Castor is a fairly nondescript peak which sits within the Pennine Alps on the border to the Valais, Switzerland and the Aosta Valley.
With its glaciated peak and phenomenal panoramic views, the mountain is the ideal challenge for intermediate-level mountaineers and can be smited from either the Swiss or Italian sides.
From the Swiss side, the ascent begins by heading from Zermatt to Klein Mountain via cable car. From here, climbers traverse the Grand Glacier of Verra up the mountain’s western flank until he or she reaches the summit.
From the Italian side, the adventure begins in the mountain hamlet of Gressoney. From here climbers take a lift up to the Capanna Quintino Sella mountain hut, before heading to the summit via the Felikjoch, eventually traversing the long and narrow southeast ridge.
During the summer months, the weather for climbing Castor is ideal. Average temperatures farther down the mountain hover between 8ºC to 12ºC. These drop closer to freezing as you ascend. Weather on the mountain can be fairly unpredictable, but the summer months tend to be the driest.
Any trip to Castor begins either with a flight into the Geneva International Airport (GVA) or the Turin Airport (TRN). From the former, Zermatt can be easily reached by train, bus or car and from the latter, it is easiest to take a bus or car from Turin to Gressoney.
Italian
+39 / +41
Euro / Swiss Franc (CHF)
June to September
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