COGWHEEL TRAIN & MATTERHORN - Day 5 - september 23, 2022

This morning I woke up early to get a photo of the Matterhorn at sunrise. I was tired last night and did not go see the Matterhorn before dinner so when I walked to the far end of Zermatt and finally glimpsed the mountain, I was overwhelmed. The Matterhorn is a bucket list item for me and apparently very few people get a good clear day to see the mountain. We were going to be quite lucky, it was quite cold, but the sky was absoletely clear!

Matterhorn at sunrise for the climbers cemetery in Zermatt

After breakfast we took the cog train to Gornergrat one of the best views of the highest peaks in Switzerland, including the Matterhorn. Our guide told us about climbing the Matterhorn with her father when she was young - great stories. The highest mountains in Switzerland are part of the Monte Rosa Massif. The highest mountain is Dufourspitze, named for Henri Dufour a famous Swiss general and cartographer. Shelly hiked down a portion of the mountain, but downhill is not my thing so I took the cog train.

Cog Train at Gornergrat - Matterhorn in the background

Hiking down from the Gornergrat

Dinner that evening was on our own. We found an excellent craft beer spot, Grizzly’s Bistro. I had been having a hard time finding any “true” craft, high ABV beers in Europe. Grizzly’s had a full selection of craft beers from Italy and Switzerland!