07 November 2003

Sunshine and melting permafrost
It was the hottest summer on record in Zermatt, with all the glaciers in the region melting at an alarming rate, the water level on the river Vispa was at bursting point for weeks, even the permafrost high on the Matterhorn was starting to thaw and back in August, 70 climbers had to be rescued due to heavy rock falls

The summer skiing as you can imagine was dodgy; it's a shame the authorities here have taken to closing all the ski lifts during May and June when the conditions would have been at their best. Still, the sun shone, about a million Japanese tourists were photographed with St. Bernards sheltering under plastic palm trees and the ice cream vendors thought it was Christmas.

Fresh powder and new lifts
There have been quite decent snowfalls above 2000m for the last few weeks and more recently a couple down to village level. The skiing is good on the glacier with many people up there the last two weekends. The excellent new 6 person ‘Glacier Chair Lift’ opened on 25 October. Quite a feat of engineering that can take 2,400 people an hour seated with a wind cover from Trockner Steg up to 3365m.

Also on the Klein side the Gandegg T-bar has been extended. Over at Gornergrat the long lift from Riffleberg (Gifthittli) to the top is being replaced by another 6-person chair with hoods, due to open on November 29. Finally 7 more km of snowmaking has been added between Rothorn and Gornergrat. Zermatt has put massive investment into its lift system these last few years so come and check it out.

Beer, birthdays and renovations
The village is a building site right now with few people around, lots are working at the ski show but there was a good atmosphere at the Hotel Post on Saturday for Sketcher Fletchers birthday & afterwards a Halloween bash at the Central. In town The Pipe has been changed from a bar to a restaurant (closed at the moment so more news soon).

Those Stoked boys not content with the rapid success of their ski & board school have opened a very cool new shop (next to the ice rink), the first in Zermatt to specialise in board wear and urban clothing. The Hotel Post has a new front, floor and décor in the snack and a great cocktail bar upstairs called Papa Caesars.

Home and away
The North Wall is closed for the off season, Mark “Pocket Rocket” Harris as featured in the new Natives book and ‘Sparky’ Mark Wainwright were last seen heading for some ‘climbing in Krabi’ so are no doubt chasing ladyboys in Bangkok.

Photo by Marcus - Natives Resort Reporter in Zermatt

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