Breithorn // The Matterhorn's Neighbor
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- When there's rain and snow in the middle of July you've got to keep you mountain plans flexible. This episode begins on a rain and thunder morning in Wengen, Switzerland. With little hope of a clearing we casually work our way to Zermatt, Switzerland. Where the weather is still nothing but hard rain and thunder. As the day ends, there's little hope of a Matterhorn summit. So we console ourselves the next day with a small peak called Breithorn during a short break between storms.
Hard to put into words how much I love this channel. Quite literally living the life I hope to one day.
I always wonder what the backstory is on these guys and what they do for a living
Yup!
@@shawnparenteau9395 Every time I watch their videos I ask the same thing. I'm really curious. Kristoph (not sure what spelling is correct) seems to be always traveling, which is a clue.
Me too living the life of hiking, backpacking, skiing, mountaineering, & traveling around the world.
@@willjensen5595 Christof is a commercial airline pilot. Danny works some sort of seasonal job. I think Matt is a professional photographer or athlete of some sorts
Love the way y'all give Christof sass. He evidently loves it too because he always responds with that soft Christof smile. Hold fast to your friendships, guys. Nothing more important than good friends. I am 74 and the last of my group. One day one of you will be the last of your group. Make your time together count. God Bless!
That's a beautiful comment, will be sure to keep it in mind when I get to spend time with the lads. Cheers Michael
I agree with you, Jared - that's a lovely comment, Michael! Thanks for the touching reminder. We are here temporarily, so remember what's important, and what's not.
Agree, great comment. I'm 65 and still have my small group of comrades to do stuff to keep us young!
"Matt faked a cough, so nobody would get in the gondola with us. So we've got it all to ourselves."
Hahaha! You guys crack me up. Great job though making the most of your time with the plan change!
I know right. Anymore if you clear your throat, you get 30 looks. If you actually get a common cold, everyone thinks it's certain death!
I've been enjoying your productions over the last years without comment til now. Just had to chime in that you have been retracing my adventures in 1970 when I went to Europe after high school with more confidence in my mountaineering skills than I deserved. I spent several days in the hostel at the Jung Frau Joch waiting out a storm and waded through hip deep snow not making it to the summit of the Jung Frau, then soloing the Monch in wind so strong I had to crawl, clinging to the rock to the summit. Having no money, I hiked down the glacier from the Joch to Brigg and hitch hiked to the train station to Zermatt. I was told there was too much snow on the Matterhorn but I went for it any way, getting to the Solvay hut wearing crampons the whole way. I then was hitch hiking towards Chamonix but found a partner to climb Mt Dolent and Tour Noir, around the corner still in Switzerland. My partner was intent on traversing a north slope but I insisted on roping it - He took an impressive pendeluming fall that I held with a flimsy belay around a rock. I then took trains to Austria to meet up with a guy who I'd taken up Mt Rainier the previous year - our time up the DC was not as fast as yours but we summitted before sun rise and were back at the parking lot mid morning. The stories of the Austrian climbing are for another day.
Sucks - any time you have a trip around a big objective, its gutting to not be able to snag it. Right decision though guys, we all want more videos and you to stay safe!
That's rough, guys, but totally real. We've all had weather crush our peaking dreams at some point, and it was great fun to see your personalities as you made the best of a tough situation. Glad to hear you're headed for Chamonix next -- Mont Blanc will be much easier to climb in the snow, and the views from up there are insane!
Saw your vids before but they all seem lower 48 focused. You’ve already climbed Mont Blanc in the past?
@@ChewieTomatoes1 Yes we've been just doing lower 48 lately because of Covid, but before then we were doing tons of overseas stuff including Kilimanjaro, Iceland's Laugavegur trail, and the entire Tour de Mont Blanc. But that was before we made videos, so it's only on Instagram.
@@alskfaslkfjkl Tmb takes you through Les Houches, and that's where the cheapest guided trips up MB start. So a lot of people do what we did and just add that in as an extra along the way. I'm sure the MA guys will not use guides and will take a much more challenging route up, but for those who just want a milk run -- even sleeping in huts! -- to the top of MB to gain their first mountaineering experience, it's a nice option.
