Since the birth of mountaineering, these three peaks have captured climbers like no others: Mont Blanc (15,771 ft.), the highest point in Western Europe, because its ascent heralded the dawn of alpine climbing; the Matterhorn (14,692 ft.) because of its appearance as an unclimbable rock tower; and the Eiger (13,015 ft.) , with its dark, brooding North Face, the last of the “Three Great Problems” to be conquered.
Though now climbed regularly, these peaks still offer a unique and unmistakable alpine challenge, and the character of the climbing encountered on them is as diverse as the peaks themselves.
On Mont Blanc the primary challenge is high altitude glacier climbing, where weather, snow and ice conditions, acclimatization, and personal fitness all combine to provide the key to a successful summit climb. In contrast, ascending the Eiger and Matterhorn require technical rock skills and the ability to move quickly and efficiently along the spiny crests of their exposed alpine ridges. Because the three peaks are located in very different parts of the Alps, each gives the climber an unusual opportunity to explore the cultural and environmental diversity of this magnificent mountain range.
For experienced climbers, AAI offers an eleven-day program to climb these three classics, beginning in Chamonix, France and ending in Grindelwald, Switzerland. With only two days dedicated to the beautiful journey between alpine villages, you will enjoy nine days of spectacular climbing in three distinct areas of the region that fostered the birth of alpine mountaineering.
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