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Heading to Mont Blanc in 3 weeks and had planned on Matterhorn Hornli ridge following that, but started looking at back-up climbs and like Weisshorn (East) as an alternative but am now considering it instead of Matterhorn. A little more difficult and longer i've read, but like the more varied terrain. Anyone done both that can recommend Weisshorn over Matterhorn if I only have time for 1?

I'd go for Weisshorn -- no tourists, no cable cars, far far less summit aspirants (the hut is capable of ~30 people incl. warden...) -> reduced danger of man-made rockfall.

@Length and difficulty: At Weisshorn most of the terrain can be done simultaneosly or even unroped, so it is longer in meters buw not in time. This holds for descent as well (only perhaps 2-3 short rappels). I also wonder if Weisshorn-East is really (technically) harder than Hörnli.
With ice on the summit slopes perhaps things change.

Martin