474: OLD ALPINE JOTTINGS. 



should return if the weather, which was then unfit for 

 the Matterhorn, improved. 



I waited at the Riffel for twelve days, making small 

 excursions here and there. But though the weather 

 was not so abominable as it had been last year, the fre- 

 quent snow-discharges on the Matterhorn kept it un- 

 assailable. In company with Mr. Craufurd Grove, who 

 had engaged Carrel as his guide, Michel being mine, 

 I made the pass of the Trift from Zermatt to Zinal. 

 Carrel led and, on the rocks, acquitted himself admi- 

 rably. He is a first-rate rockman. I could understand 

 and share the enthusiasm experienced by Mr. Hinchliff 

 in crossing this truly noble pass. It is certainly one 

 of the finest in the whole Alps. For that one day 

 moreover the weather was magnificent. Next day we 

 crossed to Evolena, going far astray, and thus convert- 

 ing a light day into a heavy one. From Evolena we 

 purposed crossing the Col d'Erin back to Zermatt, but 

 the weather would not let us. This excursion had 

 been made with the view of allowing the Matterhorn 

 a little time to arrange its temper ; but the temper con- 

 tinued sulky, and at length wearied me out. We went 

 round by the valley of the Ehone to Zermatt, and find- 

 ing matters there worse than ever, both Mr. Grove and 

 myself returned to Visp, intending to quit Switzerland 

 together. Here he changed his mind and returned to 

 Zermatt ; on the same day the weather changed also, and 

 continued fine for a fortnight. He succeeded in getting 

 with Carrel to the top of the Matterhorn, being there- 

 fore the first Englishman that gained the summit from 

 the southern side. A ramble in the Highlands, includ- 

 ing a visit to the Parallel Eoads of Glenroy, concluded 

 my vacation in 1867. 



