Climbing
Two hikers fell around 1,000 feet (300 meters) on the Zumsteinspitze near Zermatt, Switzerland, on Friday, July 19. One of the hikers suffered fatal injuries, while the other was seriously injured and airlifted to a nearby hospital. The duo was attempting to ascend the Zumsteinspitze, which is one of the tallest mountains in Switzerland with 4,563 meters (14,970 feet) elevation and is situated just southeast of Switzerland’s tallest peak, the Dufourspitze which reaches 4,645 meters (15,240 feet) in elevation.
According to the press release by the cantonal police of Wallis/Valais, a third person reported that two mountaineers had fallen at an altitude of 4,500 meters (14,764 feet) at around 8:30 a.m. The pair had been roped in but slid together approximately 300 meters (1,000 feet). The immediately alerted rescue teams could only determine the death of one of the hikers. The other person, a 30-year-old Swiss national, was transported with unknown but serious injuries to the Inselspital in Bern. Air Zermatt executed the helicopter rescue together with support from the cantonal police of Wallis/Valais.
According to UIAGM licensed mountain guide Hermann Berie, there is still considerable snow at higher altitudes and on top of the ridges. The recent warm temperatures have made the already narrow ridge of the Zumsteinspitze towards the Dufourspitze a dangerous spot, and “any mistake in that area is fatal.” Berie adds, “Due to the snow cover on the rocks right now, safe cramponing should be very well mastered.”
The tour to the Zumsteinspitze (or Zumstein peak) typically leads from the Monte Rosa hut, which is situated at 2,990 meters (9,810 feet) altitude. The Zumstein peak is one of several 4,000+ summits in the Monta Rosa massif. The climb is not considered difficult and graded PD (“peu difficile”/a little difficult) on the Swiss scale or Level 1 on the U.S. scale.
