Matterhorn crossing

The Matterhorn is one of the highest – and certainly one of the most famous peaks of the Alps. With its 4478 m height and its rugged and steep ridges, the "Monte Cervino" – as the mountain is called in Italian – is not only a landmark and popular photo motif for the Swiss but also gained international fame long ago. The first ascent was celebrated by the Brit Edward Whymper in 1865, though it was overshadowed by the fatal fall of four climbers from his team. To this day, the Matterhorn remains a dream for many skilled alpinists. The most frequented route leads over the Hörnli ridge located in the northeast. This is used for the descent on our tour; we ascend via the southwestern Lion ridge to the summit. This was also first climbed in 1865 – just a few days after Whymper, the mountaineer Jean Antoine Carrel set out for it. The small rifugio where we stay overnight is named after him. Before the installation of the first via ferrata-like protections, it was necessary to overcome