To Zermatt!

After all the jaw-dropping scenery that we saw along the Haute Route, the final part of the journey to Zermatt is a little anti-climatic. Leaving Sankt Niklaus, the valley route essentially follows a river and train track all the way to Zermatt.

Notice anything different about Greg? In preparation for our trip’s end, he shaved off his hiking beard. 

As our hiking path got closer to Zermatt, we all got really excited to finally see the Matterhorn, the iconic mountain that Zermatt is famous for.

We finally came around a bend, and the Matterhorn and Zermatt were before us - we had finished the Walker’s Haute Route!

We were so excited to finally reach Zermatt which was bustling with people. 

A first stop we made was to the hotel where our “lost luggage” was sent. It was fun to dig out something new to wear as both Greg and I had really been operating with minimal clothing. 

We’ve had fun exploring, doing a little shopping, as well as enjoying some great food! 

Throughout our adventure, we had some great discussions as we’ve spent hours on the trail. One thing we’ve all agreed on is that we’re grateful to have had this opportunity! In some ways, so many things we’ve experienced on our hike are essential for “graceful aging.” We had a chance to spend time in nature, move our bodies, and accomplish a goal that we set almost a year ago. In addition, we’ve deepened our friendships as well as built some connections with new people we met along the trail. Finally, we had the chance to care for each other by sharing resources (when Greg and Betsy lost their luggage) as well as encourage each other when our bodies were tired or our spirits were low. While we might not do this challenging of a hike again, we all agreed that we can see ourselves hiking for years to come!