Route Climbed: Normal from Monte Rosa Hut Date Climbed: 16 August 2005
After a snowfall in the previous evening we woke up at 1:30 a.m. with a perfect weather. We started our way up at 3:30 a.m.. The view in the way up and in the ridge was perfect and the weather conditions were very good but a little windy. Perfect summit day !
Route Climbed: Normal from Monte Rosa Htt. Date Climbed: 31 July 2005
With Marius Alba from Romania. We met for the first time the day before summit attack. We did it in 5 hours to the summit. Perfect weather. Nice rocks at the last part before summit. The party at Camping in Zermatt was great :)
Route Climbed: Normal from Monte Rosa Hut Date Climbed: June 17th
We were seriously prepared to make the traverse over Dufourspitze and on to Zumsteinspitze and further on to the Monte Rosa Traverse.
Camped at the 4300 m on the glacier and started early the next morning.
Wind was really strong and the snow conditions a bit difficult and restraining. The snow pack had a 2-3 cm ice coating which did not support your weight. Instead you punged through the knee deep wet snow.
The rocky ridge was as beautiful as before and we made it to the top in pretty good time.
The ridge down towards Zumsteinspitze was coated with a thick pack of loose snow. After trying it out for a while we decided that it would take us too much time to descend and then make it to the Margerita Hut.
So we descended the couloir from the summit of Dufourspitze to the Silbersattel and set our camp there. The highest camping I've done in the Alps and what a setting!
Route Climbed: Normal Route (From Monte Rosa Hutte) Date Climbed: May 8, 2005
Long and cold climb (on skis). Fierce winds on the summit ridge almost nixed it, but we battled through and made it. One 10m section of fixed ropes just before the summit, other than that just some scrambling. Really amazing ski down in about 30cm fresh to the hut, really ardouraous walk carrying skis all the way down to Zermatt, as the snow cut out at the end of the Gorneglaciar. Great climb!
Route Climbed: Normal Route from 4100m Date Climbed: August 14, 2004
Here is a great alternative to the very long normal route to the summit of Monte Rosa: take a helicopter most of the way and then save your endurance for the final ridge and the long descent back to town!
I had come to Zermatt with my sons to climb the Matterhorn. We reached the summit via the Hörnli ridge on Aug. 10, 2004 and just rested from the previous exhausting climb for the next 3 days. My sons had achieved their objective so I was unable to convince them to embark on another long trek up the normal route (via the Monte Rosa hut) to the Dufourspitze . Our local guide suggested the following compromise: a helicopter ride (provided by Air Zermatt) until to the Monte Rosa saddle, and then the use of our legs for the rest of the climb. It sounded like a great idea because in that way we would save a lot of energy and the cost of the overnight stay at the hut. Those savings, however, were outbalanced by the extra cost of the helicopter flight.
Therefore, on the last morning of our fortnight stay we woke up in the cozy beds at our pension and met the guide at the Helipad in town [alt. 1620m] at 8:00. It was a gorgeous, clear and hot summer day in the valley but higher up it was quite a different situation. The helicopter took us in less than 15 minutes to 4100m where it was cold and very windy. Fortunately we had taken appropriate clothing and extra wind protection in our backpacks. The ridge which leads to the summit was quite easy when compared to the Hörnli ridge. We arrived at the Dufourspitze [alt. 4634m] at 10:30 and enjoyed the spectacular views in all directions.
We were able to fully enjoy the dramatic seracs and other glacial formations on our descent on foot because we had not expended as much energy on the climb due to the helicopter ride. We arrived at 14:30 at the Monte Rosa hut [2795m] and had a very leisurely lunch. Finally we proceeded to the glacier crossings (Grenzgletscher and Gornergletscher) and up the steep hiking trail to the Rotenboden station (of the Gornergrat train) where we arrived at 19:00. It was a long but unforgettable last day for a memorable stay in Zermatt.
Route Climbed: Normal Route from Mt. Rosa Hut Date Climbed: August 5,1980
Climbed solo. Began at 01:00, I was the second party to get underway. Heavy snow year kept route closed till the previous week, but today the tracks in the snow were deep and obvious. Saw a fantastic sunrise over the Alps; bit tricky getting past the bergschrund and onto the summit ridge rock. Alone at the top for over 1 hour, then down the glacier all the time thinking "I'm crazy for doing this by myself -in the dark!"
Route Climbed: Normal, from Mt Rosa hutte Date Climbed: August 8-2001
The longest and one of the nicest climbs I have done. Nice rocky part just before the top! Very good view at the surrounding area, including Matterhorn.
