You might've heard until now about Matterhorn, part of the Alps. It is a large, almost symmetric pyramidal peak in the Monte Rosa area of the Pennine Alps, whose summit is 4,478 metres high, being one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe. The four steep faces, rising above the surrounding glaciers, were approached by our colleague, Loredana Sucu.
Loredana is part of our team as an Agile Software Tester ever since Cegeka Romania was founded - 8 years ago and before that, she worked 6 years for the companies integrated by Cegeka. We all know about her passion for the mountain and for climbing, constantly following her social media profiles in order to see her fascinating adventures. It is in our DNA and in hers as well to constantly want to be better and do more, by aspiring to more. Therefore, of course she set her mind on conquering one of the "Great North Faces of the Alps" as Matterhorn is also known due to its vertical walls.
We are glad that she returned safely and we'll leave you with some amazing photos and notes she took after her journey.
"I needed at least one week to settle down my soul after all the emotions that I’ve been experimented at over 4000m altitude, this summer in Alps. During this time I’ve been able to rememorate all the ascensions, an experience that can hardly be told in a few words. Even so, I invite you to take a look at my journey.
It all started with my desire to climb Monte Cervino (Matterhorn), with its peak at 4478 m altitude. Every year I listened to stories about this mountain, that is considered to be one of the most dangerous mountains to climb - firstly because of the friability and secondly because of the high numbers of climbers, some lack of experience and of attention that usually are the main reasons of accidents.
- 17th of August – after 2 exhausting days of driving we’ve climbed a small portion of the trail to get a sense on what we are going to climb the next days - and we did that until we reached an altitude of 3200m;
- 18th of August – we decided to perform the acclimatization climbing on Breithorn Occidentale (4165m) and Breithorn Centrale (4160m). A route in which the view is breathtaking, the Alps are indeed amazing, and the main sight is on Matterhorn, we were constantly gazing 360 degrees;
- 20th of August – approaching day for Monte Cervino. After an easy climb, slightly exposed in some areas until Carrel refuge. A quiet evening at 3829m altitude in which I tried to master my emotions for the next day that I knew will involve climbing and unloading and my agility will be highly challenged;
- 21st of August – at 4 am we started our climb. In front were a few teams that started a little bit earlier but who went slowly. We had to try to avoid some of them. After an ascent of about 6 hours, what up until now was only a wish, turned into reality and I reached the cross that marks the top of Monte Cervino. I took only a few moments to enjoy this milestone as I was aware that I we were only halfway through the route and the part that I was most afraid of, was next. After a few meters of unloading I got used to the new direction of travel, the descent, where the rappelling maneuvers were nicely intertwined with the unloading ones and after a while I watched again the greatness of this mountain from Carrel refuge. A well-deserved break to catch our breath and then we continued the descent to the base.
After the Matterhorn experience, we needed to recover, so I dedicated 3 days to this aspect. The following peaks are found in the Mischabel area of the Alps.
- 25th of August – a beautiful uphill climb, in the middle of the glaciers with which the Alps had already accustomed me till Mischabelhutte;
- 26th of August – crossing the Hohbalmgletscher, an ascent to the Windjoch (3850m) and from here the approach of the Nadelhorn (4327m) and Lenzspitze (4294m) peaks (pic below). These two peaks are connected by a ridge with an impressive exposure that involves climbing and descent climbs intertwined with rappelling maneuvers. We also withdrew from the route at the Mischabel chalet.
- 27th of August – one of the most exhausting routes that I made in the Alps which involved crossing the Hohbalmgletscher glacier and climbing to Windjoch (3850m) from where we first climbed Ulrichshorn (3925m), we returned to the saddle and from there, back a travers under Nadelhorn we approached Stecknadelhorn (4241m). After a descent and a new climb we reached Hohberghorn (4219m). After a new descent and climb we found ourselves reaching Durrenhorn (4035m). And in the end, after long and seemingly endless climbs / descents, to see ourselves at the base of the mountain. A superb, demanding, 17h route, but with an impressive perspective on many peaks over 4000m in the Alps with Matterhorn in the lead :) "
