The Bishorn is one of the Alp’s easier 4000 meter summits to climb when tackled from the Cabane de Tracuit via the west flank. At the height of 4153 meters, the Bishorn is located above Zinal and, together with the Diablons, forms the north end of the Dent Blanche nappe. It lies in the immediate vicinity of the Weisshorn and has two summits separated by 600 meter easy angled snow ridge. From the west summit, there is an impressive view of the Weisshorn ridge, of which the Bishorn is an extension. The ascent from the Cabane de Tracuit via the north west flank to the east ridge is regards as one of the easiest climbs among the Alp’s 4000 meter summits.
The west and the higher summit with the height of 4153 meters was first ascent by G.S.Barnes and R.Chessyre-Walker with guides Joseph Imboden and J.M.Chanton on August 18 1884. The east summit at the height of 4134 meters was first ascent by Elizabeth Burnaby with guides Joseph Imboden and Peter Sarbach on May 6 1884. The successful German mountaineer who lost her life in the descent from the Bishorn said “The happiness that the mountains give their loyal followers is a very special thing, it cannot be forced. But anyone who feels this happiness will be forever under the spell of the mountains. They make him infinitely rich, and I also believe that he can never be completely poor again!”. She learned the basics of mountaineering from Alexander Burgener of Saas Fee, who was probably the most popular mountain guide of the Belle Epoque. She climbed a total of 21 summit over 4000 meters, including the Matterhorn eight times. Eleonore Noll-Hasenclever wrote a number of books about her experiences in the Alps including “The Ascent of the Dome de Rochefort via the Aiguille de Rochefort and the Mont Mallet” and “In den Saaser Bergen” or In the Saas Mountain. Her memoirs were published in 1932 under the title “Under the Spell of the Mountains”
To hike up the Bishorn, it is necessary to have a mountain guide since the weather in the mountain can change rapidly. It is one of the easiest 4000 meter hike but the difficulty is medium. You can start the hike from Sunnegga, Gornergrat or Matterhorn glacier paradise. The view up on the summit is stunning but even though it is one of the easiest 4000 meter hike, it is still a 2 day trip hike and hiker must have an experience with proper hiking gears. On the hike, you can view the amazing parts of Europaweg trail from Sunnegga.
