Tour of the Matterhorn — Stage 6: Gruben → St. Niklaus

From Gruben climb to the Augstbordpass (2,894 m), a crossing used by Walser traders since the 13th century. The descent crosses the Embd boulder field to the eagle’s nest of Jungen (1,955 m), with the Mattertal a thousand metres below, before dropping to St. Niklaus (1,127 m).

The Augstbordpass has been documented since the 13th century as the merchants’ and bishops’ way between the Rhône and the Mattertal, and the trail keeps that wise gait: even gradients among junipers and scree to the 2,894-metre notch. The descent crosses the impressive Embd boulder field — passages over blocks, waymarks to follow carefully — and emerges at the Twära viewpoint, the Mattertal a thousand metres below and the Mischabel giants opposite. Jungen, an eagle’s nest served by a tiny cable car, offers a last stop before the final switchbacks to St. Niklaus.