A Glowing Peak and Belled Sheep

On our last morning in Zermatt, I awoke before 5AM and couldn't have gone back to sleep if you promised me a horse (to ride, not eat) and a lifetime supply of Swiss ice cream (to eat, duh). So what started as a stroll through town turned into a two-hour hike on the Matterhorn Trail. I was passed up by a few pairs with much more serious gear (and, presumably, intentions), but my rolled-out-of-bed getup gave away that I was just there for the view and lungfuls of crisp air.

To watch that pointed peak go from a shrouded enigma to blazing neon pink and orange, with the occasional clang of a grazing sheep's bell as the only background noise, is meditatively surreal. Although the Matterhorn is allegedly the most photographed mountain in the world, its magnetism is irresistible, especially first thing in the morning.

xxx,
j