Sat, Aug 11: Little Matterhorn, Switzerland

We took a gondola and cable car to Paradise (12,740 feet) at top of Little Matterhorn mountain. 

From the trip up:

 

We had hot chocolate at the top. We walked on the snow. They have skiing all year round here. 

Looking down at Zermatt:



We walked inside the glacier, through an ice cavern (28 degrees F), with impressive ice sculptures. 

The panorama view:  a breathtaking view of Italian, French and Swiss alpine peaks.  Saw the peaks of Mount Viso (Italy) and Mont Blanc (on the border between Italy and France), among others. 

We ate lunch at Trockner station, on the way down.  We were within 3 miles of the base of Matterhorn at one of the transfer stations on the gondola ride. 
 
More photos from Little Materhorn ...
 

Late this evening, we heard what sounded like very loud gun shots or maybe cannon fire.  It turns out they were practicing for tomorrow.