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.

Charlie Boscoe

Images

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Castor summit, looking N.jpg
Castor summit, looking N

by taquiman

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Castor, showing obvious track up WNW flank.jpg
Castor, view looking W with Matterhorn clearly visible on skyline.jpg
Castor, ridge descending from the summit.jpg
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Gnifetti Hut Personal Collection

by Jon Morgan

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Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge.jpg
Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge

by Shay Solomon

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Weisshorn with E Ridge on the L skyline

by Björn S...

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Weisshorn E Ridge in profile on the L.jpg
Weisshorn E Ridge in profile on the L

by Björn S...

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Ascent to the Hörnli hut (3,260 m) Kurt Müller

by Zermatt Tourismus

Hörnli Hut ¦ Base Camp Matterhorn - Reopening summer 2015 Leander Wenger

by Zermatt Tourismus

The path leads over metal walkways Fabienne Fux-Schaller

by Zermatt Tourismus

View from the hut over the surrounding mountains and the village Fabienne Fux-Schaller

by Zermatt Tourismus

Matterhorn, Hörnli Ridge centre R.jpg
Matterhorn, Hörnli Ridge centre R

by xulescu_g

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Matterhorn, showing shouldr upwards to the summit.jpg
Matterhorn, Hörnli ridge between sun and shade.jpg
Matterhorn, in very dry conditions at dawn.jpg
Matterhorn, in very dry conditions at dawn

by Hindol Bhattacharya

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Relaxing on the terrace after the climb up

by Peter Riley

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Departing the summit and heading down

by Peter Riley

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The Matterhorn at sunrise

by Peter Riley

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On the way up at first light

by Peter Riley

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Back on flat ground and trying to beat the weather!

by Peter Riley

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Valsorey Hut with views of Mt Velan

by Guy FLORIN

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Grand Combin with Meitin Ridge on L.jpg
Grand Combin with Meitin Ridge on L

by Fulvio Spada

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Early morning from Konkordiaplatz

by martin_vmorris

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View of the Finsteraarhorn from the col.jpg
View of the Finsteraarhorn from the col

by Matteo Leoni

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Looking back to Konkordia from the col.jpg
Looking back to Konkordia from the col

by Matteo Leoni

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Looking up to the pass from Konkordia.jpg
Looking up to the pass from Konkordia

by Matteo Leoni

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Impreesive view to the E.jpg
Impressive view to the E

by Matteo Leoni

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Finsteraarhorn showing N Ridge in profile on L of summit.jpg
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Final Summit Ridge

by Matteo Leoni

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Alphubel from the S

by Björn S...

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Alphubel in middle of panorama

by Franco Pecchio

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Alphubel Victorian Picture

by Ashley Van Haeften

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Alphubel clearly showing the track on the L.jpg
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Zinalrothorn through the clouds

by Guillaume Baviere

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Spiky Zinalrothorn, dwarfed by Weisshorn and Matterhorn.jpg
Red rock on the Zinalrothorn.jpg
Red rock on the Zinalrothorn

by Franco Pecchio

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View at dawn from Zinalrothorn summit.jpg
View at dawn from Zinalrothorn summit

by Franco Pecchio

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Intersoc Belgium

by Joris Hollebosch

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Intersoc Belgium

by Joris Hollebosch

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Intersoc Belgium

by Joris Hollebosch

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Intersoc Belgium

by Joris Hollebosch

The mighty traverse from a distance.jpg
The mighty traverse from a distance

by Björn S...

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The traverse from the N, with Lenzspitze Nadelhorn superimposed.jpg
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No escape off the ridge

by Ralf Frenken

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Kurt Müller
Leander Wenger
Fabienne Fux-Schaller
Fabienne Fux-Schaller

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!

Adventures

Monte Rosa, 4634m

A huge journey for the very ambitious and very well acclimatised mountain athlete.

Dom N Flank

A long and impressive glacial journey to a remote summit, after a big hut approach the day before

Weisshorn E Ridge

This is without doubt one of the finest ridges on one of the finest peaks in the Alps.

Hörnliweg

This trail leads to what is probably the key location in Zermatt, the Hörnli Hut ¦ Base Camp Matterhorn at the foot of the Matterhorn. Historically this has been the heart of all the action, and remains so today.

Dent Blanche South Ridge

A true alpine classic with utterly spectacular views across the other 4000ers of the Swiss Valais.

Alphubel, 4206m

A long glacial journey up a complicated glacier to a remote summit.