Hut trekking in the mountain paradise surrounding Zermatt – 4 days
This hut trek is a shortened version of the challenging 5-day Matterhorn Trek. With some puzzling and clever use of cable cars, the toughest sections of the original trek have been removed and the trek has been reduced to level T2/T3. This ‘light’ version takes you through the high alpine paradise at the base of the majestic Matterhorn. For 4 days, you will be walking in the middle of the highest peaks and the largest glaciers in Switzerland.
This hut tour starts and ends in Zermatt at the valley station of the Matterhorn Express. It is not a cheap trip. The huts around the Matterhorn are quite pricey and for the gondolas you will also have to dig deep into your pockets.
Day 1: Hike from Zermatt valley station Matterhorn Express to Berggasthaus Trift (2337 m.): 4 km, 3:00, ↑ 720 m (halfway you will pass Bergpension Edelweiss where you can have lunch).
Day 2: Hike from Berggasthaus Trift (private, 2337 m) to the Schönbielhütte (SAC, 2694 m): 5 hours – 10.7 km, 5:30, ↑ 780 m, ↓ 415 m.
Day 3: Hike from Schönbielhütte (2694 m) via Stafelalp to Schwarzsee gondola station – 9.1 km, 4:30, ↑ 425 m, ↓ 540 m – level T2. Take the gondola from Schwarzsee station to Trockener Steg gondola station (2939 m). Hike from Trockener Steg to the Gandegghütte (private, 3029 m.): 1.2 km, 1:00, ↑ 120 m, ↓ 15 m – level T3.
Day 4: Hike from Gandegghütte back to Trockener Steg gondola station – 1.2 km, 0:30 h, ↑ 15 m, ↓ 120 m – level T3.
Option a: Take the gondola from Trockener Steg (2939 m) to Furi gondola station. Walk from Furi to Zermatt – 2.2 km, 2:00, ↑ 20 m, ↓ 240 m.
Option b: Take the gondola from Trockener Steg (2939 m) to Schwarzsee gondola station – Hike in the direction of the Hörnlihütte to the point where the red/white route ends and the blue/white route begins. Hike back to Schwarzsee gondola station – about 7 km, 4:00, ↑ 400 m, ↓ 400 m. Then take the gondola to Zermatt from Schwarzsee gondola station to Zermatt valley station Matterhorn Express.
