Looking at the Matterhorn from the summit of Oberrothorn
Our guides, Dave and Erik on Oberrothorn's summit. Notice the relatively red rock they are standing on, the name "Oberrothorn" literally means "upper red horn" in German.
September 2026
On the seventh and last day of our Matterhorn Trek, our guides Dave and Erik took us to one of the highest summits in the Alps that doesn't involve ice and snow travel - the Oberrothorn at 11,200 feet. The prior six days we hiked through passes (cols), the first day through Col Nana on our way to Mascognaz, Italy. At one of our first dinners, I had mentioned to the guide that I really liked summits, so I think this comment helped influence the decision to summit this fantastic mountain with a view of the Matterhorn that I had only seen in guide books or magazines. There were a total of six people on our Matterhorn Trek. Our main guide, Dave, was fantastic. Also with us was another guide, Erik, who was taking notes to produce material that will be used by trekkers who are choosing to do the self-guided tour. Two delightful ladies experienced in European hiking trips were with us, too, and we made a great group, laughing, doing yoga poses, hiking steep rock passes, eating great food the whole time.
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Sue and Fred
Exploration documentaries – "explorumentaries" list trip stats and highlights of each hike or bike ride, and add interesting history or geology. Years ago, I wrote these for friends and family to let them know what my husband, Fred and I were up to on weekends, and also to showcase the incredible land of the west. My favorite websites:
Beyond my Couch Daring Dayhikes Earthline: The American West Glenn Suokko - Vermont Artist MishMoments: Joy of Photography Rangewriter - What Comes Next? Stav Is Lost surgent.net (hiking) 
Edelweiss -
protected on the trail by a ring of rocks |
CalTopo map of our tracks in bright red to Oberrothorn (upper right) and the Matterhorn lower left. Zermatt is middle of map.
The day began with a ride on the Zermatt-Sunnegga underground funicular (mountain railway), then into a gondola to Blauherd and our trailhead. I commend the engineering feats and competence of the Swiss people - a cable car through the mountain and it is efficient! It's used by skiers to get to the Sunnegga-Rothorn ski area and ultimately to the Zermatt-Matterhorn ski network.
The previous day, we hiked in Saas Fee with incredible, iconic views of Switzerland's most famous peaks and glaciers. We crossed over roaring white glacial melt before arriving at a mountain cafe' to enjoy a healthy, wonderful lunch and tremendous views. After this we hiked by sleepy and shaggy cows with curved horns in a green field.
The previous day, we hiked in Saas Fee with incredible, iconic views of Switzerland's most famous peaks and glaciers. We crossed over roaring white glacial melt before arriving at a mountain cafe' to enjoy a healthy, wonderful lunch and tremendous views. After this we hiked by sleepy and shaggy cows with curved horns in a green field.
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Lunch at a beautiful cafe' high above the Rhone Valley and Saas Fee, Switzerland. I have never had such luxurious hiking!
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Not only did we summit the Oberrothorn (means "upper red horn" in German), we walked along the shores of famous alpine Lake Stellisee with its iconic Matterhorn reflection, with helicopters motoring overhead, delivering supplies to the various gondola stations. Our group enjoyed the Oberrothorn's summit for a long rest, with glaciers all around us. And, of course, the view of the Matterhorn. The hike to the summit was a bit challenging, and a great way to wrap up seven amazing hiking days in the Italian/Swiss Alps. The geology of this mountain and especially the Alps is interesting. Oberrothorn is fossilized oceanic crust that contains altered remnants of the Earth's upper mantle, primarily transformed into dark green or rusty-brown serpentinite. Lunch time was beautiful that day as we settled in at one of the larger tables at the Fluhalp Mountain Hut and Restaurant for beer, salads and coffee after summiting Oberrothorn. The weather was perfect as we looked at the famous view of Swiss Alps glaciers and the Matterhorn.
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Psyched for our 7th and last Matterhorn Trek journey to the Obberothorn.
Left: tunnel to funicular in Zermatt. Right: gondola to trailhead.
Left: tunnel to funicular in Zermatt. Right: gondola to trailhead.
Lake Stellisee in Zermatt, Switzerland in the Canton of Valais at an elevation of 8,323 feet.
Lunch at Restaurant Fluhalp along the hiking trails high above Zermatt.
Our fellow and fun Matterhorn Trekkers
Lake Stellisee
Celebration at the summit of Oberrothorn!
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On the way up on a stellar day.
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View from the top of the Oberrothorn to the northeast. You can see how it gets its name: "rot" means red in the red hue of the rock, which is made of fossilized ocean crust.
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Hiking trails, intersections and summits are well-marked in Switzerland.
Walking down from Oberrothorn summit.
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The edelweiss "bouquets" had protecting rocks around them on this trail.
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Sue and Fred next to a super-cairn on Oberrothorn.
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On the way to lunch at Fluhalp, Erik noted the edelweiss plants surrounded by rocks. I was excited to see edelweiss "in person," well, actually in plant reality. The Sound of Music is one of my favorite movies and I love when Captain von Trapp sings "Edelweiss" as a tribute to his home country Austria and sort of a sad farewell as the Germans were taking over. The wooly appearance of the flowers is made by the tomentum, the botanical term for wooly hairs covering the plant to protect it from high-altitude cold and UV radiation, and provide a trap for moisture. I never thought I would be actually walking by the famous Lake Stellisee with its Matterhorn reflections. You never know what fortunes life will lead you to. It was made more beautiful with kids having fun playing on one of the big boulders close to shore. On our walk back to Sunnegga funicular we passed a group young, good-looking German men who were excited to have one of us take their photo in front of the Matterhorn. That night, in Zermatt, we all celebrated our memorable seven-day Matterhorn Trek at one of the oldest restaurants, Chez Gaby Grill and Steakhouse, family-owned for 50 years. Fred and I have already signed up for two more Alps treks for 2027: the Engadine in Switzerland and the Dolomites in Italy! Too bad we have to wait so long! |
Morning traffic in Zermatt.
Chez Gaby's menu - Family owned, popular restaurant in Zermatt for 50 years!
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Zermatt sit right in the shadow of the Matterhorn.
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Fred coming out of our 4-star hotel in Zermatt.
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