Tour de Matterhorn

The Matterhorn from Breuil-Cervina

Stage 10: Breuil-Cervina – Theodulpass – Zermatt

9/11 We left Breuil-Cervina at 8:10a taking path 15 signed just before the lift to Plan Maison on the left. The path wound up through meadows past chalets, first to the left of the lift, then traversing underneath, and then continuing to climb more or less following the line of the cables. After one hour we reached the Albergo Plan Maison (2457m – 8061ft). The views of the Matterhorn were excellent from here, and all the way onwards, but there are a number of other lesser-known summits to see as well, the Dent d’Herens, the Punta Margherita, and a whole series of rocky peaks running south from here. Ahead and east are the Plateau Rosa and Test Grigio, and further to the right the Ventina Glacier, which tumbles down from the Gobba di Rollin. From Plan Maison we continued on path number 15 which was signed to the Theodulpass. This path took off straight towards the pass and was generally signed by yellow arrows all the way. To begin with route finding presented no problem and we climbed fairly quickly up past a track going off left to a café. At the next junction it was gentler to go left, but we followed the jeep track which was steep but shorter. Continuing on the track led to two lift stations, named for their respective altitudes; Plan Maison 2866 and Plan Maison 2876.

The path then continued on up to the lift station at Bontadini (3044m – 9987ft). From here the yellow waymarks are rather sparce and difficult to follow. Basically the path set off from the left side of the upper lift, signed 15 and TMR, then went over to the right of the lift. The shiny metal Theodulhutte could be seen. From here there are a number of paths all of which lead up eventually arriving at the hutte (3317m – 10,883ft). We descended from the hutte down a rocky path to the Theodulpass (3301m – 10,830ft) (11:20a). From the pass it was a short, but steep descent down to the Oberer Theodule Glacier where we followed the ski run down. To our left was the Matterhorn, while up ahead was Mattertal Valley flanked by the Dom and the Taschhorn to the right (east) and the Weisshorn, Obergabelhorn and Zinal Rothorn to the west.

When we had descended to about 3100m (10,171ft) we started across the glacier to its right margin and the rocky ridge that gives access to Gandegghutte (3029m – 9938ft). Once we reached the lateral moraine we climbed up to near the top of the ridge and picked up the trail to the Gandegghutte (12:20p). It was a beautiful sunny day and we relaxed and enjoyed a big lunch and rested before hiking on down to the Trocknersteg Station (2939m – 9642ft). Here we caught the tram down and Furi and finally to Zermatt. Once down we treated ourselves to several nights at the Hotel Zermatterhof and a celebratory climb of the Breithorn (4164m – 13,661ft).