THE OBERROTHORN

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Looking back down the trail from Fleualp to Sunegga

We had decided to go up to Sunnegga and explore the Findelbach valley as the mood took us. It was another beautiful day but with a slight risk of thunder in the late afternoon, although this did not occur. Leaving Sunnegga we walked up the path almost to the Blauherd cable car station at 2578m, before heading off up the valley to Fluealp and yet another hotel. According to the menu the hotel was built in 1939 after a vote by the villagers in Zermatt to allow the replacement of an old hut by a more suitable establishment for the growing number of visitors. Sadly, this valley has been badly damaged by the winter sports industry with large numbers of cable cars, draglifts and access roads scarring the landscape. However, it is possible to escape them, which is what we did.  

The Oberrothorn from Furggli

  Leaving the hotel we headed for the col between the Unterrothorn and Oberrothorn at Furggli (2981m). Here we turned right up a long sloping path on the side of the Oberrothorn. The path then started to zigzag quite steeply up scree slopes and then over a rocky promontory. The path was named the “Weg der Freiheit” and had several display columns with philosophical sayings about colour as well as a rotating disc of mosaic glass.  

The path from Furggli along the slopes of the Oberrothorn looking back to the Unterrothorn

  At one point the path took a sharp bend with a view of a sheer drop looking down into the valley above Täschalp. Behind towered the Mischabel range, although the Dom’s summit was in cloud. The path continued to climb, sometimes over rock slabs and partly over fine loose shale and scree. The summit was reached at 3415M (11200 feet) and is one of the highest peaks in Switzerland that can be reached by walkers without winter gear. The impression from the summit was of glaciers and mountains in every direction, with the Rhone Valley and the Bernese Oberland mountains in the north and some of the Italian peaks visible over the Theodulgletscher south of the Matterhorn.  

Findelgletscher as seen from slopes of the Oberrothorn

  Stephen once again experienced some symptoms because of the altitude; this time it was not breathlessness but a tingling and slight numbness in the fingertips of his right hand. However, these disappeared as soon as the summit was reached and lunch was eaten.

From the summit of the Oberrothorn 

 The descent proved surprisingly easy despite some quite steep sections. The grip of our new boots was most obvious. We returned to Furggli, on the way having to shout at some boys who were, unbelievably, throwing boulders down the mountain! From Furggli we climbed up the broad area cleared for skiers to the Unterrothorn (3103m). Here we found remnants of the snow from the previous week. Our descent to Zermatt was in three stages by cable car/gondola and funicular. A brilliant walk to end a super holiday!