Hike to Monte Moropass (T3, with purely optional T4 for Joderhorn)
Details
Forecasts are fine for Saturday so let's go back to Saas Fee valley for a refreshing high altitude hike.
We'll start at the Mattmark dam lake and climb to Monte Moropass, on the border between Switzerland and Italy.
There we'll have wonderful views, in particular towards the "Himalaya-like" eastern face of Monte Rosa (a perspective that is very different from the usual one you get in Zermatt).
ROUTE
Here is the route :
And more information here (not 100% our route but this link is the closest to what we'll be doing) :
[Wanderung zum Monte-Moro-Pass in den Walliser Alpen (alpin.de)](https://www.alpin.de/touren/tourentipps/67891284/tour_wanderung_zum_monte-moro-pass_in_den_walliser_alpen)
949m up, 946 down, approx. 6h of walking
In addition to that, those who want can come with me do a little optional detour to Joderhorn (3035m) while the rest of the group enjoys drinks at Rifugio Oberto Maroli ;-)
Add 180m up and 180m down and one hour of walking if you plan to do that.
On our way back to Mattmark in the afternoon we'll pass along a nice river where we can put our feet.
There is also a nice "secret" spot next to a waterfall which I found a few weeks ago and that allows to put more than just the feet in the water (provided water levels and current permit).
DIFFICULTY
T3
Nothing overly technical or exposed but you'll still need to be reasonably good with heights (means not becoming terrified when it gets a little steeper).
Look in particular at the picture number 3 of the above link (big boulders and "stairs").
You'll also need to be reasonably fit. Yes 950m of height difference isn't that much but you have to take into account the altitude which will make you tire faster if you haven't been to those altitudes recently.
If stuff like T3 does not mean anything to you, look here for the difficulty scale of hikes used by the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC):
http://www.hikr.org/post2984.html
If you are interested in the detour to Joderhorn it's lower T4 (Joderhorn is basically a pile of big scree and there is no path so you'll need to like walking on that kind of terrain) ;-)
MEETING POINT AND ORGANIZATIONAL DETAILS
We meet in Bern on platform 5 in sector E (lower end of the escalators going up to the "Welle") at 07:00 and take the 07:07 train to Visp and then a bus to "Saas Grund, Post) and a final bus to "Mattmark" where we will arrive at 09:24.
Take a return ticket Bern to Mattmark.
We'll come back to Bern from Mattmark with the last bus, at 18:26, back in Bern 20:54 via Saas Grund and Visp.
Take good walking shoes (no sneakers!), at least 1.5L of water, a picnic and one warm layer.
If you are not afraid of cold water you can also bring a swimsuit.
DISCLAIMER
I am not an official or professional guide and you come under your own responsibility. I take the utmost care in planning and preparing my hikes, checking conditions and weather forecasts but I can't be held responsible for anything that happens during my hikes.
Cover picture : Fredy Joss
See you
Vincent