When I was in college in the 1980’s and studying “abroad” in Vienna for a semester, I took a weekend trip to Switzerland. The landscape was phenomenal. Lush green valleys with clusters of yellow daffodils blooming everywhere. Snow topped mountains released dozens of waterfalls that cascaded into the valleys below. I spent the first two days snapping pictures left and right. On my final day, I took the train to Zermatt to see the might Matterhorn. It was one of the places I had always wanted to visit and it proved to be stunning. However, in one of my biggest photographic fails, I had left my camera behind in the hostel back in Interlaken. I was devastated and although Zermatt was incredible, I had no images from the trip (remember, cell phones were not a thing back then). I knew that someday, I would have to make my way back and try again.

35 years later I had my chance to return to Zermatt. In between visits, I had started and completed a successful litigation carrier, married the most wonderful woman in the world, raised two children, retired from the practice of law, and had become a professional photographer. I lot had changed for me and I wondered if Zermatt had similarly changed. Had it lost its Alpine charm? Had it become another tourist Disneyland? Would I even find it slightly remarkable?

My wife booked us into a wonderful hotel that boasted of its view of the Matterhorn. It sat atop a hill and one has to enter through a cave on the edge of town and then take an elevator up, up, up to the hotel itself.

When we opened the door to our room, were were immediately drawn to the balcony from which we had the most spectacular view: The town of Zermatt sat at our feet. Rising above the town was a deep , green valley that opened onto an unobstructed view of the Matterhorn, which itself was reflecting the last rays of the sun. It took our breaths away and, how about this, it was the view from inside the room as well as from the balcony! If you ever get the chance to visit Zermatt, consider the Chalet Hotel Schonegg as it will not disappoint!

So now I was in the perfect place. The next day was forecast for perfect weather. Typically, the top of the Matterhorn is covered in clouds and clear days are the exception. I checked the time for sunrise and realized this was the opportunity I had waited for three decades for. Cracking my eye open at 5:50 a.m., I peered out the window and saw a clear sky with just the hint of morning light. This was it! I quickly threw on some warm clothes, grabbed my camera and tripod, and slid out onto the balcony without waking my wife. I set up my gear with a vertical crop to include the town below and the Matterhorn above. I knew from years of backpacking that the sun would hit the top of the Matterhorn first and then work its way down the eastern flank, so I was now in position.

While I sat there in the cold waiting for the sun to rise, I was struck by the sounds. Zermatt prohibits cars so there is no sound of traffic: no horns, no engines, no doors slamming. Instead, the only sounds are that of the glacier-fed river rushing through town and the quarterly chime of the Parish Church of St. Mauritius. So peaceful. So pristine. And then, the magic began.

The very tip of the Matterhorn suddenly turned into a shinning golden point. Not pale light. Not yellow. Gold! I quickly snapped a shot; checked the image, made a few adjustments, and snapped another. 3 minutes later, I snapped another. It was hard to tell the difference, but I was pretty sure the golden spear had grown. Another 3 minutes and then another snap. I followed this pattern for just over an hour. The light show was incredible as the sun slowly slid down the mountain, eventually settling on the higher ridges of valley below. I couldn’t actually see the sunlight moving as it was quite gradual, but I was certainly aware that more of the mountain was glowing with that magnificent gold. Later, I would edit these images together into a short time lapse – the best way to share this beautiful moment in nature. But at the moment, I simple sat there, huddled up to keep warm, a smile across my face, knowing that I had just witnessed a scene out of a fairytale. Oh yes, Switzerland is a magical place for a photographer!