Wednesday / Thursday - March 13-14
We left Sydney at 7pm on SQ to SIN then connected an hour later to ZRH arriving around 7AM (Thursday morning). Our SQ business class tickets were awards using our SQ points transferred from AmEx. We collected our luggage and deposited the skis and boot bag (aka The Truck) with Swiss Rail for delivery the following day then caught the 8:46am train to Zermatt lugging the Tank, red roll-aboard and knapsack.
Gerald met us at the station and we checked into our apartment - all set by 12:30pm. We decided to have lunch at the Hotel Schweiterhof next door (via an underground passage) - where we also had free use of their Wellness Center (pool, sauna, etc).
Afterwards we did some essential grocery shopping and unpacking then relaxed for the rest of the day basically waiting to go to bed - we were both totally zapped - must be getting too old for these straight through fights to Europe even in SQ business class. We had cold cuts, cheese and bread for dinner - then totally collapsed into bed around 8:30pm.
Friday - March 15
We had already decided to make today a jet-lag recovery and get organised day. So in spite of both feeling pretty wrecked - we did the shopping and got our lift tickets (pre-purchased / 14 days for 710 CHF per person). We had a nice lunch at Hotel Pullux in the centre of the town - sausage and roesti for Dieter and carrot soup for me. We had a lazy rest of the day then dinner at home - spatchcock with white asparagus and store bought spaetzli.
Saturday - March 16
it was a wonderful sunny and warm day (high in town was 11℃) - so in spite of day 2 jet-lag we headed up to Trockerner Steg on the gondola - had a couple of runs on the t-bar then had lunch at the Ice Bar & Pizzeria (at the self-serve restaurant at Trockner Steg) sitting outside in the sun with wonderful views of the Matterhorn and surrounding mountains. After lunch we decided the lineup for the new cable-gondola to the Kliene Matterhorn wasn’t too bad so up we went to 3883m - it was blowing a gale and I was feeling the effects of the altitude so we skied off immediately without doing any sightseeing etc - the run back to Trockner Steg was a bit challenging but we made it. I then decided to download from Trockner Steg while Dieter skied to Furgg and joined the gondola there. To our surprise he beat me to the bottom as the gondola was stopping quite often for many minutes - this seemed to be because they were blowing up possible avalanches on the route down.
We took the Green Bus back to the station and walked back to our apartment with our skis (< 5 minutes) we decided to wait a few days before renting ski lockers at the gondola as the price had risen from 2 to 12 CHF per day - yikes.
We were both totally stuffed so after showers we both had a pre-dinner siesta - we had our old standby for dinner - pasta and salad. I hit the sack about 8:30pm - Dieter not long after.
Sunday - March 17 - St Patrick’s Day
We were up early (before 7am) but were both much refreshed. It was another beaut day - sunny and warm - same as yesterday. After brekkie we took the Gornergrat train to (of all places) the Gornergrat @ 3100m. The train station is less than 5 minutes walk from our apartment so is a good option in some ways - however the trip takes 50 minutes and the trains are all packed in the morning. It was again blowing a gale on top - in fact many lifts in the higher mountain were closed.
We skied down to Riffelalp planning to take the chair from there but alas it was closed due to the winds. So we skied all the way to Furi then took the gondola back to Riffelapl and the train the short hop back to the Gornergrat - we skied back to Furi and had lunch at FarmerHaus - roesti and eggs for Dieter / salad (muessli aka lamb’s lettuce) with warm goat’s cheese. We then downloaded from Furi and took the bus home. After a bit of shopping and showers we stayed home for salad and white asparagus.
Monday - March 18
It was another clear and sunny day - highs around 6℃ in the village but of course colder on the various summits. We headed up Sunnegga - an underground train which whizzes up to 2288m in less than 5 minutes. From Sunegga we took the gondola / chair lift combo to Blauherd for a few runs then continued up to Rothorn by cable car @ 3103m for a few more runs. Then we skied back to Sunnegga for lunch (salad for me, soup for Dieter) - we sat outside in the sunshine but a breeze came up and we got a bit cold. After lunch we went back to Rothorn - skied down to Gant and took the cablecar Hohtalli (@ 3286m) - from here we skied to Riffelberg planning to take the train home but we just missed it so instead we took the gondola back to Furi and downloaded to Zermatt and took the Green Bus home. A very long ski day - we were totally exhausted.
After showers etc we had dinner at the Hotel Schweitzerhof (reached via the secret underground passage) - we had the rack of local Swiss lamb for 2 - excellent !! Off to bed.
Tuesday - March 19
It was cold overnight -6℃ at 7am. After brekkie we took the train to the Gornergrat - we got the non-stop express (less than 35 minutes). It was still sunny - not a cloud in the sky - colder but no wind - pretty much perfect ski weather. The Gifthittli chair was running (it hadn’t been when we were up here on Sunday). We took many runs - on excellent conditions. We then skied down to Riffelalp for lunch - sitting outside in brilliant sunshine at this 5* hotel - it doesn’t get any better. After lunch of a shared mixed salad and shared pizza we skied to Furi (the trail was pretty icy) then downloaded home.
