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.

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.