Where to Ski And Snowboard - Anniversary Swiss climb begins

Anniversary Swiss climb begins

16th July 2015, by Abi Butcher

The Hörnlihütte reopened on Monday as part of the Matterhorn anniversary week

An anniversary ascent of the 4,478m peak of the Matterhorn will take place tomorrow, with a team of climbers from Britain, France, Italy and Switzerland.

The ascent is part of a week — and indeed year — of celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the first ascent of the Matterhorn.

The first summit of the iconic mountain that straddles the Swiss-Italian border took place on 14 July 1865. Four of the seven mountaineers, led by Brit Edward Whymper up the Hörnli ridge on the Swiss north-east, Swiss side, died on the way back down.

A day of silence was held on the Matterhorn on Tuesday, 14 July 2015, to honour more than 500 climbers who have lost their lives trying to reach the summit. On Tuesday, no one was allowed on to the mountain that towers above Zermatt in Switzerland and Cervinia in Italy, with the Swiss threatening a fine of CHF5,000 to anyone who dared break it. That evening, a series of lamps were lit on the climbing route.

On Monday, the Hörnlihütte reopened after a two-year reconstruction project. The hut at 3,260m is one of the most famous in the Alps, and the main starting point for mountaineers who want to reach the summit of the Matterhorn via the Hörligrat.

A whole host of activities are taking place this week and throughout 2015. For more information, visit zermatt.ch