Tour of the Matterhorn. Hilary Sharp

      Helicopter flying over the Matterhorn

      Once the team have arrived they will take over. The rescue services in the Alps speak English, so this is probably not the time to try out those new German/French/Italian phrases unless you are reasonably proficient.

      It is recommended that in the Alps walkers carry a mobile phone, but only to be used to call the rescue when it is genuinely necessary. There is telephone network cover in much of the Alps, but not everywhere. The telephone does not work over a large part of the Italian Tour of the Matterhorn.

      It is vital to know your own number as the rescue service will ask for it.

      Insurance

      Rescue is not free in Switzerland and Italy, neither are hospital and medical costs. An accident could prove very costly so you need to be insured for rescue from the hill, medical costs and repatriation. You can get this in your own country before leaving to trek. Make sure the insurance company knows you will be trekking on terrain that is both glaciated and non-glaciated, and for the former you may use a rope. You will not be climbing. If you cannot get appropriate cover at home you can get insurance for the trek period from certain tourist offices – certainly from Zermatt.

Equipment

      For the Tour of the Matterhorn you need to be equipped for regular summer Alpine trekking, but with additional gear for glacier crossings. This can add a significant amount of weight to your sac. If you feel this is too much to carry over the whole trek then consider taking a Guide for the two glaciated sections; the Guide will bring the rope and glacier-travel gear, and the most you will need is a pair of lightweight crampons (see Guided Treks, p44).

      Clothing The weather can range from very hot to very cold with everything in between. Normal temperatures at 2000m are about 10–15°C in the day; 0°C is usually between 3000m and 3500m. However, during bad weather or storms the temperature can plummet, and snow can fall as low as 1500m at any time during the summer. Wind will make the conditions feel even colder, so you need to be prepared for all eventualities. Layers are better than padded or thick garments, and clothes next to the skin should be moisture-wicking and quick-drying – leave the cotton T-shirts at home. Life in the hills should be seen as a different experience to your normal home life so embrace the simplicity of it and accept that you may well be wearing the same clothes for days at a time. In this way you can keep your sac weight acceptable – nothing spoils a good walk more than having unwanted kilos piled on your back.

      Waterproofs are essential, and a waterproof cover for your sac is a good idea. Ankle-high gaiters are the coolest for summer, and are just for use on the glaciers to keep the snow out of your boots. Gloves and fleece hat will complete the cold-weather ensemble.

      The rucksack does not need to be huge, especially if you're planning on using huts. However, it does need to be comfortable, and for trekking it's best to have a sac with a padded hip-belt.

      Boots can be lightweight so long as they take crampons. The sole is hugely important – it's amazing how a worn sole affects your grip on all sorts of terrain.

      Instep crampons are a lightweight alternative for this type of trek

      Assuming the weather will be mainly sunny you need to go prepared. At altitude those UV rays are that much stronger as you're higher up and there is less pollution to protect you. A sunhat, sunglasses and suncream are definitely called for.

      Sheet sleeping bags are highly recommended for huts (and are a requirement in Italian huts).

      Glacier gear Glacier travel involves being roped up and having the necessary gear to get you or someone else out of a crevasse. Crampons are generally needed to walk on glaciers, but it may not be deemed necessary to have an ice axe each – one in the group may suffice. If you do not plan to ascend any peaks a pair of instep crampons is usually adequate for the Tour of the Matterhorn. These are considerably smaller than normal crampons and can be attached to all footwear.

      First aid kit

      Trekking poles

      Water bottle

      Snacks/picnic for the day

      Camera

      Compass

      Maps

Glacier Travel

      Roped up near the top of the Haut Glacier d'Arolla (Stage 5).

      Glaciers introduce a whole new dimension to walking, notably that of the dangers of crevasses and the need to use crampons and possibly an ice axe. With the right equipment and, far more importantly, the right knowledge, these dangers can be reduced to an acceptable level. This knowledge can be gained in part by reading textbooks, but really there is no substitute for the real thing, either by going with experienced friends or by paying for professional instruction by qualified Guides. It is essential that you are trained in glacier travel before venturing onto glaciers during this trek (see Appendix V).

      Glacier-travel guidelines

      There are two types of glacier conditions:

      Dry glacier – when the glacier has no fresh snow cover and is purely ice; all crevasses can be seen

      Wet glacier – when fresh snow lies on the ice and hides some or all of the crevasses.