Route Climbed: Traverse Signalkuppe-Dufourspitze Date Climbed: August 30, 2004
A long day starting in the Marguerita hut at 8 AM and ending in Zermatt at 7:30 PM. Took us 25 minutes from Marguerita hut to the summit of Zumsteinspitze and then an addtional 3 hours to reach the top of Dufourspitze. A very beautiful ridge traverse. From there, 4 hours down to the Monte Rosa hut and an additional 2.5 hour and two glaciers to the Rotenboden train station. From there a half and hour ride to Zermatt.
What a crummy day. The weather had been bad in the afternoon but halfway decent the previous morning. I had thouht the same would happen on my summit day. It didnt, we got caught in some bad weather up high but managed to make it down. The snow was still questionable, we were up to our knees at times. I even punched through on the glacier. A stressful and non productive day, didnt make the summit.
Route Climbed: Monte-Rosa-Traverse Date Climbed: August 2, 2003
Due to bad conditions on Täschhorn - Dom - Traverse, my friends Anton, Albert and Albrecht returned to Germany, so that we did not try it this year. Instead I called some other friends from the German Alpine Club in Ulm, who just came down from Grand Combin. Within 2 hours we decided to make this traverse, although we all do not like glacier walking, which is the main part of the whole trip, if you want to make the Monte-Rosa-traverse.
Finally, Wolfgang, Andreas, Michael and I climbed this traverse Signalkuppe - Zumsteinspitze - Dufourspitze on a very sunny day and with best rockclimbing conditions. Wolfgang and I climbed without using any rope.
We started the whole trip from Monte-Rosa-Hut, climbed Grenzglacier up to Rif. Magherita and returned to Monte-Rosa-Hut after the traverse. All glaciers had very big crevasses.
Mathias Zehring - Aug 2, 2003 3:44 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2003
Route Climbed: From Cap. Margherita Date Climbed: August 1st 2003
I finished my last summit of the Monte Rosa Massif and this highest swiss mountain on the swiss national day. Conne, Oli and I had perfect weather: warm, no wind, no clouds, only few people at the top and a perfect panorama from Mont Blanc to the cities of nothern Italy. During the very long way down (more than 3000 m) we climbed Parrotspitze in addition and descended to the Gressoney valley.
Route Climbed: Traverse from Rif. Margherita to the Grenzgletscher Date Climbed: August 2002
We came from our campsite on the Grenzgletscher (at 4000) under Rif. Margherita and over the Zumsteinspitze we climbed the Dufour. Beautiful ridge with breathtaking views to both sides. We descended the Normal route to the saddle (at approx. 4500) and then we decided for W-face (40-50°) which was the easiest way how to get to our tent, but not very safe, especially in the sunny afternoon. Moreover, the Grenzgletscher is full of crevasses, so it was difficult to find the way on the plateau.
Route Climbed: N-route from Signalkuppe Date Climbed: aug 1999
After our victory on Lyskamm we slept in RIf.Margerita and went over the Zumsteinspitze and Dufour back to our bivac. Briljant tour, not very difficult III but very good view (deeeeeeeeeep) on both sides of the ridge.
Route Climbed: Normal (from Monte Rosa Hütte) Date Climbed: 30 Aug 2002
It was great to climb Dufourspitze with my old friends Helena and Paulo Coelho (Brazil) and Raffaello Martinaglia (Switzerland).
It was only a pity that Ozzi, Klaus and Annette Sartori (Germany) were not with us... the other pity was the weather, that disturbed a bit our plans. The main one was to attempt the Matterhorn...
Andrea Mattos (Brazil, but living in Germany)
mpa - Aug 29, 2002 4:54 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2002
EQUUS - Nov 6, 2005 6:04 pm
Route Climbed: Normal Route from MonterosaHutte by Sattle Date Climbed: Aug 1996Long exposed tour. After descent we were so exhausted that we decided to stay next night in the hutte.
TodoVertical - Sep 22, 2005 2:58 pm
Route Climbed: Normal (Guiding) Date Climbed: Some day of July 2005We were the only ones of 9 parties to summit that day. Wind, cold, sonw, ..... bad, bad, bad day !!!
athpal - Aug 22, 2005 6:15 am
Route Climbed: Normal from Monte Rosa Hut Date Climbed: 16 August 2005After a snowfall in the previous evening we woke up at 1:30 a.m. with a perfect weather. We started our way up at 3:30 a.m.. The view in the way up and in the ridge was perfect and the weather conditions were very good but a little windy. Perfect summit day !
brade - Aug 8, 2005 2:08 pm
Route Climbed: Normal from Monte Rosa Htt. Date Climbed: 31 July 2005With Marius Alba from Romania. We met for the first time the day before summit attack. We did it in 5 hours to the summit. Perfect weather. Nice rocks at the last part before summit. The party at Camping in Zermatt was great :)
Samuli Mansikka - Jul 18, 2005 4:53 am
Route Climbed: Normal from Monte Rosa Hut Date Climbed: June 17thWe were seriously prepared to make the traverse over Dufourspitze and on to Zumsteinspitze and further on to the Monte Rosa Traverse.
