International Mountain Day
Ski holidays simply wouldn’t exist without mountains, and marking today “International Mountain Day” the world shows its gratitude. Some colleges in America actually cancel classes for excursions to their local peaks, but we think we’ll settle for a catalogue of our top 10 — from world-renowned icons to the personal favourites we’ve seen and skied along the way.
Views as far as the goggled eye can see, summits which have challenged the hardiest mountaineers and peaks which have made it to the big screen – Mother Nature, we salute you:
Aiguille du Midi
© OT Chamonix & Jean-Charles Poiro
The sharp peaked viewing platform for Mont Blanc…
Name means: Needle of Noon
Height: 3842m
First climbed: 1818
Best feature: New “Step into the Void” glass skywalk – which looks down on a 1035m vertical
Best for views: Chamonix, Courmayeur
The Matterhorn / Monte Cervino
© Kurt Müller
The iconic pyramid-shaped mountain straddling the Swiss-Italian border
Name means: Meadow Peak
Height: 4478m
First Climbed: 1868 (one of the last Alpine giants to be scaled)
Did you SNO? Disneyland California has a 147ft replica
Best for views: Zermatt, Cervinia
Sassolungo / Langkofel
© Val Gardena
Forms some of the finest scenery in the Dolomites, if not the world
Name means: Tall rock
Height: 3181m
First climbed: 1869
Did you SNO? The locals call the Telecabina Saasolungo the ‘coffin lift’ due to the eerie shape of its cars
Best for views: St Cristina
Cascade
© Banff Tourism
The rugged backdrop of every Banff Avenue photo ever taken… Banff was built so that it’s roads would always have great views like this one
Name: After a local waterfall
Height: 2998m
First climbed: 1887
Did you SNO? Linked to the forested Banff National Park, many a grizzly’s been spotted on its slopes
Best for views: Banff
Jungfrau
© Jungfrau Region & Jost von Allmen
The highest point on the gigantic 10 km wall of mountains overlooking the Bernese Oberland
Name means: Virgin
Height: 4158 m
First climbed: 1811
Best feature: The Ice Palace on the way up– a series of ice sculptures (including a 2m Sherlock) hewn into the glacier
Best for views: Grindelwald, Wengen
Eiger
© Jungfrau Region & Jost von Allmen
The deadliest of the famous Jungfrau pinnacles, whose fearsome “wall of death” has claimed the lives of 65
Name means: Ogre
Height: 3970m
First climbed: 1858
Did you SNO? Activity on the terrifying North face can be followed through telescopes from hotel balconies and viewpoints around the valley
Best for views: Grindelwald, Wengen
Wildspitze
© Ötztal Tourismus & Philipp Horak Solden
The twin-peaked tip of the sprawling Austrian Ötztal Alps
Name means: Fierce Peak
Height: 3770m
First climbed: 1848
Did you SNO? 20 million Euro has been spent on a new café and ski lift on the Piztal Glacier, for views of, and access to the Wildspitze
Best for Views: Solden
Monte Rosa / Dufourspitze
© Monterosa Ski
Astride the Swiss-Italian border, runner up for the title of “highest in the Alps”
Name means: Glacier Mountain (not “Pink” Mountain!) Dufour Peak
Height: 4634m
First climbed: 1872
Did you SNO? The Margherita hut where climbers traditionally stay before ascending to the summit is the highest in the Western Alps (4554m)
Best for views: Zermatt
Dom
Picture © Saastal Tourismus
A sheep in wolf’s clothing… the highest peak in Switzerland is a gentle giant
Name means: Dome/Cathedral
Height: 4545m
First climbed: 1858
Did you SNO? It can be climbed on skis
Best for views: Saas-Fee
Sciliar/Schlern
© Valentin Pardeller
South Tyrol’s unusual flat-topped giant
Height: 2563m
First Climbed: 1880
Did you SNO? According to local legend, witches from all over the world meet once a year on the summit
Best for views: Bolzano
The Schilthorn
© Schilthorn Cableway Ltd
The Jungfrau region’s film-featured observation deck
Height: 2970m
Best feature: The revolving Piz Gloria restaurant constructed for 1969 Bond flick, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Fun fact: Ever since 1928, the Inferno (the world’s longest downhill ski race) has kicked off here
Best for views: Mürren
Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten:
Mont Blanc
© Courmayeur Tourism
The Alp’s loftiest peak
Name means: White Mountain
Height: 4810m (though varies with snow depth)
First climbed: 1786
Did you SNO? In 2007, 20 people carried up a hot tub for a party on the summit
Best for views: Courmayeur and Chamonix