Fun fact: in the winter, you can have dinner at the hotel you stayed at in Furi (Gitz Gadi) and after dinner they give you a sled so you can sled down all the way to Zermatt in the pitch dark. It’s so much fun!
The weather in Switzerland has been so strange this summer. We were also hoping for a Aug 8th Matterhorn summit, but like you, had to cancel due to the amount of snow up there. Most people have not been able to summit up until the last two weeks (from Aug 14 onwards)! And the Zermatt guides only started their Matterhorn season 2 weeks ago, so you guys made the right choice! We also did Breithorn as a consolation prize, great minds think alike :)
Audibly gasped @ 12:06
seriously so ginormous and beautiful. I miss Switzerland!!!
“Pulling a Christof” 🤣
That valley is like Yosemite meets the Tetons. You’ll get to climb the Matterhorn some day!
It’s great to see the behind-the-scenes of trips like this for those who can’t do it in real life makes it all the more virtually real 😊
Lived in Switzerland for 15 years and it still blows my mind how easy it is to get to the hardest places!
Watching Mediocre Amateur adventures on a big screen brings the scenic views into the room.
Interesting. About 5 years ago I got stormed out of the Matterhorn, and did the Breithorn Traverse instead, better weather. The views from the knife edge ridge were spectacular. You guys should have kept going and done the rock wall too. Fun stuff! Keep up the good work! (But shoot for less rope slack, if someone falls off a ridge or into a crevasse folks are going to get a heck of a shock load!)
Always appreciate you guys sharing your decision-making process, especially the emphasis on safety.
🤯beautiful! Great video!
Loving this European excursion from the MA! Great stuff and incredible shots! Way to stay positive and still manage to do cool stuff even though the weather threw you a curveball. Hoping we get at least 1-2 more of these epic Euro vids.
Spectacular regardless of weather
What an absolutely stunning piece of the world.
Fantastic films, funny too. Keep it up.
Love this channel
I'm loving following your adventures! I'm amazed at how much snow was there in July!
11:14 is such an amazing shot, been sat paused on that for a long while.
You guys were one month early. I just completed the Haute Route (adjusted with some additional peaks) without seeing a drop of rain. My partner even made sure I didnt run it down in a week, so it was 15 days of glorious weather, pies, relaxing huts and glorious views. Hope it remains this way when I go to the Margeretta hut next week. Next time more luck!
Man, I miss Switzerland. Only got to spend a few days in lauterbrunnen but it was my favorite place I've ever been.
The food is awful ;-)
But the water coming out of those springs is the best I've ever had.
Thank you so much for sharing your adventure again. I love living vicariously through your videos!
Absolutely love your channel gents...inspiring stuff!!
Nice views from Zermatt. Hope you choose safety in the Mountains. Lac Blanc is beautiful I have heard. Good Luck.
I love hiking 8n the mountains, and you guys take it to another level. Awesome channel. Love your drum beat at the start.
You guys keep putting out absolute gold!
Like, there is no other channel out there with such great adventures for the above average mountaineer, with such likable characters! Thanks for being Mediocre!
The flow is back
Those views going up the Breithorn are sick. Awesome video. The Matterhorn will be waiting for y’all another day. 🤘
Super early lol, perfect timing to start the day!
That was cool. I have run the Zermatt Ultramarathon from St. Niklaus to Gornergrat twice and was going to ski the glacier the second time I was there, but the winds picked up and because they were blowing 60 mph, they shut the gondola down and no skiing. That was a bit of bummer. Instead I hoofed it up to the Hornlihutte instead. It was still a good day.
When the mountain speaks you listen but she'll be waiting for you next time.
You had me at "Glory of Love" ...
This is the best UA-cam channel
Just gets more and more epic! Thanks tor the awesome content!
This series is so good!
