Plateau Rosa demanding glacier hike from Zermatt

You go from the valley station Matterhorn Express together with the mountain guide to the train station Plateau Rosa in Testa Grigia. In the SnowXperience store at the top station Plateau Rosa you get your equipment for a fee. Afterwards you start your glacier tour over the Plateau Rosa to the Trockene Steg. Pure hiking time: approx. 5 hours.

On this glacier hike you will overcome about 700 meters of altitude difference in the descent and 200 meters of altitude difference in the ascent.

Requirements:

• T4 - alpine hiking: "Trail not necessarily available. In certain places you need your hands to move forward. Terrain already quite exposed, tricky grassy slopes, scree, easy firn fields and apere glacier passages." (Source: SAC Hiking Scale)

The Plateau Rosa glacier field is located at 3480 meters above sea level and is part of the Theodul glacier. The Plateau Rosa train station is located in Testa Grigia on the border with Italy. You reach it via three stages.

• 1st stage: 8-seater gondola Matterhorn-Express (in several sections) to Trockener Steg
• 2nd stage: 3S cable car Matterhorn Glacier Ride to Klein Matterhorn.
• 3rd stage: 3S cable car to Testa Grigia (Plateau Rosa). This ultra-modern train will take you over the Theodul Glacier. It was inaugurated on July 1, 2023.

The ride takes about 50 minutes in total.

• Good walking shoes
• Small backpack, max. 20 liters
• Comfortable hiking clothes, warm or waterproof depending on the weather
• Water and windproof jacket
• Cap and sun hat, possibly cap
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Little, but energy-rich food
• Drinking bottle
• Crampons, harness, pole (will be provided for a fee)