The Matterhorn (4478m/14692ft) near Zermatt/Switzerland is well-known for its unique and beautiful form, its importance in the history of alpinism and the dramatic story of its first ascent. A typical ascent of the Matterhorn over the Hörnli ridge starts at 4:30am at night after a very short breakfast. That day there were about 80 climbers to climb the Hörnli ridge. The trails of their headlamps can be seen in the image. The ascent to the summit takes about 4-5 hours, and about 3-4 hours for the descent. Read more »