Thanks, Fred. That's an interesting question. Instinctively, my answer would be the Lion Ridge because it has a few more rock steps that would qualify as something more than scrambling.
Thanks for the kind words. You can tell your friend that the person that made the comment is someone with Himalayan experience and he also said the Lion-Hörnli is "a nice route." I hope he achieves his dream!
that the Matterhorn is a regular pyramid. It is especially striking when viewed from Zermatt or the Gornergrat exactly because it is not. The pyramid seems to have been cut off at the shoulders, and instead a much steeper 'head' forms the summit. It it this that gives the Matterhorn the look of "defiance turned into stone". Unfortunately you haven't included a photo of this classical view here.
That is correct. It's not a regular pyramid. I wrote "from practically every angle" for precisely that reason and I left out the photos from Zermatt because this perspective is so well known.
I got stormed off and ran out of time last year in late August. You must have come in right after me. Reading you report is good encouragement to get back. Your choice of route looks like a worthy day in the mountains.
You were very fortunate in being able to do the traverse Lion-Hornli in September. My experience with trying to climb this gorgeous mountain is that bad weather (more than the crowds) is the major obstacle to success. My success in climbing the Hornli route was right after a storm so that the Hornli hut was less crowded. In fact, they offered us to sleep on water beds in a private room for an extra fee. I am certain that you would have enjoyed such an option after 2 days' hard work!
Sarah Simon - Sep 19, 2012 2:11 pm - Voted 10/10
Love it!Grand adventure, thanks for sharing! -Sarah
alpinpete - Sep 26, 2012 6:12 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Love it!Thanks for the comments, Sarah. Very much appreciated.
hansw - Sep 20, 2012 1:01 pm - Voted 10/10
Spend half an hour…The best half an hour reading I have had for a long time. Not to mention the pictures.
Thanks!
/Hans
alpinpete - Sep 26, 2012 6:14 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Spend half an hour…Many thanks, Hans. I'm glad to hear that.
Fred Spicker - Sep 20, 2012 1:35 pm - Voted 10/10
A questionVery nice report - thank you for posting.
The question - Which route, Lion or Hörnli, has the most fixed pitches in terms of rope, chains, etc.?
alpinpete - Sep 26, 2012 6:30 am - Hasn't voted
Re: A questionThanks, Fred. That's an interesting question. Instinctively, my answer would be the Lion Ridge because it has a few more rock steps that would qualify as something more than scrambling.
aran - Sep 23, 2012 6:26 am - Voted 10/10
Incredible lines!Thanks for sharing, sounds like an inspiring trip!
alpinpete - Sep 26, 2012 6:32 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Incredible lines!Thanks! It was certainly memorable.
aran - Sep 23, 2012 6:26 am - Voted 10/10
Incredible lines!Thanks for sharing, sounds like an inspiring trip!
jdenyes - Sep 24, 2012 1:07 pm - Hasn't voted
This mountain is one of my friends dreams!I won't tell him about the via ferrata comment ;-)
Such a good report, thanks!
alpinpete - Sep 26, 2012 7:47 am - Hasn't voted
Re: This mountain is one of my friends dreams!Thanks for the kind words. You can tell your friend that the person that made the comment is someone with Himalayan experience and he also said the Lion-Hörnli is "a nice route." I hope he achieves his dream!
Nikman - Sep 24, 2012 3:19 pm - Voted 10/10
Nice oneThanks for this good report and the great images.
alpinpete - Sep 26, 2012 7:48 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice oneThank you! Very much appreciated.
Ejnar Fjerdingstad - Sep 26, 2012 11:56 am - Voted 10/10
I disagree,that the Matterhorn is a regular pyramid. It is especially striking when viewed from Zermatt or the Gornergrat exactly because it is not. The pyramid seems to have been cut off at the shoulders, and instead a much steeper 'head' forms the summit. It it this that gives the Matterhorn the look of "defiance turned into stone". Unfortunately you haven't included a photo of this classical view here.
alpinpete - Sep 26, 2012 1:33 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: I disagree,That is correct. It's not a regular pyramid. I wrote "from practically every angle" for precisely that reason and I left out the photos from Zermatt because this perspective is so well known.
TimB - Oct 1, 2012 4:48 pm - Voted 10/10
Great report.What a mountain!
alpinpete - Oct 2, 2012 1:40 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Great report.Thanks! It is a nice peak, isn't it...
atavist - Oct 2, 2012 1:18 am - Hasn't voted
Maybe next yearI got stormed off and ran out of time last year in late August. You must have come in right after me. Reading you report is good encouragement to get back. Your choice of route looks like a worthy day in the mountains.
alpinpete - Oct 2, 2012 1:45 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Maybe next yearThat's right. We would have gone earlier but the weather and route conditions were not ideal. Good luck next time! The traverse is a good way to go.
JanG - Oct 3, 2012 2:28 pm - Voted 10/10
Very well written report!You were very fortunate in being able to do the traverse Lion-Hornli in September. My experience with trying to climb this gorgeous mountain is that bad weather (more than the crowds) is the major obstacle to success. My success in climbing the Hornli route was right after a storm so that the Hornli hut was less crowded. In fact, they offered us to sleep on water beds in a private room for an extra fee. I am certain that you would have enjoyed such an option after 2 days' hard work!
Cheers
JanG