Haute Route: St Nick to Europa Hut (Part 2)

09/04/07 09:31 AM *Adventure

Later that day, Mrs. Runalong and the Bex read together while I wandered around town. Friday morning we continued soouth on the Europaweg, a 20 mile trail from Grachen to Zermatt. After a tough 1500' climb we would spend the next two days traversing high above the valley below. Because the hillside is very steep the trail is very challenging in places with lots of boulders and scree and abrupt drop-offs and a fair amount of up and downness. But the views were consistently magnificent, as you can see.

Praise the Lord, after weeks of iffy weather when even the best days were hazy, our last few days on the trail were postcard perfect! We did have one scare when Bex slipped and fell while crossing a steep and dangerous cascading stream but the only damage was to Dad's nervous system. Europa Hut was crowded and offered no privacy at the end of an exhausting day, but it's the only game in town. Tomorrow will be our last day... and one of our very best!

Climbing out of Gasenreid:
CIMG4009