quite a ways, basically flying for as long as they want.\u00a0 I saw some tandem, and thought that it would be fun to try.\u00a0 \u00a0Then I came to my senses.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And another fake out.\u00a0 \u00a0I thought for sure this time the blue skies would reveal all.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And then I came around a turn.\u00a0 \u00a0I was sure this time was it.\u00a0 Almost. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

So I waited.\u00a0 \u00a0And waited.\u00a0 \u00a0And waited.<\/p>\n

And I am calling this a win.\u00a0 In the pictures the peak looks hidden, but in real life, it was clear as day.\u00a0 \u00a0Mission complete.\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

But the day was not done yet.\u00a0 There was still a train to catch to get to the top, for what was supposed to be a “Nice View”.\u00a0 \u00a0 Ummmmmmm WOW!!!\u00a0 \u00a0I really don’t know how to describe it.\u00a0 \u00a0Pictures don’t do it justice.\u00a0 Calling this a nice view is like calling the Mona Lisa a small painting of a woman.\u00a0 \u00a0Well, OK, bad example.\u00a0 \u00a0But really if you were in the area, and only had a limited time, I would go here, and somehow lose my return ticket so I had an excuse for not getting back in time.\u00a0 Or ever..\u00a0 \u00a0There are glaciers, mountains, valleys, snow, ice, just, well, you really need to come here to see for yourself.\u00a0 \u00a0This was the Gornergrat stop.\u00a0 \u00a0Really, no words.\u00a0\u00a0 \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Glaciers.\u00a0 \u00a0Lots and big. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here is a panoramic video, just to try to give you an idea.<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/whereisbobl.smugmug.com\/Motorcycle-Travel\/2018-07-Europe-by-Motorcycle\/ALL\/2018-07-VIDEO\/i-GBffR7C\/A<\/p>\n

And then the hike ends.\u00a0 Well, no, you still should hike down.\u00a0 That was my original intent.\u00a0 \u00a0No, not the whole way down, just to a lower train stop.\u00a0 \u00a0Hiking all the way down would be uncivilized<\/p>\n

But at the top, there is a view of our favorite Tease.\u00a0 Pasties and all.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

While at\u00a0Gornergrat having my celebratory beer, I heard someone speaking English.\u00a0 \u00a0I was thinking, “I know that voice from somewhere”\u00a0 \u00a0Then I was thinking “I heard that story before”.\u00a0 \u00a0I turned and realized it was one of the three guys I met two weeks earlier.\u00a0When I was in Heidelberg, there were three guys from northern California that were taking a trip.\u00a0 \u00a0Two on rented BMW’s and on on a vintage BMW.\u00a0 \u00a0While they were riding, Richard’s vintage BMW had clutch troubles.\u00a0 \u00a0He went to Zurich to get the bike fixed, and the other two continued on once Richard was safe.\u00a0 \u00a0The other two where at the next table.\u00a0 \u00a0 A chance meeting of people on different paths.<\/p>\n

We were all waiting for Ms. Matt to reveal her secrets.\u00a0 \u00a0We were patient.\u00a0 \u00a0Beers and Cognac helped with our patience.\u00a0 \u00a0Kinda killed the idea of a walk down though.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Richard’s BMW before it had clutch issues.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

More glaciers. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And The Tease pulled the fan back for a peak, almost. (see what I did there) \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I am calling this a success.\u00a0 Although I did not see the mountain with no clouds, the clouds parted long enough to consider the peak clear.\u00a0 \u00a0I think Irene would be happy.<\/p>\n

This town of Zurmatt sucks.\u00a0 \u00a0Of course, any town of more than 100 people tends to suck in my book.\u00a0 \u00a0Really, it is not a bad town for a tourist town, plenty of outdoor activities for sane people.\u00a0 \u00a0Plenty of shops for the rest.\u00a0 \u00a0Lots of places for people, sane and not, to drink.\u00a0 \u00a0Food and drink is expensive by most US standards, but when you factor in that the prices shown are with all tax, and tips are not really expected, all is good.\u00a0 \u00a0At this time of year hotels are not bad.\u00a0 \u00a0$100 for a single is what I would call reasonable.\u00a0 \u00a0Try to find that in a place with this kind of view in the US.\u00a0 \u00a0As I type this, the view from my hotel room is this, with the peak almost showing itself, then clouding over,\u00a0 Stunning.:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And then she said good night.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Good Night Irene.\u00a0 \u00a0 Happy Birthday.<\/strong>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

And a few more glaciers and peeks at almost peaks. \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And of course, there are lots of pics on my smugmug site.\u00a0 LOTS!\u00a0 Because I don’t know where the delete key is.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Having hiked in the white mountains, I felt woefully unprepared for a hike rated as\u00a0 medium difficulty. But then I realized that here, medium difficulty means more than 45 minutes between cafes.\u00a0 Cotton office slacks, cotton denim shirt, sneaks.\u00a0 No gloves, warm hat, rain suit, or even a plastic bag for my camera.\u00a0 Yes, I … <\/p>\n

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