Meeting point
Zermatt train station
Bahnhofplatz, 3920 Zermatt
Ski Tour Nordend
2 days
Challenging glacier ascent
Summit ridge to Nordend
Long descent to Zermatt
Season:
March May
Departure Times
08:15
Key info
Multiple ski mountaineering tours completed
Hiking times of up to 8 hours and more than 1700 meters of ascent
Overview
Recommended for:
Anyone who trades comfort for the view.
A long, demanding ascent through glacier worlds: rewarded with a summit experience at 4,609 m above sea level and a magnificent descent.
This ski tour takes you deep into the Monte Rosa massif. From the Klein Matterhorn, it goes over the Schwarztor to the Monte Rosa Hut, before the summit ascent to the 4,609 m high Nordend follows. Through endless glacier landscapes, over an exposed ridge and steep descents. A tour for experienced ski mountaineers with endurance.
Itinerary
Meeting points Day1
Day 1: Over the Schwarztor to the Monte Rosa Hut
After meeting in Zermatt, we take the cable car to the Klein Matterhorn. From there, the tour first leads us over the Breithorn Plateau before we ascend to the Schwarztor. Then comes the descent: past crevasses to the Gorner Glacier. After a short ascent, we reach the Monte Rosa Hut, where we end the day with a view of the mountains.
Distance
11.5 km
Ascent
+600 m
Descent
-1500 m
Walking time
5-6 hrs
Day2
Day 2: Summit Ascent to Nordend 4,609 m
We start the ascent over the Monte Rosa Glacier in the dark: Our pace is slow but steady and with each step, the air gets thinner. In the first rays of sunshine, we reach the Silbersattel: framed by Nordend and Dufourspitze. The last meters to the summit follow the exposed ridge, then we stand at 4,609 m. The descent over the glacier back to Zermatt is the crowning conclusion of this tour.
(Hut descent not included in the altitude and distance calculations.)
Distance
10.5 km
Ascent
+1700 m
Descent
-1700 m
Walking time
6-7 hrs
Whats included
Guiding from a licenced mountain guide/ aspirant guide
Expenses of the mountain guide
Overnight stay(s) with half-board for the mountain guide
Hut reservation
Summit Certificate
Not included
Costs for cable cars and travel expenses of the guest
Overnight stay(s) in bunk room with half-board for the guest
Snacks
Technical equipment
Costs for a taxi if needed (guests pay for the guide's share)
Pack list
Backpack
Backpack 25-30 l
Clothing
Warm, functional clothing
Rain jacket
Rain pants
Mountaineering or winter hiking pants
Sunhat
Gloves (ideally one thin and one thick pair)
Beanie or headband
Extra underwear and socks
Thermal underwear
Footwear
Ski touring boots or snowboard boots
Technical Equipment
Crampons with anti-snow plates
Harness
Ice axe
Ski touring skis or splitboard with skins and tele crampons
Ski poles (preferrably telescopic)
Helmet
LVS (avalanche transceiver)
Avalanche probe
Avalanche shovel
Basics
Sunglasses (category 3 or 4)
Sunscreen lotion and lip balm (minimum factor 30, 50 better)
Thermos flask, drink bottle
Headlamp
Silk sleeping bag liner
Toiletries
SAC/DAV permit (if you have one)
GA or Half Fare Travelcard (if you have)
Earplugs (optional)
Camera and binoculars (optional)
Snacks
Weather info
General weather info
Weather can influence any tour, and a clear decision is often only possible on the day itself. We review conditions carefully and remain within our safety limits, and bad weather alone does not mean we have to stop.
Make sure we can reach you with current contact information in case your booking changes. Silence from us means your tour is still planned or the final call is not yet made. If we need to cancel, you can rebook, choose another activity, or get a full refund.
For detailed advice on how to prepare for (and enjoy!) bad weather days in Interlaken, check out our weather blog
Meeting points
Meeting points
Activity location