To me, the Matterhorn is the most beautiful mountain in Europe. Standing before it, immersed in its presence, is a truly magical feeling.
On Christmas Day 2016, I woke before dawn in the village of Zermatt, hoping to catch the first light on its famous peak.
A Village Without Cars
Zermatt doesn’t allow visitors’ cars. To get there, you take the train into the village, and most hotels will send a small electric cab to pick you up at the station. It’s a charming little town, its pretty wooden houses stacked up the hillside beneath the mountain.
Making My Own Luck
Sometimes you have to try your luck. And you know it: luck is something you make.
When I checked in the night before, I had a quiet feeling that the next morning would be special. I’ve had that feeling many times before, from Queen’s Bath in Hawaii to Martins Beach in Half Moon Bay. And having traveled so far, alone, on Christmas, it was hard not to believe the mountain would reward me.
A Race Against the Light
The cab arrived almost on time and took me to a small hill on the far side of town. Finding that spot had been a challenge. Explaining the exact viewpoint I wanted to the locals wasn’t easy, because to them, every spot in Zermatt is beautiful. 🙂 In the end, I walked into an art gallery, asked for help, and they pointed me to precisely the place I was looking for.
Then, standing on the hill, I realized my mistake: I had brought the wrong lens. The Matterhorn rose directly in front of me, and I needed a wide-angle lens to take it all in. I called the cab company and asked them to send the driver back. Luckily, Zermatt is small, and he returned in no time.
The round trip to my hotel took about 20 minutes. By the time I was back on the hill, I had maybe five minutes to spare before the clouds caught fire. But I got the shot!
A Christmas Well Spent
As the first rays lit the summit and the clouds glowed red above it, I stood alone on that hill and felt nothing but gratitude. No gifts, no tree, just the Matterhorn burning in the morning light. It was a Christmas well spent.
