Hiking parts of Zermatt to Gornergrat journey Jun

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    17 March 2019 at 4:21:52 #820426

    Zermatt to Gornergrat is via cog railway. SBB site says one way it is 19 CHF for the half fare card. So 38 CHF one way. But I will have a swiss travel pass so I get 50% discount = 19 CHF. Is that right?

    Can I get off at Rotenboden and walk down (passing Rifelsee) to Riffelalp then get back on the train to Gornergrat? Or do I have to get another ticket to do that?

    How much does it cost to get the Gifthittli/riffelberg express cable cars down instead of returning to Zermatt via the cog railway?

    Finally found a map of the cog railway and chair lifts https://www.gorn ergratbahn.ch/en/winte r/discover/map/

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    rockoyster
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    17 March 2019 at 5:22:40 #906685

    Zermatt to Gornergrat is via cog railway. SBB site says one way it is 19 CHF for the half fare card. So 38 CHF one way. But I will have a swiss travel pass so I get 50% discount = 19 CHF. Is that right?

    Correct.

    Can I get off at Rotenboden and walk down (passing Rifelsee) to Riffelalp then get back on the train to Gornergrat? Or do I have to get another ticket to do that?

    Yes you can break the return journey wherever you like and rejoin the train.

    How much does it cost to get the Gifthittli/riffelberg express cable cars down instead of returning to Zermatt via the cog railway?

    The summer map (when I think you are travelling) looks a bit different to the winter one. Look here to see which cableways are operating in June.

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    17 March 2019 at 5:29:36 #906686

    Great news that I can rejoin the train, thank you.

    Ah, thank you for finding the summer timetable. The riffelberg express cable car won’t be open when I am there in mid-late june.

    And I miss the Schwarzsee cable cable car by one day.

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    17 March 2019 at 6:30:34 #906687

    Hello Paddington,

    I believe Rockoyster has already answered all your questions. What a pitty you won’t be able to do the hike you planned.

    Here an overview of the hike.
    http://www.myswissalps.com/hi king/rotenboden-riffelalp

    Also I would like to provide some very helpful, general links connected to hiking in the Alps:
    http://www.myswissalps.com/hi king/preparation
    http://www.myswissalps.com/hi king/etiquette
    http://www.myswissalps.com/we ather
    http://www.myswissalps.com/we ather/forecast

    Have a wonderful time in Switzerland.

    Best,
    Steph

    rockoyster
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    17 March 2019 at 6:35:32 #906688

    Hi Steph

    I think Paddington will do the hike he planned and which you kindly linked to. “Rotenboden and walk down (passing Rifelsee) to Riffelalp then get back on the train to Gornergrat”. 😎

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    17 March 2019 at 6:42:51 #906689

    Yes we can do the Rotenboden – Riffelsee walk. Looking at the map again we will probably get back on the train at Riffelberg. We just have to do the trip to and from Gornergrat all on the cog railway in mid june.

    It is Schwarzsee that we won’t be able to do.

    Thanks for your help and the links.

    Mark
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    794 posts
    17 March 2019 at 13:38:43 #906690

    Hi Paddington

    If you can do the hike from Riffelsee to Riffelalp you will find it very scenic with good views of the Matterhorn and Zermatt valley. I have attached photos of the hike which we did in the opposite direction. There is about an 1800 foot elevation change and you will be going downhill to Riffelalp.

    As you come down towards Riffelsee from Rotenboden there is a very beautiful and surprisingly little used overlook of the Gornergletscher area. I’ve attached a photo of overlook. You veer to the left of Riffelsee and follow a path to the left for about 5-10 minutes. It is well worth the effort as is the hike to Riffelalp. Mark

    Mark
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    794 posts
    17 March 2019 at 14:25:22 #906691

    Hi Paddington

    I thought you might also like a sample of the views from Riffelalp. In my opinion it has the best overall views of the Matterhorn in the area. There is a nice outside restaurant there as well if you want a drink or food with a spectacular view Mark

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    17 March 2019 at 20:04:17 #906692

    Hi Mark,

    Great photos!

