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Mountain
climbing tours
General
information | Climbing the Matterhorn | Clothing is equally
important
Zermatt offers the choice of some 30 four-thousanders
to be climbed. The normal duration of these tours is two days.
The first day is occupied with the climb to the hut, and on the
second, climbing in view is the norm. Please note that these are serious climbs.
Those undertaking should be in excellent physical condition,
and should have the appropriate equipment.
Four-thousanders should not be climbed
without a guide. Published fees are available in the guide's office. In addition
to these fees are the costs of accommodation in the huts, arising
transport and guide's expenses. Larger group are advised to incorporate
at least one day of less stenuous ascents. A day on the Riffelhorn
is a good suggestion. Equipment requirements, note: climbing
gear can be hired at local sport shops.
A climbing outfit should include waterproof jacket, good climbing
boots with profiled rubber sole, gloves, hat, sunglasses, sun-cream
and a head lamp. For centain tours climbers will need an ice
axe and crampons. Rope is provided by the guide.
Climbing the Matterhorn
The fame of the Matterhorn has caused it to
attract climbers, both prepared and less so in droves. many have
no idea of the degree of fitness and skill required for any attempt
to climb it. It is a most serious matter, and a guide should
accompany even the most experienced of climbers. Non-experienced
climbers should not even consider a Matterhorn ascent.
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That may
seem like basic, or even unnecessary advise, but readers would
be amazed to know of the amount of totally inexperienced holiday
markers who want to pit their non-existent skills againsts the
forces of nature. Less surprising is the number of them who come
to grief.
To attempt to climb the
Matterhorn, one should
be in the best of shape, and have done exercises with crampons.
It is also necessary to spend some days training in the Zermatt
area. This will help one get used to the difference in altitude.
Again we suggest that you ask at the guide's office for full
information.
It is necessary to spend a night in the Hornlui
mountain hut which can be reached from Schwarzsee cable-car station
within 2 hours. At 4.00-5.00 a.m. your guide will wake you up,
and, after a hearty breakfast, you will start the actual 4-5
hour climb to the top. Your guide will provide the ropes and
other essential mountain climbing paraphernalia for you. The
descent takes the same length of time depending on the amount
of snow on the Matterhorn (Hornliridge), the best time to attempt
the climb is from mid July to mid-September. If there is too
much snow on the mountain, no attempt should be made.
If you plan to take many pictures during the
climb, it is advisable to inform your guide, as he usually likes
to maintain a certain rhythm in going up and down. This practice
helps avoid unnecessary fatigue. In case of emergency, Zermatt
hat its own rescue helicopter service. If the climb is completed successfully, a
special certificate and medal is available to the climber at
the guides' office for a small fee.
Clothing is equally important
Clothing for high mountain climbing should
include good leathere mountain boots with rubber soles, which
can be rented at Zermatt. Also a must are warm socks and stockings,
climbing trousers or knickerbockers, warm woolen long sleeved
underwear which absorbs perspiration and dries quickly, sport
shirt, sweater, a windbreaker, two pairs of woolen gloves, and
hat. Climbers should also have preferable two pairs of
sunglasses, suntan lotion, lip-cream and a headlamp. Be sure to get glucose to prevent exhaustion.
The food taken on the climb consists of dried fruits, chocolate
and tea.
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