Mettelhorn, Mountain summit in Valais, Switzerland
The Mettelhorn is a mountain summit in the Valais Alps standing at 3,406 meters (11,175 feet). From this peak you look directly at the north face of the Matterhorn and the surrounding ridges.
Since the 1800s mountaineers have used this peak as a key acclimatization point before attempting higher summits. Over time the route became a classic training climb for serious alpine climbers.
Herders in the area maintain sheep grazing on alpine meadows along the climbing route. These practices have shaped the landscape for generations.
The climb from Zermatt takes about six hours through forest paths, across the Hohlicht glacier and over rocky ground. You need solid mountain experience and proper gear to reach the top safely.
A narrow rocky ridge connects the Mettelhorn to the nearby Platthorn allowing experienced climbers to summit both peaks in one day. This combination tour challenges advanced mountaineers with technical movement across exposed terrain.
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