    It depends on the weather but also on time. We want to go up the Matterhorn Glacier paradise in the afternoon on the same day. Last cablecar down from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is 16:45 so we should plan to leave Zermatt by 2pm.

    Gornergrat 9am-1pm (4 hrs-including the platform walk up the top) should mean we can add the riffelalp walk as well on the same day. That gives us an hour to get to/find the Matterhorn Station which gives us a little leeway. DH is not into dawn starts even to get a great photo like yours but I might be able to get him to start a bit earlier than 9am.

    The next day we were planning the 5 lakes walk which might take longer than the Gornergrat one.

    Mark
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    794 posts
    17 March 2019 at 23:34:42 #906693

    Actually I’m not much of a dawn hiker either. The photo was taken from the balcony of our hotel room at the Riffelalp Hotel while still in my pajamas.

    We did the 5 lakes walk as well and it is quite pleasant. The lakes are small but picturesque ,however in Tennessee we would call them ponds. There is just above Grunsee an area called Hidden Valley. It is not on any maps I’ve seen but all the locals including the hotel staff are familiar with it. It had the prettiest scenery in that area and is a fairly short extension on the 5 lakes hike along a well traveled path. It is across the glacier from Fluhalp. You might want to ask about it at your hotel concierge. Mark

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    18 March 2019 at 3:12:33 #906694

    Rock oyster

    On that summer lift timetable you linked to (I’ve attached it because I don’t know how to link to a PDF) the fine print at the bottom says:

    <Matterhorn glacier ride (3S Bahn): Maintenance work 03.-19.06.2019. Cable

    car Trockener Steg – Matterhorn glacier paradise in work.>

    Does that mean neither the new or old gondolas to Matterhorn will be working for those three weeks?

    Thanks, Mark. Will do.

    rockoyster
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    18 March 2019 at 4:20:22 #906695

    I interpret it as just the new 3S-bahn is not operating. You can still get up to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise but note that Furi to Trockener Steg is closed 22.06. – 28.06.19 and you need to go via Schwarzsee during that time. But I think that is after you are gone?

    Where it says “Cable car Trockener Steg – Matterhorn glacier paradise in work.” means the old cable car is operating (“in work”).

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    18 March 2019 at 4:41:31 #906696

    Great information and photos guys.

    Just to make it clear for me, if doing the Gornergrat cog wheel to the top, going back to Rotenboden, seeing the lake at Riffelsee then walk to Riffelberg, can this be done in a day? Will there be enough time to go see the Matterhorn Glacier Ice Palace? Is this in the same area? Thanks.

    Mark
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    794 posts
    18 March 2019 at 10:48:18 #906697

    Sorry I’ve not been to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise so I can’t say for sure but it is a different area than the Gornergrat area. Mark

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    18 March 2019 at 21:44:14 #906698

    Kmabey

    The answer is probably. Gornergrat cograil is 33mins each way. Rotenboden to Riffleberg walk is 1 hr. If in summer it will be much quicker to take the Riffleberg express from Riffleberg to Furi Station. Klein Matterhorn cable car is about 45 mins each way.

    If in spring (june) start early, add time for waiting for the train at the top and at stops. Allow 20 mins to walk from Gornergrat Bahn to Matterhorn Talstat. Don’t muck around at lunch and watch the last cable car time down from the Klein Matterhorn.

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    19 March 2019 at 20:29:12 #906699

    Thanks rock oyster.

    I got confused between working on and in work. We should get to go on the new cable car depending on the weather.

    Thank goodness for the new chairlift so I have options even if they are working on one.

    Yes, we leave on the 22nd.

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    20 March 2019 at 2:55:55 #906700

    Personally I would do the Gornergrat side at leisure and not try to squeeze in the Klein Matterhorn as well

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    20 March 2019 at 4:26:01 #906701

    Thanks 1960man.

    I think you are right now that I’ve looked into it more and realised the value of the Gornergrat side. We are going to squeeze in the Matterhorn with the 5 lakes walk on a different day, weather permitting.

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