Klein Matterhorn, Gornergrat – altitude sickness?
Dan is planning a trip to Zermatt and has questions about altitude sickness at Gornergrat and Klein Matterhorn, the best walking route from Furi to Zermatt, and whether the walks are suitable for elderly travelers. He’s looking for advice based on others' experiences.
- Altitude sickness can occur above 2000m; it's best to take it easy and hydrate well.
- The walk from Furi to Zermatt is considered easy, while Furi via Zmutt is medium, so choose based on your comfort level.
- Spending a few days at a lower altitude before going higher can help with acclimatization.
AI-generated summary-
Three questions:
1) With Klein Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Gornergrat etc are there many complaints of people suffering from altitude sickness, these destinations are certainly at a height that would cause some people grief?
2) Which is better the walk from Furi to Zermatt or Furi via Zmutt to Zermatt?
3) Are these walks suitable for the elderly?
Dan
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Personally I have never had trouble at Gornergrat, but that is because the train goes up at a leisurely pace, which is good for your acclimatisation.
When going up to Klein Matterhorn, I always need a few moments on arrival at the top to catch my breath.
The walks to Zmutt are highly recommended. My late parents did those walks every time we were in Zermatt as they had stopped wanting to do skiing. They were both still doing the walks into their 80s
Hello Dan,
Generally speaking, light altitude sickness can occur over 2000m, we all react differently. The best thing is to take it easy and sit down when need be. Likewise, if you have a history of altitude sickness, perhaps have a chat with your doctor, to be on the safe side.
The walks from Furi to Zermatt is considered an easy hike, whereas the Furi via Zmutt to Zermatt is considered a medium hike. You are probably most aware of what you can manage.
- https://www.myswissalps.com/hiking/furi-zermatt/route
- http://www.outdooractive.com/en/route/hiking-route/switzerland/zermatt-zmutt-furi/23032804/#dmdtab=oax-tab3
I hope this helps,
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Symptoms of altitude sickness are caused by a combination of altitude, amount of exertion, duration of stay at altitude, hydration, and individual variation. With a brief 1 or 2 hour stay I would not expect any significant symptoms. If you are especially susceptible you might experience mild headache, fatigue, or nausea. Attention to hydration will help. My wife and I have hiked several times to the Gornergrat summit without problems.
We have hiked the reverse direction from Zermatt to Zmutt to Furi a few years ago when we were in our mid 60s. I would say it was easy to moderate. Zmutt is well worth a visit and perhaps a beverage at one of the outdoor dining venues. One advantage of hiking in the direction of Zermatt to Zmutt is the intermittent close up views of the Matterhorn but you will be hiking uphill.
Mark
If you can spend a few days at a higher altitude (but not as high as 3000m+) prior to a high altitude summit, that will help your body acclimate. My husband and I spent three days in Luzern (visiting Mt. Rigi) and then four days in Wengen and the surrounding summits, so by the time we went up to Gornergrat, it really didn’t bother us at all. And coming from the flat land in Texas, that is saying something!
Thank you all for your contributions.
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