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