With all the spiritual energy at our command, our group of 32 international journalists in Zermatt, Switzerland, who have opted to go on the Matterhorn Glacial Paradise tour to the spectacular viewing platform of the majestic Matterhorn peak, have prayed hard for a clear, sunny day. Valais canton boasts of having 45 of Switzerland’s 48 Alpine peaks of over 4,000 metres height.

The king of this pack is clearly the Matterhorn (4,478 m above sea level) and we are scheduled to take a cable car ride to the viewing platform located at a height of 3,883 metres. Adjoining this platform is the spectacular Glacier Palace with shimmering ice sculptures. After that, on the schedule, is a two-hour hike through rocky terrain at a lower level, to the unique farm of Paul Julen, the proud and passionate owner of 300 black-nosed sheep.

We need the clouds to lift. But the weather Gods have a mind of their own; this is the only rainy day forecast for the entire week. Here too, the Swiss live up to their reputation for precision, and the morning begins with a drizzle and overcast skies. While some early morning tours of mountain biking and more ambitious hiking in the Alps are cancelled/ modified, we set off bravely on time and take the cable car ride up to the viewing platform. As luck would have it, I end up in a gondola with two Polish and one Hungarian journalist and as they converse in animated Polish, barely a few words are spoken in English during the 40-minute ride.

Suddenly, at one of the halts, we see the group in the gondola before us jump out. We follow suit, and without as much as a look behind us, march determinedly ahead, ducking snowflakes and pulling out our coats closer to counter the chill wind whizzing past our ears.

Within five minutes we realise that we’ve blindly followed a group of Japanese tourists and are lost, in the Italian part of the Alps — this ride takes one through a part of Italy. By now the three women, discouraged by the snow and strong winds, are ready to return to the hotel. I calm them down, saying another cable car ride will take us to the final destination. The Italian operating a huge cable car this time, assures us we are in the right place, but after alighting and not finding the group, the three ladies’ panic attack returns.

Alas, their thrill at being at a height of 3,883 metres is short-lived; I plead with them to at least let me make a call… I’d rather be lost with three other women, than alone! The call is made, and luckily the guide asks us to stay put, saying that they were coming there within 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, we take the elevator down to the Glacial Palace carved inside a glacier, 15 metres below the surface. You have to walk through a freezing tunnel to see the spectacular sculpture there ... all made of ice. Homes, horse carriages, a Matterhorn replica in glittering ice, and even an ice Audi!

But to maintain this fairytale palace is not an easy job; while visitors click pictures in fascination, expert workers have to regularly and meticulously chip away the extra ice that forms on account of the dripping ice roofing.

Our hike to the farm has to be cancelled as it would take us over slippery and rocky terrain. But our guides have requested Julen to drive us to his farm. A cable car ride to a lower level and we find Julen waiting for us with the three ricketiest of rickety vehicles. And another adventure begins.

(To be continued)

(The writer is in Switzerland on an invitation from Switzerland Tourism.)

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW