Trail to Trift (Valais region, above Zermatt)

After taking the train to Zermatt, we awake to this early morning view from our hotel room.

About a half-hour later, a classic view from Zermatt.

We see this on someone's balcony (actually taken in Bern, but this seems like a good place to show it).

We take a footpath out of Zermatt into the mountains above. Our destination is Trift mountain inn at 7700 feet (a climb of 2200 feet over only 2.5 miles).

Enjoying a rest at Edelweiss Restaurant after a 1000 foot climb on a very steep trail.

Edelweiss restaurant is perched high above Zermatt.

Steep, narrow trail with very few hikers. Portions of the trail have fixed ropes for safety in windy or icy conditions.

Hiking west, towards Trift.

View as we near Trift.

Trift mountain inn only two days before it closes for the season.

Spectacular Monte Rosa at sunset. At 15,200 feet, this is the highest mountain in Switzerland and the second highest in the Alps.