Your first 4000m peak

hut-to-hut From Saas Fee to Zermatt with the climb of the Breithorn (4162 m)

Have you ever walked or skied in the (high) mountains and your in for more? This is the perfect introduction to mountaineering! Roped up by an experienced IFMGA-certified mountain guide, you'll be introduced to the world of high mountains. You'll learn rope techniques, how to use ice axes and crampons, and hike on glaciers and steep paths with views of the famous Valais four-thousanders, from the Saas Valley to the Matter Valley. Along the way, you'll sleep in mountain huts and a mountain restaurant. By the end of the week we'll be fully acclimatised for the ascent of the Breithorn 4162m, your first four-thousand-metre peak!

Highlights:

 

• Learn about mountaineering in the midst of the famous 4,000 metre peaks.
• Glacier trekking with technical training; you'll learn the mountaineering techniques you'll need during the trek.
• You will be accompanied by an experienced IFMGA-certified mountain guide.
• All technical equipment is included.
• The highlight of the trip will be the ascent of a four-thousand-metre peak!

The Valais Alps in Switzerland are famous for their many magnificent peaks over 4,000 metres high. Nowhere else in the Alps will you find so many mountains above 4,000 metres. As well as the many technically demanding peaks, there are also a small number of technically easier peaks, perfect for a beginner's introduction to mountaineering. One of these is the Breithorn, which rises to an altitude of 4,162 metres, just a stone's throw from the famous Matterhorn.
 

Program

Day 1 - Welcome to Saas Fee

At 6 pm, we meet up in the car-free mountain village of Saas Fee, at our base: the Wellness Hostel in Saas Fee. In the evening, your mountain guide will discuss the programme for the coming days. He will then check the contents of your rucksack and clothing, and hand over your technical equipment.
 

Overnight at the Wellness Hostel in a family room.

Day 2 - Glacier Training

We take the cable car up to Längfluh (2,867 m), which lies right on the edge of the Fee glacier. We practise walking on boulder terrain and work on our balance and stability. From here, the snow and ice of the glacier are not far away, and we practise walking with crampons and ice axes. We also practise climbing with ropes. Conditions permitting, we look for a suitable crevasse and briefly cover the basics of crevasse rescue by demonstrating rope techniques and practising a team pull.

This day serves immediately as acclimatisation, as from the third day we sleep in high-altitude refuges.

Overnight at the Wellness Hostel in a family room.

Day 3 -Traverse from the Saas Valley to the Matter Valley

It's an early wake-up call, because it's going to be a long, impressive and spicy day. We take the very first Alpine Metro early in the morning and descend to Felskinn (2988 m), from where we immediately reach the Hohlaub glacier via a tunnel. The route takes us past the Britannia hut and then up the glacier to the Col Allalin (3,564 m). We cross the southern slope of the Allalinhorn (4027 m) towards the Alphubel. At the end of the Alphubel glacier, at 3,300 m, we can remove our crampons and continue on a path to the Täschhütte (2,701 m).
 

Overnight at Täschhütte (2,701 m).

Day 4 - From the Täschhütte to Fluhalp

After a night in the mountain hut, we continue along the southern slope to the end of Täschalp. To reach the Pfulwe pass (3,270 m), we first take a path, then cross the snowfields to the top of the pass. If the conditions are right, we'll have plenty of time to enjoy the magnificent view of the entire Monte Rosa massif and the Matterhorn. After a descent of around 2 ½ hours, we reach the pleasant Fluhalp mountain inn, where there is running water and showers.
 

Overnight at the Fluhalp Mountain Hostel.

Day 5 - Hike above Zermatt

In preparation for the final day, which culminates on the Breithorn, today we're hiking around Zermatt via the Riffelalp (2299m) and the Gornerschlucht to Furi and Furgg, then on to the Trockener Steg lift station at 2939m. We take the cable car from Furi to Trockener Steg. From there it's just 20 minutes to the Gandegg hut (3,029 m).
 

Overnight in the Gandegg hut (3,029 m).
 

Day 6 - Climbing the Breithorn

After a final night in a mountain hut, we hike to the Trockener Steg station after breakfast and take the cable car up to the Klein Matterhorn at 3883m. At the top, we hike roped up to the foot of the Breithorn glacier plateau. Here, we begin the ascent with crampons. In the end, we have just 300 metres to go before reaching the summit of our first 4,000-metre peak at 4,162 metres! From here, we enjoy an unforgettable view of the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, the Gran Paradiso region with the Aosta Valley, the Po plain, Monte Viso and Genoa in the distance, as well as the Bernese Alps on the other side.
 

After descending to the Klein Matterhorn, we take the cable car down to Zermatt station. We'll enjoy a leisurely stroll through the car-free town of Zermatt and head to one of the many terraces with a view of ‘our’ Breithorn. A cold drink and a pizza will be most welcome! We return to Saas Fee by taxi (or train and bus). Time to say goodbye to the guide.

Overnight at the Wellness Hostel Saas-Fee.

A flexible attitude is required! The programme can be adapted to current conditions, and in particular the crossing can only be made in excellent weather conditions. This programme is also a good preparation for the ascent of Mont Blanc.

Prices private arrangements