Monte Rosa, 4634m
A huge journey for the very ambitious and very well acclimatised mountain athlete.
Moderate Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 18 km
- Ascent
- 2.1 km
- Descent
- 2.1 km
Climb Switzerland's 10 Highest Peaks!
The 10 biggest mountains in the most 4000er-dense Alpine country, plus a couple of "bonus" summits en route.
Alpine Climbing, Hiking Easy, Moderate, Difficult, Severe
Also in Aoste, Italy • Vercelli, Italy
Description
Switzerland is home to more than half of the 82 Alpine 4000 metre peaks, and there's no question that it is the best country in Europe for peak baggers. Some of the mountains there are legendary - think the Matterhorn, Eiger, Monte Rosa and Jungfrau - whereas others, such as the Zinal Rothorn, are slightly less known but equally deserving of attention.
In here you'll find everything you'll need to climb the 10 highest mountains in the country, plus a couple of nice little bonus summits too. The 2 bonus summits are also 4000ers (Castor and the Breithorn) and lie en route to the hut from which you climb Lyskamm and Monte Rosa.
The logical place to start on this list is with the Finsteraarhorn because even getting to the peak involves 2 glacier treks and 2 nights in mountain huts so you should be acclimatised enough to summit by the time you're in position. Once that acclimatisation is in the bag, the Dent Blanche and Grand Combin are good next stops, and then it's on to the Zermatt and Saas Fee area to get started on the legendary peaks in that region.
In case it isn't immediately obvious, working through this guidebook is a huge undertaking requiring skill, fitness, acclimatisation and a healthy dose of luck with weather and conditions. Don't expect to be done with this lot within a month - consider it a long term project and enjoy the journey!
Routes included
Approach to the Dent Blanche Hut
A long, tough climb to a spectacularly situated Swiss mountain hut.
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 8.1 km
- Ascent
- 1.7 km
- Descent
- 40 m
Dent Blanche South Ridge
A true alpine classic with utterly spectacular views across the other 4000ers of the Swiss Valais.
Difficult Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 4.2 km
- Ascent
- 851 m
- Descent
- 849 m
Alphubel, 4206m
A long glacial journey up a complicated glacier to a remote summit.
Moderate Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 7.5 km
- Ascent
- 1.3 km
- Descent
- 1.3 km
Matterhorn, 4478m. Hörnli Ridge.
The least difficult route up the most famous mountain in the Alps, if not the world.
Difficult Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 3.5 km
- Ascent
- 1.2 km
- Descent
- 1.2 km
Zinalrothorn, 4221m. Traverse of SE Ridge, descending N Ridge.
A justifiably popular traverse of a beautiful mountain, on very good rock.
Difficult Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 6.3 km
- Ascent
- 984 m
- Descent
- 1.3 km
Castor traverse, 4223m
A classic high traverse of a major 4000m peak
Moderate Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 5.3 km
- Ascent
- 823 m
- Descent
- 605 m
Descent from Gnifetti Hut
A steady descent to the Punta Indren lift
Easy Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 1.6 km
- Ascent
- 16 m
- Descent
- 365 m
Breithorn South Face to the Guide d'Ayas Hut
A popular route on a beautifully positioned peak.
Moderate Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 6.3 km
- Ascent
- 388 m
- Descent
- 817 m
Approach to Weisshorn Hut
A lovely but long walk through the forest with panoramic views of the 4000m giants
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 6.7 km
- Ascent
- 1.6 km
- Descent
- 35 m
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 the Rothorn Hut
A tough climb from a classic alpine village to a classic alpine hut.
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 7.4 km
- Ascent
- 1.6 km
- Descent
- 18 m
Jungfraujoch to the Konkordia Hut
A physically easy (ish) start to a high mountain adventure.
Easy Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 8 km
- Ascent
- 155 m
- Descent
- 766 m
Weisshorn E Ridge
This is without doubt one of the finest ridges on one of the finest peaks in the Alps.
Difficult Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 7.2 km
- Ascent
- 1.6 km
- Descent
- 1.6 km
Dom N Flank
A long and impressive glacial journey to a remote summit, after a big hut approach the day before
Moderate Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 11 km
- Ascent
- 1.7 km
- Descent
- 1.7 km
Approach to the Valsorey Hut
A long but beautiful hut approach up a wild valley
Severe Hiking
- Distance
- 7.2 km
- Ascent
- 1.4 km
- Descent
- 0 m
Grand Combin. Meitin (West) Ridge
A relatively straightforward scramble on mainly reasonable rock and snow, traversing a high foresummit
Difficult Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 5.4 km
- Ascent
- 1.3 km
- Descent
- 1.3 km
Konkordia Hut to Finsteraarhorn Hut
A high altitude glacial journey which will provide good acclimatisation
Easy Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 5.7 km
- Ascent
- 673 m
- Descent
- 472 m
Finsteraarhorn, SW Flank and N Ridge
A mega-classic route up the highest peak in the area
Moderate Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 5.7 km
- Ascent
- 1.2 km
- Descent
- 1.2 km
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
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