(7,800 feet). They crossed a glacier and
scrambled through rocky expanse. Next
up, Pas du Chevre or “pass of the goat”
(9,785). This required a long, exposed
climb up two vertical iron ladders;
nearly 100 rungs in all.
“I’ll admit I was scared. My hands
were shaking a bit. But I had set a goal
and prepared for this trip. I reminded
myself, it’s all mental, and I did it.”
They were rewarded with breath-
taking views of Pigne d’Arolla, Mont-
Blan de Cheilon, and Mont-Collomb.
All that separated them from a hot
shower and a tasty meal in the story-
book Swiss hamlet of Arolla was a mere
6,660-foot downhill climb.
On Day 8, Laura and her group
transferred to Cotter to begin what
they, as experienced hikers, agreed was
the easiest day of their trek. As they
ascended the Col de Torrent (9,630
feet) they were surrounded by the
spectacular Dent Blanche range above
(14,380 feet) and glacial lakes below.
“The vivid turquoise color of alpine
lakes is attributed to sunlight reflecting
off the fine minerals, sometimes
referred to as glacial flour, in the water,”
Laura said.
“We hiked down through alpine
meadows filled with edelweiss and for-
get-me-nots and female fighting cows!
They like to fight with each other. Each
herd wears different-sized bells that
ring in different tones so the herders
can keep track of their own.”
They spent the night in the historic
Swiss village of Grimentz, which still
retains much of the “old ways” of moun-
tain village living.
The next day, the hikers transferred to
Zinal (5,500 feet) and into the German-
speaking part of Switzerland. They made
a steep climb through a forest thick with
larch trees, heather, and wild blueber-
ries. The route required them to traverse
a long “balcony” (basically, walking
sideways across rock). Towering above
them was the Matterhorn (14,692 feet),
arguably the most famous and alluring
yet treacherous peaks for climbers.
According to sources, 500 people have
died attempting to scale the Matterhorn
including several people who perished
in the first attempt on record.
The group made a second steep
ascent toward the Col de Forcletta
(9,480 feet). Then they descended
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
december 2018-january 2019
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