Wetterhorn Peak Trip Report 10/20/2008

Peak(s):	Wetterhorn Peak - 14,021 feet
Date Posted:	10/20/2008
Modified:	09/03/2009
Date Climbed:	10/19/2008
Author:	zeekzilch

14-year-old drags old fat man to the 4,272 metre summit of Wetterhorn Peak...
Yes, Eric is only 14 years old but has already completed 22 new 14ers this season alone! Some day this guy's going to be a world-class mountaineer while the rest of are in rocking chairs - but, at least, we'll be able to watch his videos! Anyway, Eric and I camped at the Matterhorn Creek trailhead and started hiking at 4 am for a genuine "alpine start" so as to catch sunrise from the ridge. Despite getting lost in the dark, twice, we still caught the sun in time somewhere along the southwest ridge at about 4,000 metres (13,125 feet) but found it tough to endure with a cold, biting wind tearing through our clothing and equipment. The summit, too, was cold and windy but died down enough to take some videos. Here's a recording from the summit: Here's a video of Eric downclimbing the gully just beneath the prow: We had the entire summit, mountain, and massif to ourselves the whole time - everybody else was still at home, safe, warm, and rested... It took us 3:50 to ascend the 1,000+ metres (3,300 feet) to Wetterhorn's summit. We could have easily shaved half an hour off that had we not gotten lost a couple of times in the dark. Descending back to the trailhead took 2:15 but that, too, could have been quicker had it not been for all the photographs and video recording... For the Earth, Roger J. Wendell aka ZeekZilch 4WD recommended from this point on... This is where we went left, instead of right, at about 4:30 am (the little "Wetterhorn" note, on the bottom right of the sign, was invisible in the dark...) The trail is very obvious in daylight! The trail swings to the right even though you can see the peak is to the left... We discovered this sign in the daylight on our way back down. Eric Wetterhorn Peak Yellow-dirt area on the southwest ridge Third class area Third class Panorama Old, fat man shortroped to the summit by a 14-year-old... Eric is impatient and wants to do another peak before dark... Eric Eric down climbing Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

14-year-old drags old fat man to the 4,272 metre summit of Wetterhorn Peak...

Yes, Eric is only 14 years old but has already completed 22 new 14ers this season alone! Some day this guy's going to be a world-class mountaineer while the rest of are in rocking chairs - but, at least, we'll be able to watch his videos!

Anyway, Eric and I camped at the Matterhorn Creek trailhead and started hiking at 4 am for a genuine "alpine start" so as to catch sunrise from the ridge. Despite getting lost in the dark, twice, we still caught the sun in time somewhere along the southwest ridge at about 4,000 metres (13,125 feet) but found it tough to endure with a cold, biting wind tearing through our clothing and equipment.

The summit, too, was cold and windy but died down enough to take some videos.

Here's a recording from the summit:

Here's a video of Eric downclimbing the gully just beneath the prow:

We had the entire summit, mountain, and massif to ourselves the whole time - everybody else was still at home, safe, warm, and rested...

It took us 3:50 to ascend the 1,000+ metres (3,300 feet) to Wetterhorn's summit. We could have easily shaved half an hour off that had we not gotten lost a couple of times in the dark. Descending back to the trailhead took 2:15 but that, too, could have been quicker had it not been for all the photographs and video recording...

For the Earth,

Roger J. Wendell
aka ZeekZilch

4WD recommended from this point on...

This is where we went left, instead of right, at about 4:30 am (the little "Wetterhorn" note, on the bottom right of the sign, was invisible in the dark...)

The trail is very obvious in daylight!

The trail swings to the right even though you can see the peak is to the left...

We discovered this sign in the daylight on our way back down.

Eric

Wetterhorn Peak

Yellow-dirt area on the southwest ridge

Third class area

Third class

Panorama

Old, fat man shortroped to the summit by a 14-year-old...

Eric is impatient and wants to do another peak before dark...

Eric

Eric down climbing

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

seth0687	Impressive 10/21/2008 6:33pm 14?? damn man very impressive!! looks like a fun climb for sure. 8)
uwe	Great Job 10/23/2008 1:40pm Careful about fat old man...There are a lot of us out here and we are sensitive lot. lol. Lostsheep5 - next summer I am doing a CMC trip to haul some friends up the Bells and Pyramid. - Now that I have done them, I am happy to have you join if you have not done them already. Looks like it was a fine day. Congratulations!
Gueza	Thanks! 3/4/2012 6:31pm Thanks for getting this TR up! That was a very enjoyable climb. I still think it was waaaay over rated. The pictures make evrything look worse. I never felt threatened at all on the entire climb. Thanks again! Like my avatar?...

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