The Matterhorn (Mount Cervin) dominates the town of Zermatt and can be seen from almost everywhere, even if you are not looking up at the Matterhorn then everything about Zermatt is focused on the Matterhorn. To enjoy the pleasures of Zermatt and the surrounding area you do not have to be a hardcore mountaineer or climber although if you are then there are many peaks over 4000m here. The average person can walk around the mountains along many lovely well made paths either traversing the sides of the hill or climbing up and down. You don’t need to walk from Zermatt town you can catch the lift up to a starting point and then go from here either up or down. You do see a lot of people who catch the lift up and walk down, particularly older people and those with families.

There are numerous mountain huts all seem to be staffed by friendly people willing to serve you their own speciality. My personal favourites are the Edelweiss, Trift and the hut in the little hamlet at Tuftern although there are many more.

We did 5 days out of 6 of good walking covering 12+ miles most days with some big ascents and feel much better for it we were also lucky with the weather and only really had one half day of rain which coincided with a rest day anyway. We also saw an eagle sawing high above us and found in just one spot the elusive Edelweiss flower, we managed to get on top of most of the accessible big peaks in the area mainly walking up and down from Zermatt – none of this catching the lift up!!!

However, enjoyment of walking in the wilderness still has to be made with the right and adequate equipment; among the different components that you should take with you as garments, include an adequate jacket that will keep your body protected from low temperatures and freezing winds, walking boots are a must.

Walking boots are designed to provide your feet with additional support when you are walking on uneven surfaces; this support will help protect your ankles from dangerous twists when you lose your footing.   In addition, they will provide your feet with insulation from the cold weather.

Yet, when you are browsing and considering which walking boots to purchase, you need to consider the material they are made from. Some walking boots are crafted from burlap, the same kind that is used in tennis shoes; while this burlap is strong enough to provide some sort of protection, the best material is always leather.

Leather will endure the cold weather and will support walking in the snow; however, the downside of this material is that it will take a longer time to dry after a long walk in the snow, as opposed to burlap that will dry sooner.  Nonetheless, burlap will be punctured and damaged in an easier manner than leather; consequently, you need to consider what type of ground you will be walking on and choose the adequate material for your walking boots.

One additional feature that you need to make sure that your walking boots have in order to help you walk securely in the wilderness, are rubber soles that have traction in them.  Walking boots are very comfortable once you have broken them in; as a result, many people use them for their regular lifestyle. Moreover, the rubber traction sole will provide much more than just comfort.  It is a great isolator and protector against icy patches and even electrical currents, just as long as you do not have the sole integrity compromised with tacks and nails buried in them.

Keeping your walking boots’ integrity as safe as possible will save your life, and preserve the integrity of your feet.  If you attempt to walk on an icy patch without the traction of a proper walking boot or with an overused walking boot that has lost its traction, you risk falling down and injuring yourself; such injuries can go from a mild bump to breaking a bone.

In the same manner, a good pair of walking boots will protect your feet from the cold weather and frostbite.  A good pair of walking boots might not be cheap but the lifespan of the shoes ranges between 3-6 years of continuous usage, so in the long run they will pay for themselves. Therefore, do not count beans when it comes to your life, safety and protection – it is just not worth it.