Castor mountain tour from Zermatt

You will first travel to the Klein Matterhorn together with your guide. The trip is made from Zermatt with three consecutive cable cars and takes 45 minutes. From Zermatt (1608 m a.s.l.) to the Klein Matterhorn (3883 m a.s.l.), you already have to climb 2275 meters in altitude.

From here you cross the Zwillingsjoch together and climb the steep west flank of the Castor. This is a scenically very beautiful ice tour. At the summit, you have a direct view of the Aosta Valley (Italy) to the southeast and to Pollux, the twin of Castor, to the west.

Practical information:

• Requirement: technique 3 and endurance 3

The high peaks Castor and Pollux are also called twins, because they are very close to each other. The summit of Castor reaches 4223 m a.s.l. and is located in Italy. To the west of it, Pollux, at 4092 m a.s.l., comes in front of the Breithorn massif (4164 m a.s.l.). These peaks are also located on the Valais border ridge with Italy, but still belong to Switzerland.

Technique:

You are experienced in climbing in the 2nd degree of difficulty as well as in moderately steep terrain on rock and ice. You are familiar with the use of crampons. (Level 3 of 5)

Endurance (duration of the tour):

6 - 7 hours (level 3 of 5)

• Crampon resistant mountaineering boots with profiled, stiff, Vibram sole
• Climbing harness
• crampons
• ice axe
• helmet
• backpack, approx. 30 liters
• warm weatherproof clothing
• finger gloves (possibly spare gloves)
• cap
• headlamp
• sunglasses and sunscreen
• little, but high-energy food
• thermos or water bottle
• spare underwear
• hiking/ski pole with "plate