To crown a fantastic week, we took cable cars up to Kleine Matterhorn (3800 m), skied down a short way onto the glacier and then skinned up to the summit of the Breithorn (4165 m). That was quite an experience as it gets steep towards the top and was very icy making it hard to grip with the skins and 'couteaux' (ski crampons). It also got colder and windier as we got higher and we felt very exposed. Then, as we reached the summit, our stomachs fell away as we looked over the precipice on the other side. Not for the faint hearted! That gave us 2000 m of descent, skiing back down to Zermatt until it became grass skiing - and your author (Philip) fell into the mud at the final stop!
We returned to Chamonix by taxi to welcome hot baths (the huts have no running water), clean clothes and a great dinner rounding off a great experience with new and firm friends.
Watch this space for an entirely different account of the personalities by Paul (crampons) Hardy to be posted soon. Also for a selection of photos.
Many thanks to all our supporters and followers of which we gather there is a growing number amongst the families and friends of the 'routiers'.
James and Philip
We returned to Chamonix by taxi to welcome hot baths (the huts have no running water), clean clothes and a great dinner rounding off a great experience with new and firm friends.
Watch this space for an entirely different account of the personalities by Paul (crampons) Hardy to be posted soon. Also for a selection of photos.
Many thanks to all our supporters and followers of which we gather there is a growing number amongst the families and friends of the 'routiers'.
James and Philip
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