03.09 Topalihütte to Europahütte

DSCN2278  Day 5 (3 September) we received early moring guests IMG 2479  The goats come to sniff us out! 20140903 081741  King of the Mountain IMG 2481  and the ladies
20140903 082554  They like the level grazing around the hut DSCN2282  Plan A-ers will take the Weisshornweg. DSCN2281  Hanspeter starts off on the Weisshornweg IMG 5307  We stay high above treeline.
IMG 1430  Schöllijoch comes into view. DSCN2284  Close-up of Schöllijoch, with someone on top! IMG 5309  Somewhere along the Weisshornweg IMG 5310  Further along the Weisshornweg
DSCN2288  Dom and Täschhorn DSCN2290  The Weisshornweg runs through rugged country! DSC01044  A ladder along the way. DSCN2291  Lots of chains too!
IMG 1317  The trail is also frequently exposed. DSC01048  Glad that this bridge was here! DSCN2297  Looking back at what we came through DSCN2300  Part way along, a level spot above Seematte
IMG 5311  Reflection Dom and Täschhorn DSCN2307  Hanspeter and glacier DSCN2308  Staying on the contour IMG 1319  Gornergrat in the distance with Breithorn, etc.
IMG 5314  Needed a bridge here! DSCN2309  A huge edelweiss blossom DSCN2311  This is why they called it the Weisshornweg! DSC01049  A huge mountain!
IMG 1444  Leo and the Weisshorn IMG 1445  Panorama DSCN2312  the Bisgletscher DSCN2316  Dropping to treeline
DSCN2317  A huge torrent and lots of seracs IMG 5316  Descending to Randa IMG 1453  down in the valley DSC01057  Avalanche sign
DSC01058  but the larches are regrowing. DSCN2318  A sandpile which looks an awful lot like some Alps DSCN2320  Hanspeter being a good Swiss, waiting for the train IMG 1308  Meanwhile Plan B-ers were living the life of Riley!
20140903 092742  Plan B involved going straight down to St-Niklaus. IMG 0590  This meant going down what weeks before we went up IMG 2483  Christine was the leader of Plan B! IMG 2489  Christine was excited about Plan B!
IMG 0592  The route has some bridges IMG 0594  Mountain torrent IMG 2491  Howard kept Christine, Bri and Sarah company IMG 2493  Christine cheering on the team!
IMG 0596  Into the forest IMG 2498  Lower down however the goats ruled! IMG 0598  The goats apparently owned the bridge IMG 0599  This is my bridge!
IMG 0600  My back up buck! IMG 0601  Sarah is allowed on the bridge IMG 0602  but she is followed IMG 2499  Practice for Billy Goats Gruff
20140903 113415  Down in the bottom of the valley IMG 0603  Bri and Sarah back where we were the day before. IMG 1454  The whole group rendezvous'd at Randa. DSC01059  After a much too long lunch, we headed up through Randa toward Europahutte.
IMG 0607  Beautful ornamental work IMG 0608  Edelweiss in wood IMG 0609  Geraniums DSCN2321  Looking up the valley toward Zermatt
DSCN2322  Brigitte pursuing real estate deals on the way up the hill. IMG 1322  Sarah and mushroom DSCN2324  The bridge that cost a lot and isn't open. IMG 1324  Europahütte