[imagesource:pxhere]

The bodies of two climbers were discovered at the foot of the north face of Matterhorn last week after they failed to return to the Hornli hut — the traditional start/endpoint to the popular route on the Swiss side of the 4,478-metre peak.

It is believed the climbers fell from the upper sections of the peak, possibly about 1,000m above the ground.

As the two did not return as planned to their starting point after their tour, the Air Zermatt Rescue was alerted via the Valais cantonal rescue organisation, which discovered the, as yet unnamed, climbers. So far there has been no explanation for the accident.

Swiss media reported that a third climber also fell to his death from an 800m cliff only a few days later. He was reported to be a solo climber who fell while descending from the summit. Another climber on the same route called the emergency services, who found his lifeless body.

The famously difficult peak, on the border between Italy and Switzerland in the European Alps, has been called the “Mountain of Mountains”. Since records began, more than 600 people have died trying to climb it. According to reports in the Swiss press, there have been at least 11 deaths on the mountain this year alone.

Mountain guides regularly take large numbers of people up the northeast Hörnli route each summer. In total, up to 150 climbers attempt the Matterhorn each day during summer.

By modern standards, the climb is fairly difficult but not hard for skilled mountaineers according to French climbing grades, with fixed ropes on parts of the route to help. Overcrowding on several routes has become an issue and guides and local authorities have struggled with how to regulate the numbers, with the Hörnli hut becoming the first mountain shelter in Europe to limit beds.

The Matterhorn remained relatively unknown until 1865, but the successful ascent, followed by the tragic accident of the expedition, led by Edward Whymper caused a rush on the mountains.

[source:explorerweb]