Rising in solitary perfection above the Swiss-Italian border, the Matterhorn is a mountain that has captured imaginations for centuries. Its sculpted ridges and proud symmetry seem almost too striking to be real - which has made the Matterhorn a peak so iconic that it defines what many envision when they think of the word mountain. But beyond this famous mountain’s photogenic beauty lies a climb that demands precision, endurance, and respect.

For generations, the Matterhorn has stood as a proving ground for mountaineers. The Hörnli Ridge, the classic route of ascent, is no simple scramble: it’s over 4,000 vertical feet of exposed terrain, a mix of rock and snow that calls for steady movement, calm focus, and unwavering partnership.

To climb the Matterhorn is to step into the history of modern alpinism. Once an arena reserved almost exclusively for men, today more and more women are writing their own Matterhorn stories: leading rope teams, guiding clients, and showing that strength in the mountains takes many forms.

For the Summit Scholarship recipients, the Matterhorn represents both a destination and a metaphor: a reminder that every sharp ridge and shadowed face holds the potential for transformation. It’s a climb that strips away pretense and ego, asking instead for presence, preparation, and grit. And when the clouds part and the summit cross comes into view, it offers something more than accomplishment: perspective, belonging, and the knowledge that you, too, have earned your place among the peaks.

The LOWA Matterhorn Summit Scholarship Adventure unfolds over five unforgettable days in the heart of the Swiss Alps. This is not a casual trek but a serious alpine ascent, and an immersive opportunity to refine skills, challenge limits, and join a small team of women on one of the world’s most storied peaks.

This project is supported by LOWA and accompanied by some of the most accomplished women in alpinism. LOWA athletes Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, Alix von Melle, and Ines Papert are involved as mentors and supporters of the program. Ines will join the team on the Matterhorn itself, bringing her deep expertise and contagious passion for the alpine environment to every step of the journey.

Led by Summit Scholarship Founder Sunny Stroeer, the Matterhorn Adventure begins in Zermatt, where participants gather on August 30 for introductions and a welcome dinner. There’s time to meet your local IFMGA guides, check gear, and begin settling into the rhythm of the mountains. From there, the team heads to the Riffelhorn, a classic training crag overlooking the Matterhorn, for a full day of preparation. Here, climbers dial in their rope systems, practice efficient movement on rock and snow, and get a feel for what lies ahead on the Hörnli Ridge.

With technical skills honed and spirits high, the team ascends to the Hörnli Hut, perched at the base of the mountain’s striking northeast ridge. The hut buzzes with anticipation - the Matterhorn looms above, and the next morning’s climb promises both intensity and reward. Summit day begins in the dark, with headlamps cutting through the alpine stillness as climbers move in steady partnership with their guides. The ascent involves more than 4,000 vertical feet of sustained technical terrain: steep rock, exposed ridgelines, and snow that can reach angles of 50 degrees. It’s a long, demanding day that calls for endurance, focus, and trust.

During the Matterhorn summit push, each participant climbs on a one-to-one ratio with an experienced female mountain guide, ensuring the highest level of safety, mentorship, and individual support. The descent back to Zermatt marks the end of the climbing phase but not the experience itself. The final evening and departure day is for reflection, storytelling, and celebrating what was accomplished together on the mountain.

Because this is not just a climb but also a shared narrative, a photographer (and possibly a film crew) will accompany the group throughout the expedition. Summit Scholarship applicants should be comfortable with their experience being documented and shared as part of the broader effort to highlight women and gender-diverse adventurers in the high mountains.

August 30 - September 3 2026

This climb of the Matterhorn is not a “once-in-a-while” adventure; it is a technically challenging and exposed alpine undertaking. Candidates must bring solid mountaineering experience, physical preparedness, and a mindset ready for sustained effort.

You must be completely comfortable using crampons, an ice-axe, rope systems and harnesses. The Hörnli Ridge route includes sustained sections of snow and ice (up to roughly 50°) and mixed rock and snow terrain where you’ll move in alpine boots, clipped in, often on low-5th-class or exposed 4th class terrain. You should have prior experience climbing in those conditions, and be efficient moving across rock, ice and snow transitions.

You must also already have alpine experience at high altitude, and be familiar with long, continuous days where concentration cannot lapse. The descent is as technical and demanding as the climb.

Speed and efficiency are fundamental. On summit day you’ll climb roughly 4,000 feet of vertical gain from the hut to the summit, and guides expect steady movement throughout. Slow pace or frequent breaks can compromise safety, risk rock-fall exposure, or push the team into weather windows that demand early turnaround. It is essential that you can maintain a high ascent rate in alpine terrain.

The local Zermatt ascent test is a 1.2 kilometer (3/4 mile) trail that gains 600 meters (2,000 feet) and needs to be completed by Matterhorn summit push candidates in 45 minutes or less.

In short: this is for women who are ready to step fully into the alpine world: who are already comfortable in harness and boots, confident on steep rock, snow and ice, and committed to a focused summit push.

• Hotel accommodation pre-and post climb in Zermatt, double occupancy

• Welcome & final dinners in town

• Local IFMGA guide team and expedition leader

• Top-notch mountaineering footwear from LOWA Boots, mountaineering backpack from Deuter, trekking poles from LEKI

• A $1000 travel stipend to help offset travel costs to/from Zermatt

• Access to substantive discounts for personal gear purchases

• The Summit Scholarship award does not cover:

  • Travel to & from Zermatt beyond the travel stipend

  • Travel insurance or mandatory rescue insurance

  • Extra hotel nights in town in case of early departure from the mountain

  • Beverages and personal expenses

  1. Personal mountaineering gear not covered by program sponsors - rentals are available)

  2. Guide gratuity