Zermatt
Alpine Climbing
Zermatt, Switzerland
June-September
From $500/day
The Matterhorn might be the most iconic mountain in the world, but it’s just one of many jewels in Zermatt’s alpine crown. And while its famed Hörni Ridge is for experts only, there’s nowhere more perfect for beginner to intermediate climbers than the 4000 meter peaks of Zermatt and the surrounding valleys.
All of our favorite climbing destinations are special for a reason, and Zermatt’s forte is undoubtedly four-thousanders. The area is jam-packed with stunning 4,000 meter peaks, and almost all of them offer amazing outings to high summits with only moderate technical difficulties.
What’s even neater than the height of the peaks though, is the style of climbing they offer. With few exceptions, the classic routes of the area follow soaring ridgelines, as if the peaks were just made for climbing. Add to that the excellent Swiss huts, easy access, and the fact that Zermatt’s routes are often in great shape late into the season and you’ll begin to see the attraction.
Zermatt is the perfect training ground for aspiring alpinists, especially those looking to prepare for the grand classics like the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc or Eiger.
If you’d like to climb in the Alps but aren’t sure where, Zermatt may be the perfect fit, and for those ready to tackle the Matterhorn already, just let us know and we’d love to climb it with you.
There’s a reason Switzerland is synonymous with mountains. The wealth of objectives in the valleys around Zermatt is unmatched, with gorgeous huts, a wild feel, and endless elegant ridges just begging to be climbed.
Getting There and Around
Zermatt is easy to reach from airports in either Geneva or Zurich. Meticulously punctual trains run regularly (this is Switzerland after all), or one can rent a car and drive. We like to stay at our friend and third-generation mountain guide Christoph’s hotel, and as it is a world-famous destination for skiers, climbers and tourists alike, Zermatt is full of shops and restaurants of all sorts.
Many of our objectives start by either boarding a lift or hiking right from town, while some in the adjacent valleys have us driving around to the villages of Saas Fee, Saas Grund and Saas Amagell. Opportunities exist for a variety of types of climbing, and for day trips, overnights, and multi-day traverses.
Some of our favorites include the gorgeous ridges of the Breithorn and Weissmies, the exceptional mixed climbing of the Zinalrothorn and Ober Gabelhorn, the fun, long alpine rock routes of the Jegihorn and Portjengrat, and the so-called Spaghetti Traverse, a brilliant outing that can be in as little as a few days or as long as week, climbing multiple peaks and staying in mountain huts as we weave our way along the Swiss/Italian border of the Monte Rosa.
Regardless of the itinerary, a visit to Zermatt usually finds us on multiple summits in a week, climbing a variety of rock, snow and mixed, and of course getting our fill of the traditional rösti, the local après climbing snack.
