Klein
Matterhorn and Breithorn (4164 m). The Glacier area
is a great place for beginners and is accepted that way. You can read
it from the many faces running down the Matterhorn Express from
Schwarzsee to Furri and further on to Zermatt in the late afternoon
when I use to ride uphill in one of the last cable cars to descent on
very special runs like
Tiefbach,
Momatt or standard
slopes like
Furgg-Furri.
*
You get there from
Schwarzsee.
Momatt,
Tiefbach
and
lower Aroleid are most often closed because the
amount of
snow
causes danger of avalange or does not allow any skiing at all. We
regard them to be the most interesting and most demanding slopes among
all, steep
and narrow, although much shorter than the slopes
around Stockhorn. Other pistes worth mentioning are the
Weiße
Perle and the black marked blue run along the
Hörnli skilift.
*
There is no doubt about it: You have to get on top of
Klein
Matterhorn
when the weather is lovely. This journey is a must even though this
part
of the skiing area is more or less boaring! Riding the cable car to the
tiny hole in the rock of
Klein
Matterhorn, however, is a great deal. To leave the station you have to
pass
through
a tunnel which is
about 200 m long. Inside you take a lift to the top
(3885m).
The panorama is great. However, if you have been to many different
places you'll see that altitude does not outclass class: Although
beeing not that high at all the scenery on top of Aiguille Rouge (Les Arcs) is far more impressive.
*
The Klein Matterhorn area is the realm of beginners. I did not like
those very wide and flat slopes in former times as you were banned not
to leave the area. Walking to the Gandegg hut is as well not my
favourite though not bad a place to go. A fourtnight in Zermatt saw us
once
on the glacier. Today the
Riffelberg
cable car has changed my opinion: «The best thing about the
glacier is - you can leave it any time now!».
*
Only the slope from
Furgg to
Furi
offers some difficulties especially when the slope becomes very wet in
the early afternoon or icy somewhat later.
The great thing is that last part from
Furi to
Winkelmatten
in «Sulzschnee», i.e. melting snow. On the way you will
probably
have a last beer at Furi or - if you miss this opportunity - at
Zum
See oder
Blatten. There you get a guarantee for amusement
as less skillful skiers often stumble across the material carelessly
thrown apart or left behind by the guests of the restaurants.
Klein
Matterhorn and Breithorn (4164 m). The Glacier area
is a great place for beginners and is accepted that way. You can read
it from the many faces running down the Matterhorn Express from
Schwarzsee to Furri and further on to Zermatt in the late afternoon
when I use to ride uphill in one of the last cable cars to descent on
very special runs like Tiefbach, Momatt or standard
slopes like Furgg-Furri.
*
*
on the glacier. Today the Riffelberg
cable car has changed my opinion: «The best thing about the
glacier is - you can leave it any time now!».
