2-day Hike to the Turtmann Glacier.... Day 1

Having taken a week off for vacation, and the weather forecast being for super sunny, we decided on a 2-day hike in a side valley in Canton Valais, way in the South of Switzerland not far from the Matterhorn.

The plan was to ascend to the Turtmann Valley from the Rhone Valley by cable car (Oberems), then take a little bus halfway to the back of the valley, hike an hour straight up hill, then head South toward the Turtmann Glacier where our Swiss Alpine Club Hostel was. The next morning to leave early and head back out of the valley, this time all the way to the cable car station at Oberems. 

In total we hiked 4.5 hours the first day, and 6 hours the second, for a total of 28 km.

Unfortunately the weather played a trick on us and it was overcast for the hike in, which is OK when you are hiking uphill. But as we got to the glacier, and another 30 min. steep and tricky ascent ahead of us, it started to rain. The hostel was packed (about 60 people) all of them having expected nice weather... and now everything was wet. And sleeping arrangements were rooms of 10 in rooms made for two! It was"cozy", to say the least. Good thing I didn't have to go to the bathroom that night....

Here's to really hoping the next day had better weather, so I could see the glacier NOT covered in fog!

In the Rhone Valley near Visp is the base station of the Turtmann-Oberems cable car, which takes you up to the entrance of the Turtmann Valley.

The day started overcast and stayed that way. this is the village of Unterems on the way up in the cable car.

From Oberems we took a bus to Gruben, to the start of our hike. The trail marker reads 3 hrs. 45 mins but it took us a 1/2 hour longer. They seem to walk fast, here.

From Gruben to the avalanche dam took us 1.5 hours. (500m ascent)

View down to the village of Gruben as we head up the hill (stopped here the next day for ice cream on our way back out of the valley! Big hotel bottom right).

Heading up the hill to the avalanche dam.

This was a super place to stop for our picnic lunch.

OK, we like to take chocolate along, but this is what was left from our previous hike.... doesn't do well when it is warm!

 

Picnic Spot high up over the Turtmann Valley, looking North into the Rhone Valley.

Up ahead is the Avalanche Dam. This was probably built by the Swiss Military. First they have to get the machines up here to bulldoze and pile up the rocks for the dam.

Up on the dam.... it definitely took more than an hour to get up here! But from here the timing was about right.

 

On the avalanche dam, heading South. This dam is manmade, another of those Swiss feats.

Our first glimpse of the Turtmann Glacier to the South. Such a shame the storm clouds greying up the sky!

Much of the terrain up here toward the Hostel was composed of landslide rocks that we had to carefully navigate across.

Much of the terrain up here toward the Hostel was composed of landslide rocks that we had to carefully navigate across.

One last look Northward down the Turtmann Valley. The next day we hiked all the way out of the valley, down by the river.

Up ahead to the South, the two dammed glacier lakes and the Turtmann Glacier. And the trail we plan to hike tomorrow.

Right about here, it started to rain. The hostel is way up on the cliff at the left, another 30 minutes and 230m up.

Last part of our hike before reaching the hostel.

And this is the last view I saw of the glacier out of the hostel window, before heading to bed.

Total hike from Gruben to the Turtmann SAC Hostel:  11 km, 4.5 hours, 500m + 200m ascent.