All aboard!  Riding the Gornergrat Bahn.  Instead of traveling all the way up to the Gornergrat summit, the train will leave me off at Riffelberg.  From Riffelberg, the plan is to hike up to the Gornergrat summit.

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     On the left ridge you can see Riffelberg.  The Gornergrat bahn tracks contour along side the mountain.  On the right you can see the Matterhorn.     

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   Arrival at Riffelberg (2566m) around 1630 hours.  The Matterhorn in the background.  After setteling down, I begin my hike up to Gornergrat summit.   

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     Far from reaching the summit, I take a breather and a picture.  I quickly discovered that estimating distances can be deceiving in the alps.   

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     The Gornergrat summit (3090m).  From Riffelberg this building looks a lot closer.  No wonder, it's huge! I climbed 524m in under an hour.  It was 32 degree F when I arrived.  No wonder I was not sweating.

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     Another view of Gornergrat glacier.    

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     This picture was taken at the very summit of the Gornergrat.  Behold the Matterhorn.  Now I have to rush and catch the train besides in literally freezing!   

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