Switzerland — Dufourspitze (4,634 m): Through the Storm to the Roof of Switzerland
Altitude: 4,634 m
Coordinates: 45°56′12.6″ N, 7°52′01.4″ E
Route: Rotenboden Station – Monte Rosa Hut – Dufourspitze Summit – Return
Transport to region: 3,726 km total
• 466 km drive Halti Trail Parking → Nikkaluokta (Sweden)
• 554 km drive Nikkaluokta → Lofoten (Norway)
• 575 km drive Lofoten → Tromsø Airport
• Flight Tromsø → Gdańsk (1,705 km)
• Flight Gdańsk → Milan Malpensa (1,195 km)
• 167 km drive Milan → Täsch (Zermatt Shuttle)
• 5 km train Täsch → Zermatt
• 5 km train Zermatt → Rotenboden Station
Accommodation: Slept in car on approach; night of 1 August at Monte Rosa Hut
Conditions: Extremely cold, foggy, snow and rain, very poor visibility
🧭 Overview
Dufourspitze — the highest peak in Switzerland and one of the great summits of the Alps, was more than a climb. It was a test of exhaustion, endurance, and willpower after weeks of travel across half of Europe.
At 4,634 metres, this is a mountain of ice and silence — where even the air feels ancient.
❄️ The Road South
After summiting Halti, I had planned to climb Kebnekaise in Sweden, but constant rain and strong winds made it impossible. I waited for a break in the weather that never came, then decided to move on.
I drove south through Lofoten, the fjords glowing under cold grey light, and then back to Tromsø to catch a flight to Gdańsk on 31 July. From there, I immediately boarded another to Milan Malpensa, a surreal change from Arctic tundra to Italian summer in just hours.
Switzerland, however, was another shock: beautiful, perfect, and absurdly expensive.
I rented a car and drove overnight toward Zermatt, catching a few minutes of sleep in the car before dawn. On 1 August, I took the train from Täsch to Zermatt, then up to Rotenboden, where the trail to the Monte Rosa Hut begins.
By 18:00, after endless glacier crossings and days without proper rest, I reached the hut. I shared dinner with a few climbers and my guide, Leo, before collapsing into my bunk.
🌨 The Climb
The alarm rang at 02:20 a.m. We stepped outside into black fog and blowing snow. Headlamps flickered against the whiteout as we roped up and began the long ascent.
The glacier was hard ice, cracked with crevasses that forced detours. Visibility was minimal, a grey blur ahead, nothing beyond. My body felt drained after so many sleepless days and flights.
Somewhere above 4,000 metres, the storm intensified. Snow lashed our faces, and wind roared along the ridge. I could barely feel my feet; later, I’d realize I’d gotten minor frostbite on both toes.
But just before 08:00, the summit appeared, a ghostly ridge in swirling snow. At 07:50, I touched the highest point in Switzerland. No views, no colors — only fog and wind.
I stood there silent, completely emptied, not triumphant, just still.
🧊 The Descent
We descended carefully, each step deliberate on slick snow and ice. By 11:00, we reached the Monte Rosa Hut again, cold and soaked. I rested briefly, ate soup, and felt the fatigue catch up, the kind that seeps into your bones.
By 16:30, we were back at Rotenboden Station, ending one of the most brutal climbs of the expedition.
💬 Reflection
Dufourspitze was not about joy; it was about endurance. The body was broken, the weather hostile, but quitting was never an option.
After so many peaks, flights, and miles, this climb felt like the soul of the journey, pure, cold, demanding, and real.
There were no crowds, no camera moments, no perfect sunrise, just two climbers, fog, and determination.
It wasn’t the most beautiful summit, but it was the one that proved I could keep going no matter what.
Date: 2 August 2025