OMG...epic vid boys! love the hotel at the base. Luv to join
I pray you guys get to the Matterhorn!! Love your channel!
Always a good day when you guys post a video! 👍
Love Lauterbrunen in the rain...
Actually the Breithorn can be enchained with multiple other mountains nearby as part of the Monte Rosa massif. The Europeans call it the "Spaghetti Tour", where there are >10 4,000m peaks in one area (Breithorn being one of them). There are huts dotted around the Monte Rosa massif that provide easy access to these peaks and you can do a multi-day peak bagging tour.
One such peak is the Dufourspitze and it's the tallest mountain in Switzerland, and the Margherita Hut is the highest hut in Switzerland right at Signalkuppe. Another beautiful peak will be the Lyskamm, with a very beautiful 5km long ridge with stunning views of the area. The views from all the peaks into Switzerland and Italy are incredible and it's one of the best parts of the alps. There are some super alpinists (RIP Ueli Steck) that can bag all these peaks in a day.
That moment of excitement when you realize there’s a new MA upload!!
It’s weird to see these guys so clean. In the summer they’re normally sweating and throwing up on some trail that was way long than they expected 😂 but love the content as always!
I see you got properly introduced to Swiss weather. Good job on making the right decision.
Damn it, I was saying in my mind all the time, please clouds clear, please clouds clear, when you were on the Breithorn ridge, cause the view from up there is incredible (been 3 times) :) Pity for the weather but it happens. In the Jungfrau video I commented how that climb alone was probably enough to be satisfied with this summer's coming to the Alps, but of course, it is hard not to be little bit disappointed when plans fail and you traveled all the way from the US. Can't wait to see what happened on the Mont Blanc, I hope you had better luck with weather and did it :)
Am I the only one that thinks of Disney’s frozen when I hear the name Kristof? He must get that a lot:) Bummer about the weather, it happens, sounds like you made the right call! You guys are still in an awesome place doing new stuff. Keep it up
Doing the hike on Bright horn, and other peaks around the World, I guess you can't have a fear of heights? I love all your videos, just found your video 2 days ago! I've hiked most all of my life, but nothing like you guys have! Wish I where younger and might have tried what you are doing? I still hike trails in the Northeast part of the U.S. and I'm 77 years young!! Keep the great videos coming! Have you ever hiked Mt. Washington in New Hampshire?
Nice to see Montane gear on Danny 🙂. Great quality, amazing fit, and the price is right 💪🏻👍🏻
Thanks man! I didn’t know this brand, will look it up!
Irresistible I wish I had a life I could do things like this but I’m so stuck in a city… at sea-level…
Really amazing stuff. Y'all are killing it! Can you please do a gear video? In one shot I see a MH bag with what appear to be accessories from Dynafit, Mammut, and USWE...I'm confused and amazed. Show us!!
gotta love royalty free "ante up" lol
Awesome Video, just starting my UA-cam adventure channel, your videos definitely give me some good ideas. Keep it up.
Two seconds in and I’m excited!
i climbed matterhorn from Italian side (so it's Cervino 😁), which is a bit harder, last year in September, with a good amount of snow. It is for sure more difficult but it is not unclimbable, it all depends on the confidence you have with mixed terrain.
You guys got so unlucky with the weather :(
Try again next year!
Also check out the Grand Combin traverse, the Mont Blanc, Dent Blanche and the Weisshorn.
I did the Breithorn old school, walked all the way up from Zermatt 😁 epic tour
I did it the lazy way, walked up with my skies, an easy half hour walk. I have done it during the summer as well as the winter. During August we were hit by lightning on the way down, next day amazingly 40 cm powder and blue sky on the top of the lift perfectly powder skiing with Matterhorn as a backdrop Walking all the way from Zermatt requires a lot of effort . 2000m elevation is hard when I climb or walk above 4000m I always cheats 😂.
