Purification and idleness

So it was time for a break. Overnight, my hand had swelled even more, and simple things like washing my hands were no longer possible. I was seriously worried that I might have to cancel my tour. But for now, it was all just speculation. It's best to give my hand a few days of rest and then reassess.

Fortunately, Zermatt is not the worst place for a forced break. So the next day, I decided to go for a hike. Under the constant watch of the ever-present Matterhorn, I tried to enjoy the change of pace. But all the paths were so perfect for cycling that I almost felt out of place on foot. Luckily, my pathetic self-pity came to an abrupt end in the evening when the first thunderstorms arrived. The forecasted weather change sent the first signs, and it was supposed to rain for the next two days. Besides my hand, it was also a relief for all the other abused parts of my body. So I took advantage of the opportunity and settled back into a proper accommodation to reduce any physical activity to zero and stay dry at the same time.

By the way, Zermatt is undoubtedly a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. At first, I was quite puzzled when my tent neighbors stacked their skis and snowboards on the grass. But in one of the few summer ski resorts in Europe, it is part of the cityscape to see some freaks in full ski gear waiting for the ski bus in the middle of August. They are then passed by downhill mountain bikers in shorts, and in addition to the masses of hikers, there are, of course, plenty of mountaineers with ropes and full glacier equipment. So it didn't surprise me when a roommate at the hostel had just arrived from Chamonix and had done the Haute Route from there via the glaciers as a trail run. Another hostel resident had just crossed the glaciers of the Monte Rosa Massif on his own when he arrived from Italy for a short detour in Zermatt. Hopefully, they won't give me any wrong ideas. But no, maybe I should refrain from glacier bikepacking. At least on this tour... And anyway, my hand has to get better first.