Camped at the 4300 m on the glacier and started early the next morning.
Wind was really strong and the snow conditions a bit difficult and restraining. The snow pack had a 2-3 cm ice coating which did not support your weight. Instead you punged through the knee deep wet snow.
The rocky ridge was as beautiful as before and we made it to the top in pretty good time.
The ridge down towards Zumsteinspitze was coated with a thick pack of loose snow. After trying it out for a while we decided that it would take us too much time to descend and then make it to the Margerita Hut.
So we descended the couloir from the summit of Dufourspitze to the Silbersattel and set our camp there. The highest camping I've done in the Alps and what a setting!
bbirtle - Jul 7, 2005 12:20 pm
Route Climbed: Normal Route (From Monte Rosa Hutte) Date Climbed: May 8, 2005Long and cold climb (on skis). Fierce winds on the summit ridge almost nixed it, but we battled through and made it. One 10m section of fixed ropes just before the summit, other than that just some scrambling. Really amazing ski down in about 30cm fresh to the hut, really ardouraous walk carrying skis all the way down to Zermatt, as the snow cut out at the end of the Gorneglaciar. Great climb!
JanG - Nov 10, 2004 9:46 pm
Route Climbed: Normal Route from 4100m Date Climbed: August 14, 2004Here is a great alternative to the very long normal route to the summit of Monte Rosa: take a helicopter most of the way and then save your endurance for the final ridge and the long descent back to town!
I had come to Zermatt with my sons to climb the Matterhorn. We reached the summit via the Hörnli ridge on Aug. 10, 2004 and just rested from the previous exhausting climb for the next 3 days. My sons had achieved their objective so I was unable to convince them to embark on another long trek up the normal route (via the Monte Rosa hut) to the Dufourspitze . Our local guide suggested the following compromise: a helicopter ride (provided by Air Zermatt) until to the Monte Rosa saddle, and then the use of our legs for the rest of the climb. It sounded like a great idea because in that way we would save a lot of energy and the cost of the overnight stay at the hut. Those savings, however, were outbalanced by the extra cost of the helicopter flight.
Therefore, on the last morning of our fortnight stay we woke up in the cozy beds at our pension and met the guide at the Helipad in town [alt. 1620m] at 8:00. It was a gorgeous, clear and hot summer day in the valley but higher up it was quite a different situation. The helicopter took us in less than 15 minutes to 4100m where it was cold and very windy. Fortunately we had taken appropriate clothing and extra wind protection in our backpacks. The ridge which leads to the summit was quite easy when compared to the Hörnli ridge. We arrived at the Dufourspitze [alt. 4634m] at 10:30 and enjoyed the spectacular views in all directions.
We were able to fully enjoy the dramatic seracs and other glacial formations on our descent on foot because we had not expended as much energy on the climb due to the helicopter ride. We arrived at 14:30 at the Monte Rosa hut [2795m] and had a very leisurely lunch. Finally we proceeded to the glacier crossings (Grenzgletscher and Gornergletscher) and up the steep hiking trail to the Rotenboden station (of the Gornergrat train) where we arrived at 19:00. It was a long but unforgettable last day for a memorable stay in Zermatt.
BobK - Nov 9, 2004 7:19 am
Route Climbed: Normal Route from Mt. Rosa Hut Date Climbed: August 5,1980Climbed solo. Began at 01:00, I was the second party to get underway. Heavy snow year kept route closed till the previous week, but today the tracks in the snow were deep and obvious. Saw a fantastic sunrise over the Alps; bit tricky getting past the bergschrund and onto the summit ridge rock. Alone at the top for over 1 hour, then down the glacier all the time thinking "I'm crazy for doing this by myself -in the dark!"
mountainpost - Oct 26, 2004 8:39 am
Route Climbed: Normal, from Mt Rosa hutte Date Climbed: August 8-2001The longest and one of the nicest climbs I have done. Nice rocky part just before the top! Very good view at the surrounding area, including Matterhorn.
hhsilleck - Sep 13, 2004 4:33 pm
Route Climbed: Traverse from Margherita via Zumsteinspitze Date Climbed: July 1 2004Climbed with Sonya Burgers and guide Klaus Tsherrig from Zermatt - beautiful sunrise and spectacular climb! Klaus was great - highly recommended.
