Enlarge image
The Matterhorn, snow-covered here
Photo: Lorenzo Mattei / imago images/Westend61
Because of the high temperatures, the summit area of the Matterhorn is completely snow-free and therefore dangerous for mountaineers.
The mountain guides in Zermatt, Switzerland, have therefore been advising against climbing to the summit since the beginning of the week.
"We will reassess the situation in a few days," said Anjan Truffer, mountain guide and head of rescue at Zermatt Mountain Rescue, on Wednesday.
A change in the weather with cooling and precipitation is necessary.
It will also be checked whether the situation can be defused by clearing rocks.
At the end of the fixed ropes on the Matterhorn, mountaineers still have to climb 200 meters to the top.
"Normally you climb up there through the snow with crampons," Truffer said.
Just a week ago, the summit was snowed in relatively well, now the snow there has completely melted.
In his 30 years as a mountain guide, this has happened four or five times, according to the alpinist.
Without snow, the risk of falling rocks is very high.
“If there are a lot of people tumbling around who have no experience with rope guidance, they can cause falling rocks, and that can be very dangerous for the rope teams further down.” According to him, there are 30 rope teams or more on the summit field on days with good weather , usually with two people at a time.
The Zermatt mountain guides have temporarily suspended tours to the Matterhorn because they cannot guarantee the safety of the guests.
However, the mountain cannot be blocked.
“There are people who go up.
They might be more willing to take risks,” Truffer said.
The reason for the location on the Matterhorn is an extremely snow-poor winter and the good weather period that has lasted for weeks.
»There is often still snow in May and June, but this year we had nothing.« The 4478 meter high mountain is the best known and the symbol of Zermatt because of its location and beauty.
lmd/dpa
