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Smiler Cuthbertson
Strone Cottages
Dores
Inverness-shire
IV2 6TR

Email: smiler@smilercuthbertson.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0)1463 751230
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You are here: Home » Guided Rock & Ice Climbing » Alpine Mountaineering » Big Three

The Big Three

EigerĀ  MatterhornĀ  Mont Blanc

A dream is a dream. We all have them and for any climber, the ascents of the Eiger, the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc would be sufficient to keep one happy for a long time.
We can make that dream a reality. With a two-week vacation we can scale these three mountains and have a great time on the way.

Mont Blanc

You will join a Mont Blanc course to aid acclimatisation and build fitness. Building your stamina in this way gives you a much better chance of enjoying the climbs and it gives you an opportunity to refresh or learn the skills required for alpine climbing.

After some vital acclimatising climbs we move up to stay in a high mountain hut. We begin our summit push in the early hours and summit as the sun breaks over the mountains. One of the three done!

The Eiger

Moving to Grindelwald, we marvel at the Eiger's sensational north face (it seems so close!).

Our objective is the South Ridge, a great climb and these days much better and safer than the West Flank. We take the rack railway train through the Eiger to the fabulous Jungfraujoch and make a short walk across the snow to the Monchjoch Hut. The second day sees us traversing the ridge to this famous summit. Afterwards? A cool beer in the bar at Kleine Scheidegg and there's just one more to go!

The Matterhorn

For our final peak we stay in Zermatt at our usual accommodation for the night, the world famous Bahnof Hotel (dortoir). We will check equipment and prepare for our climb.

Moving up to the hut at the foot of our mountain, we settle down for an early start next morning. Some confusion can be expected, as there will be quite a few climbers with the same goal. Once we're into the early hours all becomes calm and normal and soon we are taking a break in the tiny Solvay Hut, perched high up and overlooking the north face (not a sight to be squeamish over!). Then it's on up the fixed ropes and the summit.

The descent is not simple, it's tiring and goes towards ensuring that wonderful exhilaration on reaching the refuge again.

It may be sought-after, but you've done it. THE BIG THREE.