Our last day is short and easy, following grassy trails, gentle moraine crests, and finally a broad well-trodden tourist trail through the charmingly preserved village of Zmutt, and at last into Zermatt. Along the way we can practically reach out and touch the massive North Face of the Matterhorn across the narrow strip of the lower Zmutt Glacier.

We should be in plenty of time to relax and explore the luxuries of Zermatt before a celebratory final dinner together in one of the town's many great restaurants. Although our feet may hurt and our sun-tanned faces feel a bit rough, soon the past week will seem all too short in our memories.