(View from the summit of the Matterhorn towards Montev Rosa by Rafal Raczynski)
The Matterhorn has announced it will be ‘closed’ to climbers on 14th July, 2015, the 150th anniversary of its first ascent.
More than 500 climbers have died on the mountain over the past century and a half and Zermatt, the famous resort that lies beneath the iconic mountain on its Swiss side, along with Cervinia, on the Italian side, has announced the closure day as a mark of respect to them all.
14th July 2015 marks both the 150th anniversary of the first of ascent in 1865, by a team let by Englishman Edward Whymper, as well as the tragic deaths of four of the climbers involved in that first climb on the way back down.
“We are convinced that our appeal to the community (not to climb on that day) will be met with understanding,” said Zermatt’s president, Christoph Bürgin.
However the resort has also announced that sanctions are being put in place that, in the most extreme case, would mean any climbers ignoring the closure could face police charges, a fine of up to 5,000 Swiss Francs and the fee for a helicopter to come and bring them down.
Two private landowners will enforce the ban on the Italian side.
A few days after the closure anniversary celebrations are scheduled to begin on 17 July when all four ridges of the Matterhorn will be climbed simultaneously with teams of climbers arriving from Italy, France, Switzerland and the UK – the participating nations in the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. The climbers will meet at the summit and commemorate with an act of friendship and respect.
