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

August 3, 2016 -- After our disappointing wet and foggy arrival at the Swiss Alpine Club Hostel (perched on a cliff at over 2500m altitude) it was a joy to see the morning dawn with blue skies, and the clouds retreating from just above the glacier. 

After a communal breakfast we filled up on Alpine Hostel Tea, and headed down into the valley, following the glacier moraine instead of going down the steep path we had come up the day before. This way we got to admire and wonder at the majesty of the glacier ice, which also never gets boring, especially with a good zoom lens on the camera.

After turning our backs on the glacier (well, often turning around for more looks especially at the steep perch of the hostel) we walked along the valley path all the way out of the valley back to the cable car. In total it was 6 hours and 18 kms, and I totally surprised myself that I managed it! (Especially after the 4.5-hour, 11 km, 700m ascent we did the day before). There were no more uphill sections, so that helps, and the landscape varied from glacial rock to ravines to alpine meadows, clusters of vacation homes, and forest trail. 

It was a satisfying way to end what started out a bit disappointing.

The Turtmann Hostel, member of the Swiss Alpine Club. Sleeps about 60 people, and it was full this night! (very very cozy).

The Hostel managers prepare warm tea that you can fill up on before heading on for the day.

The Turtmann Hostel, member of the Swiss Alpine Club.

View North along the Turtmann Valley where we are headed out today, first we will walk down to those lakes and then out of the valley.

The Turtmann Glacier, just South of the Hostel. This is the view from the front of the Hostel.

This is the first time I have seen the elusive Edelweiss flower in the wild, and there was a whole hill of it just below the Hostel!

Panorama view from the front of the Turtmann Hostel .

Finally heading out for the day, first along the glacier's moraine, and then doubling back out of the valley.

I am adding my contribution to the Inukshuk. (Kind of). The trail we are walking now is actually called the "Stone Man Trail".

Now we are heading North with the Glacier behind us.

Heading North to the dammed lakes and along the valley bottom.

Yesterday we came along the high trail across the valley, above the little cascade.

More looks backward to the Hostel on the cliff. This is magnificent!

On this photo you can see the dam, and the hostel in the background.

Hostel at the bottom of the photo.

Heading North along a short ravine.

Heading North along a short ravine.

Heading North along a short ravine.

Now we reach a section of alpine meadows near Gruben, where we started our hike the day before.

Now we reach a section of alpine meadows near Gruben, where we started our hike the day before.

In Gruben, we treated ourselves to a sundae, because we have about half the hike behind us (3 hours since departing the Hostel).

Along the Turtmann Valley Trail.

Along the Turtmann Valley Trail.

 

Along the Turtmann Valley Trail. (a small chapel perched on a cliff way above the river).

Only a couple hundred meters before our destination of Oberems we have to walk through a pasture of Ehringer Cows. Their horns are pretty scary.

Oberems at the opening of the Turtmann Valley, where it joins the Rhone Valley.

Descending to the Rhone Valley on the cable car. Across is Ergisch, where we had been this spring looking for the "Flower of Light"

Heading down to Turtmann in the Rhone Valley, before our 3-hour train ride back home.

Day 1: 4.5 hours, 11 km, 700m ascent.

Day 2:  6 hours, 18 km hike from the Hostel along the valley bottom.