The Boccalatte Hut.
An exceptional, adventurous hike featuring some sections of easy via ferrata and exposed terrain.
Extreme Hiking
- Distance
- 4 km
- Ascent
- 1.2 km
- Descent
- 0 m
High, Long and Serious : Traverse 5 Tough Alpine 4000ers
The hardest traverses on the biggest and wildest peaks - this is about as serious as it gets in the Alps.
Alpine Climbing, Hiking Easy, Moderate, Difficult, Severe, Extreme
Also in Aoste, Italy • Valais, Switzerland
Description
Climbing an alpine 4000er is always a serious business thanks to altitude, technical difficulty, glacial travel and changeable conditions. There are 82 4000ers and if you've only climbed 1 then you deserve a pat on the back but if you tick some or all of the routes in the guidebook then you deserve a round of applause! These are meaty routes by any standard.
Some of the routes in here require huge approaches before you even reach a glacier and others, such as the Grand Jorasses traverse, also involve a tough descent too. Suffice to say that in addition to climbing these routes, simply getting to and from them represents a major challenge.
If this all sounds a little bit beyond you then here's our suggestions for some slightly easier 4000er traversing options -
So if you've served your alpine apprenticeship and are ready to tackle some of the toughest challenges the Alps have to offer, here is your readymade ticklist!
Routes included
Approach to Dom Hut
A bruiser of a hut approach, but in a beautiful environment.
Severe Hiking
- Distance
- 5.4 km
- Ascent
- 1.5 km
- Descent
- 0 m
Approach to Schreckhorn Hut
A long but very beautiful approach to a remote hut
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 7.7 km
- Ascent
- 1.3 km
- Descent
- 133 m
Approach to the Aar Bivouac Hut
A massive flog or a long and wild journey, according to your take on it!
Easy Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 1.2 km
- Descent
- 276 m
Täschhorn-Dom Traverse
A famous and committing high altitude traverse between two mighty peaks
Severe Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 7.8 km
- Ascent
- 894 m
- Descent
- 1.8 km
Traverse of the Grandes Jorasses, Day 1
A long and very committing route of the highest calibre
Severe Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 4.8 km
- Ascent
- 902 m
- Descent
- 430 m
Traverse of the Grandes Jorasses, Day 2
Committed now, you continue your sensational journey, space-walking along the historic ridge.
Severe Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 3.8 km
- Ascent
- 417 m
- Descent
- 1.5 km
Schreckhorn Lauteraarhorn traverse
One of the finest and longest ridge traverses in the Alps, on great rock
Severe Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 10 km
- Ascent
- 1.8 km
- Descent
- 1.6 km
Approach to the Rossi e Volante Bivouac Hut
A simple but beautiful glacial journey
Easy Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 3.8 km
- Ascent
- 191 m
- Descent
- 244 m
Approach to the Mischabeljoch Bivouac Hut
A very big day from Täschalp which can be split with a night in the Täsch Hut
Moderate Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 8.2 km
- Ascent
- 1.8 km
- Descent
- 99 m
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Zermatt's Mighty 4000 Metre Mountains
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