News
from: Zermatt Tourism
www.zermatt.ch
Source: Amadé Perrig

ABOVE: The Matternhorn has attracted an estimated 100,000+ climbers over the last 141 years.

Have you climbed the Matterhorn? Join the club.

ZERMATT, AUGUST, 2006 -- Have you already climbed or are you planning to climb the Matterhorn?

Who’s already been to the top? Who’s already conquered the summit? Who’s a Matterhorn climber?

We’ll soon know, because anyone who has conquered the Matterhorn can now register at www.matterhornclimbers.ch. The site publishes the name, nationality, year of ascent and, optionally, photos and reports.

When the new Matterhorn museum opens in December 2006, anyone who has conquered the Matterhorn can immortalize themselves with a plaque at the museum’s entrance.

About the Matterhorn Climbers' Club:

The Matterhorn Climbers’ Club is now being set up. It keeps members regularly up-to-speed about all the latest news about Zermatt and the Matterhorn, and features an annual general assembly with conference.

You can register as a Matterhorn climber for a one-off fee of CHF 350. What you get: your name immortalized in the Matterhorn museum, optionally, publication of your data in the internet and membership of the Matterhorn Climbers’ Club, a membership pass and pin. The membership fee will go towards financing the construction and running of the new museum. The project manager of the Matterhorn Climbers’ Club is Amadé Perrig, former head of tourism in Zermatt.

Every year some 3,000 people from around the world attempt to scale the “Horu” – a genuine challenge. Since the first ascent in 1865, some 100,000 people are estimated to have conquered the Matterhorn (4,478 m above sea level).

The people of Zermatt hope that mountaineers who have since died will be registered by their descendants. Unfortunately, to date there are no statistics on Matterhorn ascents – which is why Zermatt is hoping that lots of people will register now and later to help tell the full story of the mountain.

The Matterhorn is not so much a fad, but an obsession. The summit of the Horn was first ascended 141 years ago on 14th July 1865. Four of the seven young men – led by Englishman Edward Whymper – died attempting the climb. Even today rumors surrounding this dramatic event, which made the small village of Zermatt world-famous overnight, are rife. The original rope from that first expedition that tore during the descent is still on display in the town.

For more information on the Matterhorn Climbers' Club, visit www.matterhornclimbers.ch. And to learn more about travel in Zermatt and Europe's other top Alpine resorts, see www.zermatt.ch and www.bestofthealps.com.

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