flearreta - Sep 8, 2004 2:18 pm
Route Climbed: Traverse Signalkuppe-Dufourspitze Date Climbed: August 30, 2004A long day starting in the Marguerita hut at 8 AM and ending in Zermatt at 7:30 PM. Took us 25 minutes from Marguerita hut to the summit of Zumsteinspitze and then an addtional 3 hours to reach the top of Dufourspitze. A very beautiful ridge traverse. From there, 4 hours down to the Monte Rosa hut and an additional 2.5 hour and two glaciers to the Rotenboden train station. From there a half and hour ride to Zermatt.
chef007 - Jul 23, 2004 1:55 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: June 17What a crummy day. The weather had been bad in the afternoon but halfway decent the previous morning. I had thouht the same would happen on my summit day. It didnt, we got caught in some bad weather up high but managed to make it down. The snow was still questionable, we were up to our knees at times. I even punched through on the glacier. A stressful and non productive day, didnt make the summit.
David_Holland - Jan 22, 2004 1:59 pm
Route Climbed: Normal route Date Climbed: 02-08-2001Do it from Monte rosa hutte up and down, Great weather, great climb!
Samuli Mansikka - Aug 31, 2003 1:48 pm
Route Climbed: Normal route Date Climbed: 20th august 2003Spent almost the whole week on the glacier at Scholle and summitted the Dufourspitze on wednesday, the 20th august.
During the week experienced quite a rough thunderstorms by nights and awesome sunny days.
Rahel Maria Liu - Aug 25, 2003 4:49 pm
Route Climbed: Monte-Rosa-Traverse Date Climbed: August 2, 2003Due to bad conditions on Täschhorn - Dom - Traverse, my friends Anton, Albert and Albrecht returned to Germany, so that we did not try it this year. Instead I called some other friends from the German Alpine Club in Ulm, who just came down from Grand Combin. Within 2 hours we decided to make this traverse, although we all do not like glacier walking, which is the main part of the whole trip, if you want to make the Monte-Rosa-traverse.
Finally, Wolfgang, Andreas, Michael and I climbed this traverse Signalkuppe - Zumsteinspitze - Dufourspitze on a very sunny day and with best rockclimbing conditions. Wolfgang and I climbed without using any rope.
We started the whole trip from Monte-Rosa-Hut, climbed Grenzglacier up to Rif. Magherita and returned to Monte-Rosa-Hut after the traverse. All glaciers had very big crevasses.
Mathias Zehring - Aug 2, 2003 3:44 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2003
Route Climbed: From Cap. Margherita Date Climbed: August 1st 2003I finished my last summit of the Monte Rosa Massif and this highest swiss mountain on the swiss national day. Conne, Oli and I had perfect weather: warm, no wind, no clouds, only few people at the top and a perfect panorama from Mont Blanc to the cities of nothern Italy. During the very long way down (more than 3000 m) we climbed Parrotspitze in addition and descended to the Gressoney valley.
zaryba - Dec 31, 2002 12:42 am
Route Climbed: Traverse from Rif. Margherita to the Grenzgletscher Date Climbed: August 2002We came from our campsite on the Grenzgletscher (at 4000) under Rif. Margherita and over the Zumsteinspitze we climbed the Dufour. Beautiful ridge with breathtaking views to both sides. We descended the Normal route to the saddle (at approx. 4500) and then we decided for W-face (40-50°) which was the easiest way how to get to our tent, but not very safe, especially in the sunny afternoon. Moreover, the Grenzgletscher is full of crevasses, so it was difficult to find the way on the plateau.
Farmer - Oct 13, 2002 11:48 am
Route Climbed: N-route from Signalkuppe Date Climbed: aug 1999After our victory on Lyskamm we slept in RIf.Margerita and went over the Zumsteinspitze and Dufour back to our bivac. Briljant tour, not very difficult III but very good view (deeeeeeeeeep) on both sides of the ridge.
mattosacy - Sep 6, 2002 3:09 am
Route Climbed: Normal (from Monte Rosa Hütte) Date Climbed: 30 Aug 2002It was great to climb Dufourspitze with my old friends Helena and Paulo Coelho (Brazil) and Raffaello Martinaglia (Switzerland).
It was only a pity that Ozzi, Klaus and Annette Sartori (Germany) were not with us... the other pity was the weather, that disturbed a bit our plans. The main one was to attempt the Matterhorn...
Andrea Mattos (Brazil, but living in Germany)
mpa - Aug 29, 2002 4:54 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2002
traverse from east to westgreat climb together with Norbert and Martin