SWITZERLAND: Klein Matterhorn 3883m & Schwarzsee summits (Zermatt)

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the highest mountain station of the Alps (3,883 m). It is situated on the summit of Klein Matterhorn.

The peak is at 3,883 m with the cable car terminal at 3820 m, the highest cable car end point in Europe.

It is the highest point in the Zermatt ski area, where you can ski even during summer time.

On the highest panoramaplatform of Europe you get an all around panorama from the swiss alps, including a close view of the Matterhorn.

The construction of the cable way started in August 1976 at all three construction sites: the valley terminal, the three tower sites and the mountain terminal. Creation of the mountain terminal was a difficult undertaking. Some 2,000 cubic metres of concrete were used in the mountain station, all of which had to be transported there by helicopter in specially insulated tanks, mixed with warm water and 2% anti-freeze. Weather conditions at the work site (3,820 metres above sea level) in high mountain terrain were extreme: temperatures falling to minus 40°C, snowfalls, and high winds of over 100km/h.

In the summer of 1977 the track, hand and counter cables totalling 35.8 kilometers (22 miles) in length and weighing to 300 tonnes were dragged from Schweigmatten to Trockener Steg, a massive undertaking in itself. It took several weeks to cover the distance of 3,600 meters, with a vertical altitude of almost 1,000 meters and to rewind the cables on their reels.

On December 1978, all four track cables were installed, and all remaining operations were completed by the spring of 1979. In the fall of 1979, the two 100 passenger cabins were flown from the village of Täsch to the valley terminal, attached to the hanger frames with the carriages lifted on to the track cables, with operations finally starting on 23 December, the start of the winter season.

Route: Zermatt - Furi - Trockener Steg - Matterhorn glacier paradise (Klein Matterhorn) - Trockener Steg - Furi - Schwarzsee - Zermatt

Second week of september, 2009

00:00 Route map
00:17 Going up, by cable car
01:08 Furi intermediate station, 1864m
01:54 Trockener Steg intermediate station, 2939m
02:50 Matterhorn glacier paradise, viewing platform Klein Matterhorn 3883m
03:45 Theodul Glacier
05:17 from Trockener Steg back to Furi station
05:46 from Furi to Schwarzsee station
07:26 Schwarzsee Paradise, 2583m
08:13 Returning to Zermatt

[ThePittStops]

Love the video! Stunning views. We were just in Zermatt this winter and made a video there. We fell so in love that we are headed back this year! What an incredible place!....Subbed:)

[guigal]

Very similar in style to a Rick Steves episode (except without his voiceover).

[BigSirZebras]

im on mushrooms and i thought i was watching a japanese anime for the first 5 minutes wondering when the story was going to start.