European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse The matterhorn a looms in All its 14,701-foot glory. By Mark save Trengen climbing the matterhorn. It s not something you do on a whim. Thought and extensive preparation As Well As Money Are required. The Best advice May be simply not to try it a unless you really want to. If that a the Case you should have some experience in Rock climbing and the use of crampons. It s also important to be in Good physical condition to have the necessary climbing equipment and the Cash to pay for the trek with a guide. You la need to do some physical training during the months head Tor the mountains. Running and bicycling Are great for building the legs and Overall. A. A Dore artist g. Dore shows the Fate of four of the seven men who first climbed the matterhorn in 1865. The four fell 4,000 feet Down the slopes to their deaths. Condition. A reasonable goal to ensure you re in shape1 for the matterhorn is to be Able to run Tive Miles every Day without difficulty. Add some pull ups and push ups to your daily training and you la be on the right trac k. The Mountain should be c climbed Only in Good weather. The Best conditions usually exist from mid july to mid september. During these months its important to go on some major Mountain hikes making ascents of 600 to 1,000 meters about 2,000 feet to 3,100 Teet on each hike. This builds the climbing Muscles in the legs. Once you arrive in the Zermatt area four or Tive walking ascents of 1,000 meters each arc recommended before trying the matterhorn they will put finishing your conditioning. It you can do some of this training above 4,000 meters 13,1 00 Teet it will pay Oil later when Vou get into the thin the top of the matterhorn. A Here s the recommended equipment. Climbing boots with still lug soles. Tampons arc needed above the Solvay Hutte so the Bools must be Crampon compatible. Lightweight Long underwear. 1 hic k knee socks that give some c Cushion to he toot and run Hoson Knic Kois. Or other durable climbing pants. A Wool or Cotton shirt and a Light windbreaker an extra e Cut ton shirt will give Vou something dry to put on at the top but it s not a. Must. A a a. A climbing helmet is recommended Tor Protection irom killing rocks. Many without helmets and Wear stoc King Caps or other kinds of hats Blit it s Sater to use the helmet. Small rocks kicked Down by other c limbers Are fairly common. A Small Headlamp is needed Tor c climbing in the Early darkness. Gloves similar to leather work Glove s or Light ski gloves and a safety harness arc needed Lor the entire climb. An ice a is up on the High shoulder of the Mountain. A for food and drink you need one or two sandwiches two or three chocolate bars a Lew Dextro sugar cube s and about two liners of lightly sweetened Tea. Sunglasses arc also important. 1 Ake Sun c re am Toothbrush some Basic first Aid items and toilet paper a too. A. A Small camera is optional but it you done to take one you la lie sorry. Safety rope is essential but it will he provided by the Mountain guide. You la need a Small to medium Rucksack to Cany the it Quot. A. A a its important to try out ill this gear spec Lally the boots Many times Belore you make the c limb. 1 hat Way it there arc1 problems you c an c Orrei t them before they a a give you trouble on the Mountain. Timbers walk to the first shoulder of the matterhorn and spend the first night there in the t Lotel by la Eddie which h is connected to an older Mountain hut. Ivory no refers to this Small Complex As simply the i Lorn i i Lutle which is actually the name of the hut. The rooms sleep about in people. A Lese Valion is required. An overnight with evening meal and breakfast costs about 45 Swiss francs $ >7. Blankets arc provided so you Don t need a sleeping bag. Climbing the matterhorn does not require a spec i in permit but Don t try it without a professional experienced guide. Quite a few people get killed on the Mountain every year just visit the cemetery in Zermatt where you la see Row upon Row of Tombstone s commemorating those who a perished on the matterhorn. Most accidents Are caused by climbing in bad weather and climbing without a guide it s easy to get lost on the. Mountain and this gets climbers in trouble. An. Experienced guide will not get lost nor will he or she attempt to climb if the1 weather is not right. The Cost for a guide1will be in the neighbor flood of 600 Swiss francs about $367. This Iru hide s his or her overnight in the morn i Hutte. If the guide does not think you Are fit or experienced enough Lor the big limb her will refuse to Lead Mountain to will probably suggest you do some training hike s in the Zermatt area preferably with a guide. These can e Ost irom 100 to 300 Swiss francs $65 to $ 105depending on hike destination and How Many participate in the hike. Be sure along enough Money to c Over extra food and lodging in Case the weather forces you to stay longer in Zermatt while1 Tor suitable it climbing conditions. Guides can be 1 arranged by it Entac Ting the Zermatt Mountain guide Olfa e. The address is ch-3020 Zermatt Switzerland. Telephone Switzerland 02b-6734.56. A Good source c1 of information on available guides is Christoph Krah bet ural skill Hor Schnit so Hul Strasse 1 2b, h100 Garmisch Parte Kirc Hen Telephone 0602 1 -. 27 ,6. A a. Still an outlier is the1 mountaineering school at.the1 arme d fore is ree creation enter in it a Misc h. The. Address is he afloat in school. Apo 0005 1. Telephone Ermany 0062 1 -750501. June 20, 1001 stripes Magazine b 5
