Day 13 Gruben to Randa via Jungu

 Breakfast in the hotel restaurant. the Canadians were off before us full of enthusiasm. We left about 8.30 with a clear sky. Steadily uphill through woods and pastures to a rocky cwm and the Augsbordpass. Magnus did a good job of taking the group photo 16 times but that unfortunately meant he wasn't included. Down the side of a scree covered hill and round a corner for an amazing view of the Zermatt valley and its mountains. We were hanging there nearly a thousand meters above the very steep sided valley and the view was stupendous. We had lunch there and took many photos. Round and down to Jungu, which is a small stone roofed hanging village with small steep fields. Quite impossible to justify its existence now but its a splendid link with a former way of life. We paid our respects at the church and refueled with beer and lemonade at the bar which was the front room of somebody's house. Then rashly ignoring the cable car we plunged down the path to St Nickaus on the valley floor. The 12 stations of the cross we passed seems most appropriate. Just caught the train to Randa further up the valley and walked endlessly to the campsite. This was a complete contrast to our previous campsites, it was full of climbers, very busy and very cosmopolitan. After nibbles and a welcome shower we had chicken in red wine at the camp restaurant and celebrated the completion of our walk.

Click on the picuture to see the days photos

Looking back towards the Turtmanntal on the way to the Augstbordpass

Exodus Trip Notes

Day 13 The final day of walking. We climb again to cross the Augstbordpass (2,894 m.) with good views of the Wesshorn and the ‘Dom’ and join the main Zermatt Valley high on its western side. We descend to cross the Emdbach and soon after as we swing south get our first views of the Zermatt Valley plus the Weisshorn, Kleine Matterhorn and Taschorn. Descend to Jungu (1,955 m.) and on to St. Niklaus (1,127 m.) from where we travel by train to Randa (1,439 m.).

Campsite near Randa.