The Matterhorn

This climb is for advances climbers and requires prior climbing experience on alpine rock terrain. Climbers should be able to climb up to 5.7 in boots. We strongly recommend a Matterhorn Prep program or some sort of training that helps climbers prepare for this summit climb. Some combination of the two may suffice so please contact the office with questions.

Excellent physical condition. It is a very demanding summit day and the pre-climbs are also demanding.

Along with the required crampon skills and previous mountaineering experience, we strongly encourage climbers to have previous alpine rock climbs. Routes such as Fischer Chimneys on Mt. Shuskan, Forbidden Peak, and alpine rock routes in Washington Pass are great training climbs. In addition, practicing rock climbing at a rock gym will greatly help out climbers.

Jonathon Spitzer is our lead guide and Alps program director. He and his team of guides will work with you on the summit. The Matterhorn summit climb is guided at a 1:1 ratio; the previous four days of training is guided at a 2:1 ratio.

July and August are the best times to climb the Matterhorn.

Generally, our maximum for this climb is seven climbers, plus guides.

Lodging for this expedition is in hotels, lodges, or hut structures while on the mountain. You will share rooms on this expedition but you may pay a higher fee for single rooms while in the cities.

On summit day, climbers carry approximately 15–20 lbs., but we suggest you train with more.

Please review the Gear List.

Those requesting rental gear must submit an expedition rental form with payment by fax or mail. All rental gear will be mailed to the climber prior to the climb. Climbers are expected to clean all rental gear and return it to us by mail following the expedition.

While all items are required, there may be times when some of the items on the Gear List may not be used (such as warm weather or changing conditions). The Gear Lists are created by the guides to assist in having climbers be prepared to summit in any conditions.

While it is impossible for us to list all brands for certain gear, we do offer a wide variety of equipment in our Gear Shop that has been handpicked by our staff of mountaineering experts. Please feel free to call our offices with any gear questions or substitutes. Plastic boots are required for this climb.

We purchase bottled water prior to camps on the mountain. Once on the mountain we will boil water prior to drinking, when necessary.

Dinners are typically composed of soup, cheese, bread, a meat dish served with a grain, and dessert. The huts can accommodate vegetarians. A typical French breakfast of bread and jam is served in the morning with coffee and tea.

You may bring power bars, Gu, or similar high-energy foods. All meals will be provided on this climb.

No requirements at this time.

There are many routes through Europe to Zurich.

Fares are generally less expensive when booked early. You may use our travel agent (Charles Mulvehill 1-800-727-2157) or book flights yourself. Please note that flights booked online are often difficult to change. Please send us a copy of your flight schedule as early as possible as this allows us to book pick ups and hotels.

The hotel is located less than one block from the train station in Zermatt. Your guide will meet you at 7 a.m. on the morning of Day 3.

We are happy to make arrangements such as personalized tours, extra hotels rooms, airport pickups, and private rooms. Please indicate that you would like a private room on your application and we will contact you with information on single-room supplemental costs (for hotels only).

No visas are required for US citizens.

Cell phone service works in Zermatt and around some of the mountain huts.

Switzerland has an amazing history and is vast. There are a few books on the Matterhorn and the region. Check the Reading List page of the website.

You can always call our offices and one of the guides will contact you, generally about one month before your trip departure. Thirty days prior to departure, we mail a list of other team members to you. You can email Jonathon Spitzer at [email protected] if you wish to contact him directly.

About $500 should easily cover any extra expenses and tips. Most climbers prefer to bring about $1,000 and have credit cards.

Guides are permitted to accept — and greatly appreciate — tips. Tipping guidelines will be outlined in your confirmation package.

You may call our offices with a credit card or mail/fax an application with a check or credit card number.

Each climber should submit an application and flight information.

We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express, personal checks, and Alpine Ascents gift certificates. To reserve a space, the deposit is $700.00 and balances are due 120 days prior to departure. Unpaid balances can result in forfeiture of trip.

Note: Alpine Ascents International highly recommends trip cancellation insurance for all expeditions. Due to the nature and heavy costs of government and operator permits, Alpine Ascents International must adhere to a stringent refund policy.

• Each deposit, regardless of amount, includes a $200.00 nonrefundable registration fee.
• All balances are due 120 days prior to departure date unless otherwise specified.
• Full refunds, less registration fee, will be provided 120 days or more prior to the expedition date.
• Refunds of 50% will be provided 90-119 days prior to expedition date.
• No refunds will be provided 89-days prior to the expedition date.
• All refund requests must be made in writing and be received in our office within the deadlines stated above.
• Participants whose balances are not received by the 120th day deadline as stated above risk forfeiture of their place on the expedition.

Note: Alpine Ascents reserves the right to waive any fees. As we offer personalized service, we will attempt to accommodate changes and cancellations when necessary, waiving certain fees when feasible.

We can arrange early departure if need be.