Monte Rosa Classic Climbs (CH-ITA)

technically not very difficult but physically challenging

On the border between Switzerland and Italy, a number of high altitude snow and ice peaks are located challenging side by side. In 5 days time you can climb about 5 4,000 meter peaks! It's obvious that this is one of the most popular tours of our program. A beautiful glacier traverse in the heart of the Valais Alps with numerous climbs in the second highest mountain massif of the Alps (after Mont Blanc).

This tour is gradual in height adjustment, but we recommend that you'll acclimatize a few days before the tour starts. Very nice is the contrast of climbing on the vast white glaciers in the high alpine mountains and the green valleys, forests and typical Italian mountain villages of the Val d'Ayas.

The meeting point is in the Mattertal near Zermatt where you can park for free at the hotel (or arrive by train at the railwaystation at only a couple of 100 meters from the hotel). The gear will be distributed and checked and an excellent 4 course dinner is awaiting you. You'll stay the night in modern 4-person dorms with private shower and toilet. The next morning we will take the hotel taxi bus to Zermatt. We hike through the center of Zermatt and take the lift to Trockener Steg (2939m.) From there it's not far to the beautifully located Gandegg hut (3029m), which gives us time to practice cramponing, rope and ice axe techniques next to the hut. Now everyone is well prepared to go on tour! The next day we climb the Breithorn (4164m) from the Klein Matterhorn (3880m). In good weather we have a magnificent view of the Matterhorn, Dent d'Hérens, Gran Paradiso, Täschhorn, Dom and also on the Monte Rosa massif with the Castor, Pollux, Lyskamm and Dufourspitze. After the Breithorn descent, we have to cross the Grande Ghiacciaio towards the Col (3700m) below the Pollux before descending to Lambronecciahut (3426m) where we have a lunch and drink. Then we follow the long descent to the beautiful Val d'Ayas where we spend the night in Resy's gite (2072m). A beer on the terrace is wonderfull and the shower is delicious. We are pampered with delights from the Valle d'Aosta. Via the Colle di Bettaforca we arrive the next day in the valley of Gressoney and head up to the tastefully renovated Rif. Mantova (3401m). This is the starting point for the climbs of the Vincent Pyramid (4245m), Balmenhorn (4167m), Ludwigshöhe (4341m) and Signalkuppe (4554m), perhaps the Zumsteinspitze (4563m) for the strongest participants. In the Rif.Margherita, Europe's highest-lying hut (4554m), we come to power with a cappuccino and pie or a minestrone soup! We descend across the wild Grenz glacier to about 3000m. Then the last hike to the state-of-the-art comfortable Monte Rosahut (2795m) over rocks and paths. The hut is very nice, well-organized, beautiful view and you'll enjoy a good night's sleep here after dinner. The last day is very adventurous with a descend to the glacier and then over suspension bridges, ice and ladders up to the road that ends at Rotenboden where we take the Gornergrat train to Zermatt. A really great end to a great week!