We did a bit of shopping then stayed home for dinner of pork chops, white asparagus and roast potatoes washed down with come French Champagne and Pinot. Unfortunately the pork chops were a bit tough.
Wednesday - March 20
It was another perfect day - warm and sunny in the village - cool and sunny on the mountain. We took the train to the Gornergrat again - it’s so easy as it’s less than 5 minutes walk from our place. We skied on top again then had lunch on the Gornergrat sitting the sun albeit it was a bit cold.
After we returned to our apartment we showered then did a bit of village stroll - very successful - I scored a Bogner skivvy - we were going to stop for happy hour at one of the many bars/pubs but they all seemed a bit quite so we just went home for happy hour and pasta / salad for dinner.
Thursday - March 21
We set off before 9am planning to ski to the Italian side but our plans were thwarted when the gondola to Trockner Steg had “technical difficulties” - it stopped for more than 20 minutes before we even reached Furi then again further up the line meaning we only got to Trocker Steg at 10:45am - we decided it was too late to head up the cable gondola to the Kliene Matterhorn where the runs to Italy start. So we skied on the chair for a few runs then down to Furgg then went over to Hurli to try out the new chair which replaced the old t-bar. Well that was also a bit of the bust - the run was not good at all as you need to ski much furhter down the mountain to get to the base of the chair - so we continued to Furi stopping at Gitz Gadi for lunch. After lunch we went up the gondola to Riffleapl for a few more runs on the chair. We tried to take the train back home but alas it also broke down so we jumped off and down loaded to Furi then Zermatt and took the green bus home.
Sambos for dinner tonight then another Italian attempt tomorrow.
Friday - March 22
We got up early so we could drop off our laundry at 8:30am then straight to the green bus and up the gondola for a delayed trip to Italy. It all took a bit longer when the laundry wasn’t open a 8:30 or even 8:45am so we left the laundry to the afternoon. Somehow the Green Bus took forever to arrive then was packed so by the time we got to Italy it was after 10am. We had a couple of long runs then headed back to the Zermatt side as my left knee was causing me some problems as was Dieter’s hip and knee. So we skied to Furgg then took the gondola to Furi for lunch. We headed home early - arriving around 2:30pm
We did a bit of shopping then went to Restaurant Julen for dinner - excellent - venison for Dieter and suckling pig for me.
Saturday - March 23
Yet another warm and sunny day. We left around 9;30am and took the gondola / cable gondola to the Kliene Matterhorn. We skied a few runs on the top t-bar in excellent conditions (this t-bar is used for summer skiing) then we skied over to Italy to the cabel car but it was very busy so we skied back to the t-bar for a few more runs before skiing down to Trockner Steg for lunch on the sun soaked terrace (soup and salad) - I then downloaded (as my left knee has been causing me some grief) - Dieter skied to Furgg where we met on the same gondola car - a funny coincidence.
Back at home we did some shopping and collected our laundry (30CHF for a large bag) but it was beautifully done - even the white table maps came out sparkling clean. We stayed home for grilled spatchcock, white asparagus and spaetzli.
Sunday - March 24
Yet another warm and sunny day - could be the warmest - and almost no wind. We took the train to the Gornergrat and skied on the chair from Riffelberg. We had lunch out in the sun at Riffelberg - then I took the train home (as my knee and foot were hurting) - Dieter skied one more run and down to Furi - he got home about 20 minutes after me.
After grocery shopping we stayed home for pork chops with mushroom sauce, white asparagus and roast potatoes - excellent - bonus points awarded.
Monday - March 25
Yet another sunny day - we went had a bit of a shorter day - returned home for lunch of sambos. We went out for dinner at Hotel Schweitzerhof via the underground passage - great meal again.
Tuesday - March 26
Still a sunny day but much colder - we skied the chair at the Gornergrat expecting a short day due to the cold but it was fine as there was no wind there. Back at home we did some shopping then had pasta and salad for dinner.
Wednesday - March 27
Another sunny and warm day - we skied from Trockner Steg to the chair at Furgg - then a few runs there. We took the gondola to Schwartzsee and skied to Stafelalp for a great lunch sitting in the sun. After lunch we skied to Furi and downloaded home. We stayed in for sambos for dinner.
Thursday - March 28
Another great day - I started with a visit to the doctor. As a result we only headed off around mid-day but still put in a few runs on the Gornergrat with lunch at Riffelalp then home by train after a few more runs.
We had dinner at Hotel Julen - not quite as good as last tine but still very enjoyable.
Friday - March 29
Last day on the mountain - we went to the Kliene Matterhorn for a final visit and skied down to the t-bar and did another run there - it was a bit cold on top so we headed to the Furgg chair for a few runs.
We then went to Stafelalp for another wonderful lunch - then home by 2:15pm to start the packing.
We had a final dinner at hotel Schweitzerhof.
Saturday - March 30
Back to Zurich today with an overnighter at the Radisson before catching our 8:30am (Sunday) flight to Prague.
