Sure-Footed...

Sure-Footed...

... and ready for a little snack.

Last October, I realized a long held wish – to stay at the hotel on the Gornergrat, high above Zermatt and eye-to-eye with the mighty Matterhorn and the peaks of the Monte Rosa Massif. The hotel’s full name is 3100 Kulm Hotel. The 3100 refers to meters above sea level – that’s 10,170 feet worth of altitude if you like the bigger numbers ;-)

I had just returned from shooting at a lower altitude, appetite primed for a hearty dinner in the hotel’s restaurant, but decided first to capture the late day light on the mountains from the hotel’s terrace.

It was very quiet and, as I pointed a camera at the snow-covered peaks, I became aware of some “scuffling” sounds below. Looking down, I saw these Alpine Ibex matter-of-factly climbing the steep rockface. They were heading for a “snack column” the hotel had thoughtfully provided for these sure-footed late day visitors.

I’ll be posting more of this late day “Steinbock Mahlzeit” as I go through my images from that very special interlude high in the Valais Alps, so if you like these furry climbing machines, please check back often.

This image is available in archival gallery prints and in a series of Ibex Note Cards.

Photo-Narrative-Design ©2011/2012 Steve Ember