*Zermatt / Matterhorn
Dent Blanche (4,357 m.a.s.l.)
The Dent Blanche is one of the more demanding 4,000-metre mountains for alpinists. Together with the Obergabelhorn and the Zinalrothorn, the mountain forms the southern end of the Val de Zinal. The German-French language border runs through here. The Dent Blanche is a powerful, largely ice-free pyramid with four ridges in all four cardinal directions. The Dent-Blanche cabin at 3,507 m.a.s.l. is the highest located SAC cabin in Switzerland. 1,700 metres of altitude must be overcome on the ascent alone.
Origin of the name
It is very likely that there was some confusion between the names of the Dent Blanche (White Tooth) and theDent d'Hérens, which is only visible from a very few places in the Val d'Hérens. And the mountain is not as white as the name suggests – it is almost ice-free. The Dent Blanche is actually also shown at the location of the Dent d’Hérens on some old maps. The confusion is not surprising, because the first cartographers, who had not had too many good experiences with the mountain people, often produced their maps from afar. The confusion is further exacerbated by the fact that, in the middle of the 19th century, the Dent d’Hérens was known as the Dent Blanche by the inhabitants of the front of the valley, and as the Dent de Rong or Dent d’Erins at the other end of the valley. A German name for the Dent Blanche is no longer used nowadays. The name “Steinbockhorn” is historically recorded.
History / Legends
Not only is the Matterhorn African, but also the Dent Blanche. Together with its neighbouring summits, they form the Dent-Blanche nappe, a cliff of the East Alpine nappe, which is otherwise only localised in the Eastern Alps. It was a part of the African plate, and consists of metamorphous rock, gneis and gabbro.
| Height: | 4,357 m.a.s.l. |
| First climbed: | 18th July 1862 |
| First climbed by: | Thomas Stuart Kennedy, William and C. Wigram with the guides Jean-Baptiste Croz and Johann Kronig via the South Ridge (“Wandfluhgrat”) |
Information for hikers
Various hiking tips with view of the mountain |
Hike from Zermatt to the Schönbielhütte cabin |
Cabins on the trail / picnic opportunities |
Zmutt, Stafelalp, Schönbielhütte cabin |
Mountain railway facilities |
With the Zermatt – Furi – Zermatt aerial cable car |
Information for excursions
Information about the various summits |
You have the best view of the Dent Blanche from the Gornergrat |
Short, easy walks or hikes |
Rotenboden - Riffelberg |
Information for mountaineers / alpinists
Valley location |
Ferpècle (1766 m.a.s.l.) |
Starting point |
Cabane de la Dent Blanche (3507 m.a.s.l.) |
Various routes |
Four ridges run exactly in the four cardinal directions from the summit of the mighty pyramid of the Dent Blanche, whereby the ridge to the south is not quite as steep, and gradually runs into the ridge of the Wandfluh. Together with its easterly neighbouring summits, the Ober Gabelhorn und Zinalrothorn, the Dent Blanche forms the southern end of the Val de Zinal, which belongs to the valley system of the Val d'Anniviers. the Val d'Hérens begins to the west of the mountain, and the Zmuttgletscher extends into the valley at the south-east foot of the Dent Blanche, whose melt water flows to Zermatt and then through the Mattertal valley.
East-northeast Ridge (“Viereselsgrat”)
West Ridge (“Ferpèclegrat”)
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Refreshment points / mountain cabins |
Cabane de la Dent Blanche (3,507 m.a.s.l.) |
