1.
Even at an impressive 4478m high, the Matterhorn is only the 10th highest peak in Switzerland.
2.
British alpinists claimed both first male and female ascents! Edward Whymper on the 14th July 1865 and Lucy Walker in 1870.
3.
In August 2018, local mountain guide and alpine runner, Andreas Steindl, set an incredible record. He started in front of the Zermatt church and went to the top of the Matterhorn and back in just 3hrs and 59 minutes!
4.
The four faces of the Matterhorn face each of the four cardinal directions, with the North and East sides facing Zermatt.
5.
There are around 3000 ascents per year. Each summer there are, on average, 6 deaths.
6.
The Matterhorn is the most photographed mountain the the world… and it's easy to see why!
7.
The Hörnli ridge (the ridge up the middle of the mountain as you look up from Zermatt) between the east and North faces of the Matterhorn is the most popular route to the top. Climbers stay the night at the Hörnli hut (a short distance above Schwarzsee) before attempting the Summit early the next morning.
8.
Between the 24th March and 26th April 2020, various national flags, as well as messages of hope, were projected onto the Matterhorn as a symbol of solidarity during the COVID pandemic.
