




Join Hannes, a certified IFMGA mountain guide on this 3-day ascent of beautiful Zinalrothorn and Obergabelhorn, 2 of the most beautiful and challenging alpine routes in the Alps.
Private
Alps
3 Days
Jul - Sep
High
Advanced
Arbengrat and Rotgrat – Two Rewarding Classics in the Valais
The Arbengrat on the Obergabelhorn is considered one of the most beautiful and demanding ridge routes in the Alps. Its elegant line combines solid rock, exposed sections, and varied climbing. Nestled in the majestic setting of the Valais Alps, the ridge offers an unforgettable experience for experienced alpinists.
The Rotgrat on the Zinalrothorn is an equally impressive route, featuring steep rock and snow passages. It is one of the most striking ridges on the Zinalrothorn and rewards climbers with spectacular views and a true alpine atmosphere. The combination of technical challenges and breathtaking scenery makes this ridge a definite highlight.
Both routes are a must for lovers of demanding alpine ridge climbs!
Meeting point
We start from Zermatt and take the cable car to Schwarzsee, where we begin the long approach via the Staffelalp to the Arben bivouac. The bivouac is unmanned but offers basic cooking facilities. Duration: 4–5 hours; Ascent: 1,000 m; Descent: 400 m
Early in the morning, we set out for one of the most beautiful ridges in the Alps. The Arbengrat offers magnificent climbing all the way to the summit of the Obergabelhorn and rewards us with a breathtaking view of the north face of the Matterhorn. The descent is also demanding, involving rappelling and downclimbing along the northeast ridge to the Rothorn Hut. Duration: 7–9 hours; Ascent: 1,000 m; Descent: 800 m
We begin early once again, following the normal route before traversing the Trift Glacier to reach the start of the Rothorngrat. Varied and engaging climbing leads us to the “Gabel,” from where we rejoin the normal route for the final push to the summit. The descent involves some rappelling along the normal route back to the Rothorn Hut and then onward to Zermatt. Those who prefer to break up the long descent can opt to spend an additional night at the Rothorn Hut. Duration: 9–12 hours; Ascent: 1,200 m; Descent: 2,600 m
More info
Skill and experience required: - Good acclimatization and endurance (8–10 hours, 1,250 m ascent). - Confident movement with crampons on snow and ice. - Confident climbing up to grade III.
Mountain Guide
Languages
German | English
Certificates
IFMGA
Man
Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!
Maxine
Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.
Valeriya
You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.
Joshua
We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.
Cami
Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.
4.8
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