Ski Switzerland's Biggest Mountains: The 4000er Challenge

Tick off more than a dozen of the Alps' legendary 4000ers in the coolest way possible - on your skis!

Charlie Boscoe

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Lyskamm from Pollux

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Punta Perazzi

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Strahlhorn Final Slopes Jon Morgan

by Jon Morgan

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Strahlhorn Summit Cross Jon Morgan

by Jon Morgan

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Final ascent to the Strahlhorn with Matterhorn behind Jon Morgan

by Jon Morgan

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Allalinhorn in descent Charlie Boscoe

by Charlie Boscoe

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Allalinhorn from the summit Charlie Boscoe

by Charlie Boscoe

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Allalinhorn, view to Alphubel Charlie Boscoe

by Charlie Boscoe

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Alphubel- your ascent route is up the L most glacier Flickr

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Alphubel from the S

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Final steps to the summit of Piz Bernina

by Jon Morgan

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Complex glacial terrain near Bellavista

by Jon Morgan

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View back to the Marco e Rosa Hut

by Jon Morgan

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Descending from Piz Bernina

by Jon Morgan

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Description

Of the 82 Alpine 4000 metre peaks, no less than 48 of them are in Switzerland. For such a small country that's an exceptionally dense collection of huge mountains and this guidebook will give you all the information you need to ski some of those famous peaks.

The most legendary Swiss mountain of all - the Matterhorn - has never been skied from its summit but we've included here a route description for the East face; the only feasible way of making any turns on the mountain and a much sought after prize even if it doesn't start right from the top.

Elsewhere the routes listed in this guidebook are much more amenable but the height of the mountains and the sheer size of the terrain around them means that none of the lines described are easy. Each one requires perfect weather as well as good snow conditions and they should only be attempted by skilled, fit and acclimatised skiers.

If, before tackling these routes, you want to build up some Swiss ski touring experience on slightly lower peaks, check out our guidebook to the Traverse of the Western Bernese Oberland, a classic hut to hut trip.

https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/3667/a-swiss-ski-tour-classic:-the-western-oberland-traverse

Adventures