HAUTE ROUTE, DAY 9, GRUBEN - ST. NICKLAUS

The team arrive at the Mattertal 

Descending from the Augstboard Pass 

Morning light above the Turtmantal 

The Tashhorn

Traverse 

Hot enough for lizzards

The Brighthorn at the head of the Mattertal 

Today it was a much easier section for the team on the Haute Route. From Gruben over to St. Niklaus in the Mattertal.  Just one Col, The Augstboard Pass. All the King of the Alps flowers have no gone for the summer near the top of the pass. Only a short flowering season for these guys. Once over the pass it's mostly downhill on rocky terrain. Just has the trail heads South around a corner one of the finest views of the trek comes into sight, the Mattertal Valley.  The vista from here is tremendous.  An array of big 4000m peaks towering above the trench of the Mattertal,  the Matterhorn Valley. The lovely trail descends to the wonderful alp village of Jungen, it's like stepping back in time here. Another pair of young Golden Eagle seen again today. Another cloudless sky day and hot by afternoon.