Zermatt trekking (Swiss Alps) July 2010 (just before the Madhu Karuna Retreat)

Contact Sharada: spiessmarlies@hotmail.com for further information or Call: +41 44 764 27 37

Dear everybody

I am writing to let you know about the Zermatt trekking program for 20 - 23 July 2010

Divyamshu has written his impressions of the 2008 program below, I am sure you will find it very inspiring. But first please have a look at the wonderful photos that we took in summer 2008 and 2009:

http://zen.jyoshna.com/index.php?album=summer

Arrival in Zermatt will be latestly in the evening before the first day of our trek. You can stay either in the camping place, in the youth hostel or a cheap hotel.

The program will end in the late afternoon a day or two before the retreat starts in July, allowing you time to arrive in Madhu Karuna early if you wish. After the program ends you can depart immediately or stay another night in Zermatt.

This is the program we did in 2009 just to give you some idea, the final schedule will also be posted early next year:

First from Zermatt ( www.zermatt.ch ) we went up by cable car to "Schwarzsee" http://bergbahnen.zermatt.ch/d/peaks/schwarzsee.html , from there we walked to "Trockener Steg". From there we were going to take the cable car over the glacier up to "Klein Matterhorn" at 3800 m!!!! We couldn't go on the day planned because of the weather, but several people were able to go after the program. From Klein Matterhornhere the view over 30 peaks of over 4000 m is simply fantastic http://bergbahnen.zermatt.ch/d/peaks/kleinmatterhorn.html . There is also the highest glacier palace in the world, 15 m under the glacier with many ice sculptures. From "Trockener Steg" we walked a short time to our first hut ("Gandegg", see link below), 3000 m. Breathtaking view on many glaciers...

On the second day we proceeded to "Fluhalp", 2600 m, easy hiking and walked on the moraine, the rocks which the glacier left while melting, very exciting view on many 4000 m peaks (infos see link below), and on the third day we had a longer but not hard walk to "Europaweghütte". 2200 m, (see link below) and stayed over night there.

The fourth day was a walk up to "Täschhütte", 2700 m, we left our luggage in the hut, picking it up on the way down and walking down a beautiful way to Täsch, the neighbouring village of Zermatt, where we took the train back to Zermatt (Zermatt is carfree, only electrocars are circulating!!).

The 3 mountain huts we stayed in for the 2009 tour are here: http://www.zermatt.ch/d/hoehenweg/14.html The first night was Gandetthütte number 6, second night Fluhalp number 13, and third night Europaweghütte going up to Täschhütte (number 15) before going down to Täsch/Zermatt on the last day.

In 2010 the route will be different taking us to different huts, but these will give you an idea. To see the details about the huts, choose the huts from the numbers above. When you click on a number, the picture of the hut appears in the page and then if you click on the name of the hut written in blue underneath the picture, it takes you to another page for the hut with more detailed information and pictures. In all the huts we get breakfast and sentient dinner, sleeping in dormitories.

Costs:

The cost for the 2011 program will probably be about 200 euros for the huts (including breakfast and sentient dinner) and cable cars. You will need some pocket money for drinks in the huts and sandwiches for lunch. Your non margi friends are most welcome too. Average fitness is sufficient. We are never doing anything dangerous... I will send out a list of what to bring to those coming (hiking shoes are important). Just to be there in the middle of these mountains and glaciers is elevating and marvellous, for me one of the best things in life. Fiesch, where Baba was, is only one and a half hours away from there.

For more information or any kind of help about the summer program please don't hesitate to contact me:

tel 0041 44 764 27 37.

Love Sharada Switzerland -------------------------------------------------

Divyamshu - Looking back at trekking in Zermatt 2008

Recently, a very close Márgii friend asked me whether I would join the Zermatt Trekking tour again with Sharada in 2009. Last year she noticed that this tour had a very positive and lasting effect on me, a deep contentment and inspiration. I remember that just after the tour six of the participants stayed in my house for a day, either on their way to the summer-retreat in Madhu Karuna or back home, and the vibration during and after our DC was extraordinarily intense and blissful, like after 12 hours Akhan'd'a Kiirtan. Maybe that is the reason why BÁBÁ had recommended that every Márgii should experience meditating in the Alps .

Two years ago I had registered to join the trekking, since I love mountains and was attracted by the idea of spending time trekking with Márgiis, but I went instead to Sweden for the first Yoga Educators Conference. So in July 2008 I was looking forward to this new experience. On the way to Zermatt, we had a break for our noon meditation in the mountains near a rivulet in clean cool air, and I never had such a Prán'áyáma before.

We stayed one night in Täsch and took a taxi to nearby Zermatt , where no cars are allowed. Some Márgiis were already waiting outside the railway station. Sharada was so sweet to welcome everyone with a bar of Swiss chocolate, a lovely surprise. She did such a remarkable job in organising the whole event, from selecting the route, tirelessly inviting people by email and phone calls, booking the rooms with so many last minute adjustments (quite different from the very organised Swiss, who book beds in the huts half a year in advance, she had to add or cancel reservations on very short notice), arranging sentient food at the huts and finally on the tour, she proved to be a wonderful and experienced guide in the mountains.

The group was a lively mix of different personalities, being mostly Márgiis. Within a short time, we developed a smooth collective flow. Four of us came from Croatia , three from Italy , two from Switzerland , me and a Dádá from Germany . After enjoying some of the sights of Zermatt along with thousands of other tourists in this well known spot, we went up by cable car to an altitude of 2600 m, right at the foot of Matterhorn , an impressive peak contrasted against a spotless deep blue sky with a decorative veil of white clouds. The intensity of the light up there is hard to describe: Everything appears crystal clear.

After collective noon Sádhaná and a hearty picnic we started our trekking. We went down halfway around the Matterhorn and followed a glacier, walking up right to its steep brim, passing a lake and then up in sheer endless serpentines to our first goal, Schönbielhütte. In the evening the Matterhorn was dipped in golden red light. Impressive! We, at least most of us, were tired but happy, going to bed early in a packed dormitory. The altitude of 2700 meters required some adjustment, sleep was not so easy. Early morning Sádhaná was individual, just near the glacier, accompanied by the roaring of distant masses of ice breaking off and rushing down.

The second day brought our longest tour. With enough time for breaks and adjustment to our various states of physical condition, we had six hours to walk to “Hotel” de Trift, where we arrived early in the afternoon. Wonderful sunshine and refreshing, though expensive drinks recharged us. The rooms were inviting and the beds provided better sleep than the night before. During the long stretches of walks we mixed together in changing small groups, sharing experiences, enjoying the alpine panorama and beautiful flowers or repeating Is't'a Mantra quietly in a most natural scenery.

Our aim for the third day was Rothornhütte, almost 3200 meters high, even closer to a vast glacier. On the way up, again in bright sunshine, we took a long break wading through ice cold water, applying healing mud, having a lot of fun and doing Sádhaná. We had to cross a snowfield and were amazed by the proximity of the glacier, sitting next to it for meditation. That evening provided an unexpected delicious treat: oven-fried potatoes, rice, stuffed tomatoes and a crisp salad. All the food has to be brought up there by helicopter, which justifies the prices!

The last day started with a light rain, which lasted only for two hours. Our walking sticks did us a good service, as we had to descend 1700 m to Zermatt .

We departed filled with positive impressions and experiences, thanking each other for the good company and assistance and especially Sharada as organiser and soul of this tour.

I advise everyone to come and feel for yourself the magic of the mountains in the company of Márgiis. It doesn't require a particular fitness, just good shoes and walking sticks.

Divyám'shu from Germany