Skitouring

Schwarztor

On the ascent, you're on the border between Switzerland and Italy. The descent weaves enjoyably through crevasses and seracs back to Zermatt.

Descent with view of the Matterhorn
  • Type Skitouring
  • Difficulty easy
  • Duration 4,00 h
  • Distance 16,8 km
  • Ascent 117 m
  • Descent 2340 m
  • Lowest point 1615 m
  • Highest point 3838 m

Description

Starting from the Klein Matterhorn, the route on skis heads across the Breithorn plateau and along the Breithorn before heading to the 4,000-metre twins Castor and Pollux. This takes you to the Schwarztor, the gap between Roccia Nera (eastern end of the Breithorn) and Pollux. Ski tourers then enjoy a long, powder snow descent through a labyrinth of incredible crevasses and seracs down to the Gorner Glacier and on to Zermatt.

  • Up close to the 4,000ers around Zermatt
  • Spend the whole day on the glacier
  • Challenging navigation on the descent

Klein Matterhorn – Breithornplateau – Schwarztor – Gorner Glacier – Furi - Zermatt
Option: Ascent of Pollux before the descent.

We recommend to book a mountain guide who knows well the place.

We recommend:

  • Ski touring equipment: touring ski-boots, touring skis with touring bindings, ski poles, skins, crampons
  • Climbing harness
  • Backpack, shovel, probe
  • Avalanche transeiver
  • Warm weatherproof clothing
  • Warm gloves and warm hat
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Warm drinks
  • Snack (high energy foods such as chocolate, dried fruit etc.)

Important! Requirement: very good skiing skills and abilities, ski touring experience, surefooted with no fear of heights

Option: Ascent of Pollux before the descent.

  • Always go with a mountain guide on a tour
  • Stay up-to-date with the weather and avalanche status: Snow Report
    More information is available in the Swiss avalanche bulletins (www.slf.ch)
  • Always maintain visual contact with accompanying persons
  • Use key sections and extremely steep slopes individually
  • Never go into a wild game protection zone (these are marked and one will be fined)
  • Always switch the avalanche transceiver (LVS device) unit to transmission
  • Always carry a shovel and a probe
  • Pay close attention to daily atmospheric warming and continually re-evaluate the situation

Tip: “Be searchable”. Equip yourself with an additional RECCO rescue reflector*. Whether summer or winter. Available in our Online-Shop or our information desk.
*The additional reflector does not replace an avalanche beacon.

Map and arrival

detailed map