THE MATTERHORN
It’s perhaps the most identifiable mountain on the planet, with a near mythical reputation. But what does it take to climb it? Nearly a decade after falling in love with The Matterhorn, Trail’s Ben Weeks finally found out.
29th August 2014
Zermatt. My first time. It’s a beautiful, virtually traffic-free town and I like it. But not as much as I like the mountain that stands above it. The Matterhorn – a sky-spearing monolith filling the hotel room window as I drew back the curtains this morning. And now, standing on the shore of Riffelsee, a small, tranquil mountain lake high above the town, staring in childlike wonder at the most iconic peak in the world mirrored by the water’s reflection, I know one thing with utter certainty: one day I have to stand on the top of that mountain.
For a long time, an ascent of The Matterhorn was all I could focus on. I threw all my energy and efforts at making it happen. Friends and family joked about it.
Not a Christmas went by when a Toblerone wasn’t one of my presents; my wife even commissioned a painting of the mountain for my birthday. But life gets in the way. It began to feel like it may never happen. Other mountain trips came and went, but The Matterhorn still eluded me. But what is it they say? Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.
19th July 2023
I’ve phoned my wife. I wasn’t intending to; I wasn’t intending on telling anyone what my plans for tomorrow entailed. But I’m scared. Standing on the decking of the Hörnli Hut, The Matterhorn towering threateningly above, I needed to talk to her. It’s an odd fear. Not a fear of disaster – I have huge respect for the mountain, but faith in our abilities and willingness to retreat if we must. It’s a fear of failure. I’m so close. This time tomorrow I will have summited, or I won’t. I’m scared of the crushing disappointment of the latter. Mike understands; I think he feels the same. I’m not sure Emily does.
She asked where my insurance documents are.
Several years ago, I joined a group from my local climbing wall on their annual Scottish Winter Climbing trip. They rapidly became good friends; there’s something about shared suffering and absolute trust that tends to build bonds. I became a regular, joining the trip each year. Alongside these trips I’d been honing my summer scrambling and climbing skills
