Matterhorn Ascent

On the day before the climb, one takes the cable car from Zermatt (1,620 m) to Schwarzsee (2,583 m). From there, one follows the hiking trail to the Hörnli Hut Matterhorn (3,260 m). The climb to the hut takes about two hours. One should not arrive too early, since the hut is only ready for occupancy after 3 pm. After dinner, a discussion of the schedule plan for the next day takes place and the equipment is controlled. And then it is time to go to sleep. Because the hut warden wakes climbers at 4 am, and after breakfast, it is time to put on the climbing harness, hiking boots and helmet.

Climbers with mountain guides form a column and set off by foot first. In the dark, it is difficult to find the correct path; here, a mountain guide and a headlamp are necessary. It is very important to walk carefully on the loose gravel, because every misstep could start a rockslide for the following climbers.

The enjoyment of climbing on the Hörnligrat is a real pleasure for the mountain guides if one is fit enough to do so. The experience at the summit is unforgettable. Once one is at the top, there is a breath-taking panorama in every direction: Mont Blanc, the Grande Paradiso of the Bernese Alps and below the Liongrat towards Italy, the steep north face and the Mattertal.

• Climbing difficulty 4
• The overall difficulty of the tour is given as “ZS+”
• The new Hörnli Hut Matterhorn opens after July 2015 as part of the 150 anniversary of the first ascent of the Matterhorn
• A mountain guide is strongly recommended
• The route along the Hörnligrat is usually hard to find
• In part, exposed climbing sections with a risk of falling
• Absolutely sure footed and free from vertigo required

Hörnligrat
The climbers, who made the first ascent already used this route to conquer the Matterhorn in 1865. The Hörnligrat is primarily gneiss, which means that the danger of sliding and falling rocks is great. For this reason, it is important to engage a mountain guide for the climb. If one is just one metre off the route, one is already subject to falling rocks or can cause that. There are a few famous places that one passes on the way to the top: during the ascent past the protecting Madonna, at Grampiturm, yellow stripe, faules Eck (lazy corner), bite, lower and upper Moseley plate, Solvay Hut, shoulder, fixed rope, roof, Swiss summit (4,478 m), Italian summit (4,477 m) with metal peak cross. The Solvay Hut at 4,003 m) on the Hörnligrat was built in 1915, and is only a hut for shelter when climbers have an emergency.