The Matterhorn: From the Ocean to Africa
A Hike from Trockener Steg to Schönbielhütte via Schwarzsee
- An itinerary on the trails of Zermatt
- Geology put into practice
- With many photos and illustrations
The story of the Earth is etched in its landscapes. A story this geoguide intends for all mountain, nature and hiking enthusiasts. In an unending succession of breathtaking views, all along the two geological itineraries, the authors question the astounding, multicoloured rocks on their extraordinary genesis. And the rocks answer with prodigious tales of awe and stupefaction.
The first itinerary begins at Trockener Steg and traces a large half circle from the Matterhorn base to Schwarzsee. Taking up the slack, the second itinerary climbs towards the Schönbiel hut, offering magnificent views of the Matterhorn north and west faces, fashioned from rocks out of Africa.
This geoguide takes you on a two-fold quest through time and space.
Édition
2024
ISBN
978-2-606-02136-8
Format
13,5 x 21
Référence
935266
Nombre de pages
144
Public
Tout public
Preface: On the trail of the African Matterhorn
Tips and advice
Introduction
All mountain rocks are immigrants
The Alps in three long stories
Geological timeline
The main groups of rocks linked to plate tectonics
Rock spotting!
itineraries
Itinerary A: Trockener Steg – Schwarzsee
1. An oceanic art gallery
2. Odd rusty rocks
3. Lagoons on glacier edges
4. Straddling a reptile
5. Walking on ocean floor lavas
6. Three tales of the Matterhorn
7. Multicoloured rocks
8. Strolling through Matterhorn rubble
9. The Hirli’s marble eye
10. Time out with a rock glacier
Itinerary B: Schwarzsee – Schönbielhütte
1. Landscapes and rocks: a time machine
2. A megafold trapped under Africa
3. The Stafelalp Japanese Garden
4. Back to the Little Ice Age
5. Right by a tectonic plate scraping
6. The African boundary
7. A flurry of folds in the gneisses
8. Swinging by a hidden glacier
9. Visiting a magma chamber
10a. Ancient gneisses and African marble in Schönbiel
10b. The Matterhorn time trek
Conclusion
Appendices
Tips and advice
Introduction
All mountain rocks are immigrants
The Alps in three long stories
Geological timeline
The main groups of rocks linked to plate tectonics
Rock spotting!
itineraries
Itinerary A: Trockener Steg – Schwarzsee
1. An oceanic art gallery
2. Odd rusty rocks
3. Lagoons on glacier edges
4. Straddling a reptile
5. Walking on ocean floor lavas
6. Three tales of the Matterhorn
7. Multicoloured rocks
8. Strolling through Matterhorn rubble
9. The Hirli’s marble eye
10. Time out with a rock glacier
Itinerary B: Schwarzsee – Schönbielhütte
1. Landscapes and rocks: a time machine
2. A megafold trapped under Africa
3. The Stafelalp Japanese Garden
4. Back to the Little Ice Age
5. Right by a tectonic plate scraping
6. The African boundary
7. A flurry of folds in the gneisses
8. Swinging by a hidden glacier
9. Visiting a magma chamber
10a. Ancient gneisses and African marble in Schönbiel
10b. The Matterhorn time trek
Conclusion
Appendices
Michel Marthaler est géologue, professeur honoraire à l’Université de Lausanne. Il a aussi enseigné la géologi
Micha Schlup est géologue et géographe. Après une thèse sur l’Himalaya à l’Université de Lausanne, il se consa
