Mar 26

Melting snow prompts border change between Switzerland and Italy


Ryder-Walker Guide and Office Guru, Mike Thurk, forwarded me a wonderful photo yesterday. The object in the foreground is called a grolla, and it’s an object that’s unique to the Val d’Aosta region of northern Italy. The grolla is a drinking cup filled with espresso, grappa and secret Italian love. Friends come together and pass this thing around while drinking from one of the multiple wooden spouts.

You find these “friendship cups” in Courmayeur, but you also find them in the stores around Cervinia, directly opposite of Zermatt, which got me thinking about the recent article below. Will there a be a day when the grolla becomes a popular tradition in Zermatt? What about rösti and weizen bier in Cervinia? Check out the following article to see what I’m talking about. The affected area includes the region around the Matterhorn.

From the Independent:

Global warming is dissolving the Alpine glaciers so rapidly that Italy and Switzerland have decided they must re-draw their national borders to take account of the new realities.

The border has been fixed since 1861, when Italy became a unified state. But for the past century the surface area of the “cryosphere”, the zone of glaciers, permanent snow cover and permafrost, has been shrinking steadily, with dramatic acceleration in the past five years. This is the area over which the national frontier passes and the two countries have now agreed…read more.

You Might Also Like...
Calling all adventurous ladies! Are you a solo female explorer seeking to hike with other
Find Your Ideal Dolomites Adventure! It’s easy to see why Ryder-Walker’s many hiking options in
Fall Favorites: Food from the Alps Autumn in the Alps offers a wonderful chance to
Many of Ryder-Walker’s favorite alpine adventures lead to magical, high-altitude alpine lakes, nestled like sapphire
Our Favorite Global Trekking Trips for Fall Crisp morning air, changing leaves, striking views, cozy
There are few hiking experiences as enjoyable as a trailside picnic on a beautiful sunny
Hiking Trips With Luggage Transfers Long ago we discovered the many benefits of ditching our
5 Rules to Follow in a Lightning Storm Mountain weather is known to change quickly
A trip to the peaceful Engadine valley located in southeast Switzerland never fails to delight,
Our Favorite Lesser Known Hiking Trips That Avoid Crowds Are you looking for a unique,
Our Favorite Hiking Trips for Food Lovers If you know us at Ryder-Walker, you know
Food and Drink Pairing Favorites from the Alps To celebrate the first few days of