Climbing Switzerland's Highest Peak Unguided | Dufourspitze 4634m

Comments · 157

• RE

  @recordsam · 1 month ago

  I climbed it in 1984 with a friend from Canada. There were two other parties and we don't know if any of them summited, but we did. There was a lot more snow, we were on snow from the hut, and we left at 2am. We both got quite sick at the summit, whether from cold, nerves, mountain sickness, we didn't know. We considered trying to go over to the Margherita hutte because it seemed much nearer than going all the way back down, but we stuck with the plan. It was fun to look down at the Matterhorn. On the way down the glacier we fell through several snow bridges with our legs dangling in space, but never broke through for a complete fall. That was scary though (we were roped, of course). At the end we were just sliding down the snow, we were so tired. I could barely lift my hand to my mouth to eat soup, but it felt great to have been on top of the highest point in Switzerland. The hut at that time was a simple wooden structure with a "toilet" that hung out over the edge of the glacier. The sounds of the creaking and cracking ice in the night were amazing. Thanks for sharing your climb! Get them bagged now while you can. It's tragic, the loss of snow and ice all over the alps. Chamonix isn't even the same anymore now that so many classic routes are too dangerous, and there is no more ice tunnel out from the Aiguille du Midi. Damned climate change is ruining a treasure.

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• JU

  @JuliaSmith1 · 1 month ago (edited)

  Btw the Dufourspitze is named after Guillaume Henri Dufour. He was the first general of modern Switzerland and contributed significantly to its existence by basically ending (aka winning) the last Swiss civil war (Sonderbundskrieg) in basically the quickest and least bloody way possible. He was also the creator of the first accurate topographical map of Switzerland called the Dufour map (during the creation of which many taller Swiss mountains were climbed for the first time by surveying teams, e.g. the Piz Bernina which is the highest mountain of the Eastern Alps) as well as a co-founder and the first president of the red cross organisation that still exists today. He is one of the most important people in Swiss history

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• DJ

  @DJM-yr7gk · 1 month ago

  Bro you give such cool, laid back and positive vibes! All the best and take care!!

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• JE

  @jeanniederberger9222 · 1 month ago (edited)

  I climed twice about 25 years ago (once in April with skis and once in July) this peak with some friends and with a guide. Very nice documentation and also excellent pictures.

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• ON

  @onsightmartin · 1 day ago

  Great job! It's one of the few ones of the European country high points I have left and the last alp one! 🎉 Hope to do it next year

• IA

  @ianwells1453 · 1 day ago

  Did the Dufourspitz in August 1981, lot more snow on the glacier, started from the old Monta Rosa hut. Again in very good weather.

• PL

  @PlanetFirst · 11 days ago

  great job:thanksdoc:

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• 19

  @1980Raffael · 1 month ago

  thank you.

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• DR

  @DrBobvonCirkus · 1 month ago

  Man I'm happy for you, I can see that it meant a lot for you to stand on the summit with your mate Peter. Too bad Nick didn't feel well for the summit day. Good video as always. I bet you guys felt excited when you saw Matterhorn for the first time in person!

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• AL

  @allezfc8166 · 1 month ago

  Matterhorn has to be next 😉

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• ST

  @SteYoung-f7t · 1 month ago

  Been waiting for this to happen and it didn't disappoint, great video and great effort from you both 👏🏼

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• CA

  @calmparentingpodcast · 1 month ago

  Amazing climb, photography, and accomplishment! Well done! Our favorite hidden gem in Europe is Slovenia--love the Julian Alps (and the pumpkin seed oil with ice cream!) Keep up the great work and be safe!

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