Industry News
On Tuesday morning, June 4, an Italian backcountry skier died while skiing down the East Face of the Matterhorn in Switzerland. The man and his companion had climbed up early in the morning to an altitude of around 4,050 meters (13,287 feet) and had started to ski down the East Face of the iconic peak around 8 a.m. when he lost his balance and plunged several hundred meters (approximately 1,000 feet) into the depths below. His companion immediately alerted emergency services but they could only determine the death of the backcountry skier.
The man was identified by local Italian news outlets as Luca Bernini from Piacenza, a 35-year-old experienced mountaineering school instructor. The president of his alpine club, CAI di Piacenza, stated that Bernini had excellent knowledge of the mountains and was known for his expertise in climbing on snow and ice. “He was a cautious guy, we still don’t know what exactly happened.”
The East Face of the Matterhorn is rarely skiable before late spring. The tour is considered extreme and only recommended for experienced specialists in optimal conditions. The descent takes place largely on the ascent route and covers sections of 50-60° steepness.
A team around Freeride World Champions and Red Bull athletes Nadine Wallner and Arianna Tricomi skied the East Face last week and shared the extreme backcountry tour on their social media profiles. The video gives a mesmerizing insight into the extreme difficulty of the ascent and descent.
With its jagged pyramid shape, the Matterhorn is one of the most recognizable peaks in the world and reaches a peak elevation of 4,478 meters (14,692 feet). It is located at the Swiss-Italian border and is at the heart and center of the cross-border ski resort Matterhorn Ski Paradise, with Zermatt on the Swiss side and Cervinia on the Italian side. The Matterhorn Ski Paradise offers year-round skiing, with summer skiing possible on the Theodul Glacier.
One thought on “Italian Backcountry Skier Falls 1,000 Feet to his Death on the Iconic East Face of the Matterhorn, Switzerland”