@@geirhatlestad8812 We almost got hit by lightning on our second attempt (it hit near us on a rocky section just below the summit) We ran down the mountain, scariest thing ever 😁
Nice Montane gear! I friggin love their stuff get all my alpine gear from them :)
Constellation prize higher and more technical than any peak I’ve ever climbed 😅
Another excellent video. Next time you’re in Zermatt try Lyskamm, Castor and Pollux as well as the Matterhorn👍
From what i heard when i was over there only a handful of parties had actually climbed the matterhorn this year, so definitely a difficult year.
Now I am waiting for them to have fondue and Matt to start yodeling😮
1. I did not realize those mountains got significant snow during the summer. 2. I feel bad that you missed breakfast. Those mountain towns usually serve a good breakfast. #TeamPlayerChristof
MAGNÍFICOS
As with every time I click play on an MA vid, I get to take a cool trip and never leave the farm.
that was a fast pace in the snow
Definitely dangerous, just easy to get to. That should be both a bumper sticker and a serious warning.
Funny to see Danny’s hat off, I was questioning the disappearing / reappearing long hair throughout this video series, thought it was an inside joke with a mullet cap
Haha same here! I was actually wondering how he looks without a hat on!
That ridgeline!!
What do you guys do for a living?
Christof is a commercial Pilot I believe, not Sure about Danny others. But they are just regular guys with families.
I've been watching you guys for years now. Love it! But, tell us more about yourselves please! What does Matt and Christoff do for their real jobs? What about your families, background, etc.?
Incredible! Do you guys used GoPro to make these videos?
I am so incredibly jealous of these dudes
I like those water bottle holders that Christoph and you have. Who makes those? BTW, another great video. You guys have me jonesing to get out every time.
Easy to get to danger, perfect for Mediocre Amateurs! Sorry about the Matterhorn, thanks for another great video.
Bummer about the weather guys, but that’s mountaineering for you!
Too bad you never made your goal but your alive to try again another day!
Do you guys ever sleep? Impressive. I would never "vacation" with you but I do enjoy your videos very much!
p.s. great video all shot by hand (I think)!
3:45 No ice 🧊... why would you want to replace your 0.5L of Coke with ice??? 😄
Ironic jokes are plentiful thank you✨✨✨✨
Do the Little Bear - Blanca traverse in Colorado next!
Christof is the guy in every group who gets the most shit for no reason. One wrong things he does/says, that becomes the forever joke LOL
This is not a trick question!! Now that you have experienced the lifts and gondolas in Europe, in your opinion would a lift be a good idea in Little Cottonwood canyon?
I tend to lean that a gondola would be a good option. Your thoughts please.
Did you guys get a 3 for 1 deal on those new black diamond helmets? :-D Looking forward to the next instalment from Chamonix!
hey, please whats the name of weather app you used in 1:19
Do you guys have any tips for people just at the beginning of learning technical skills and beginning their mountaineering and Backcountry skiing lifestyle? You guys inspire me I would love to be 5% as cool as you guys are
Start with an official alpine course to learn the basics such as how to use crampons, safe someone from a crevasse, etc.. Most alpine clubs and some clothing brands offer those.
11:48: 2 Euros for the restroom?? Does it come with your own personal butler? 😂
matts got a fresh helmet for the boys?!?!
Hell yeah bois 🤘
this is great! what weather app is that? thx!
"Coke with no ice." You lost me.
It was a joke. In Europe, you are lucky to get one or two cubes of ice in your glass when ordering a coke. That's the way it is, nothing like the states
@@mcats8 I'd have never known. Thanks!
11:54 Mountain Hardwear really need to sor out their rope fixing system on their backpacks! Having had 2 of their bags I can say it's absolutley atrocious!
Okay so I have no clue about this, but was there no concern of an avalanche as you "walked" across that peak?
Best way to start the morning!! I've been making my own videos too. I was wondering what software you use to edit your videos?
What do y’all do for work? Just curious!
Just wondering how come you guys didn't ski down like bosses?
Are you guys heading to Chamonix to participate in the UTMB ?
I extremely want to be like Christof when I grow up. With an ‘X’ and without an ‘E’.
Sometimes you gotta tap into that inner Christof