Matterhorn

After returning from the Himalayas, I climbed the Matterhorn from the Italian side — the Lion Ridge (Cresta del Leone) — one of the most exposed and demanding routes on the mountain. Rising to 4,478 meters, this line is steeper, wilder, and more technical than the Swiss Hörnli Ridge, requiring precise movement and complete focus from the very first pitch.

The ascent involved long stretches of mixed climbing, fixed ropes, steep rock towers, and constant exposure above thousands of meters of vertical terrain. Moving efficiently through the Carrel Hut section and the upper ridge demanded both alpine skill and psychological control, especially during the long, committing summit push.

Reaching the top via the Italian route, with Italy on one side and Switzerland on the other, marked a major milestone in my mountaineering progression. It was a climb that sharpened my technical confidence and demonstrated my ability to operate on one of the Alps’ most iconic and challenging ridges.