Video summary
The video documents an exciting expedition by a group of friends attempting to summit the Breithorn, a 4,000-meter peak located near Zermatt in Switzerland. The journey begins with the team traveling via train and gondola up to the mountain's lower sections before embarking on the final ascent across glaciers filled with hidden crevasses. While one member of the group has family ties to mountaineering history through his great-great-uncle, who was involved in the first climb of the nearby Matterhorn, this specific trip marks a significant milestone for many participants as they tackle their very first 4,000-meter mountain. The team emphasizes that although the weather conditions are beautiful and sunny, the environment remains inherently dangerous due to high winds and deep snowfields that conceal deadly gaps in the ice.
To navigate these hazards safely, the group employs essential mountaineering techniques including wearing crampons for traction on icy surfaces and utilizing a safety harness connected by ropes with approximately ten meters of slack between climbers. This setup allows them to arrest falls if someone slips into an unseen crevasse, turning what initially seemed like a simple walk in the snow into a serious technical climb. The narrator admits that while they felt confident enough just two years ago to follow others without gear, their perspective has shifted after witnessing how deep and unpredictable the cracks can be; one member even falls through a thin snow bridge early on, highlighting why professional guidance is considered essential for those new to high-altitude climbing.
Upon reaching the summit at 4,158 meters, the team enjoys spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding Alps, including the iconic Matterhorn visible in the distance, though they must navigate crowded trails and share space with other hikers ascending or descending. The experience is described as a mix of exhilaration and fear, particularly for one participant who admits to feeling frightened near steep drops but ultimately glad that the group made it safely to the top together. After spending some time celebrating their achievement amidst fresh powder snow left from overnight storms, they begin the descent, noting ironically that coming down often feels longer due to psychological factors rather than physical distance.
The video concludes with the team returning successfully to Zermatt, reflecting on how unforgettable and rewarding the climb was despite the challenges posed by altitude, wind, and hidden dangers beneath their feet. They strongly recommend booking a guide for anyone who has never attempted such an expedition before, stressing that professional instruction is crucial for safety in these extreme conditions. Overall, the adventure serves as both a personal triumph for the group's first 4,000-meter summit and a compelling demonstration of why proper preparation and equipment are non-negotiable when venturing into high alpine environments where nature can be unforgiving without adequate respect and caution.
Read the full video transcript
We are incredibly excited this morning.
Going to climb the mountain. We're going
to the top of Bright Horn near Zamat,
which is a 4,000 m peak. We are getting
the train to Zamat right now.
Early morning in Zamat.
Beautiful Swiss town. Very, very
touristy. Very, very expensive.
and where my great greatuncle
set off to be the first person to climb
the Matter Horn.
That's my little claim to fame.
We're not climbing the Matter Horn
today. We are climbing Bright Horn,
which is kind of opposite to the Matter
Horn. You can you can see one from the
other.
So this is the town square in Zamat and
this is the Montto Rosa Hotel where
Edward Wimper
met his colleagues to plan the first
ascent of the Matter Horn in that very
hotel there. We're making our way up to
the um Matah Horn Express gondola which
is going to take us most of the way up
the mountain. So, we're not really
climbing a full mountain, but we are
climbing the last 400 m of it.
Right, we're just making our way up on
the gondola. This is JB, our guide. He's
going to take us to the top of Bright
Horn. It's going to be an absolutely
beautiful day. Bright horn is
it's there.
And here really if something happen what
really is going to happen if someone
falls we are partic
>> the reason he's got so many things on
his harness is in case somebody falls
down a creasse, we can all pull them
out.
>> I mean, I just thought this was going to
be a nice walk in the snow.
>> Just a walk in the buck.
>> Yeah. So, we're going up there back to
Bright Horn there, 4,000 m peak. So,
this is where we we came last year and
uh just walked out onto the snow here
and we were all very excited and uh
decided that one day we would try and
climb that mountain and today's the day.
lucky with the weather.
>> It's beautiful, isn't it?
>> And usually, even on a beautiful day
here, it's windy and it's like
>> So, we've walked out on the ski slope
from the
uh cable car station and now we're going
to stop and put krampons on because
we're going to start the walk across the
glacia. You can see people on the the
route. Now, you know, the chances of
falling into a creasse are not massive,
but you always need to be prepared,
which is why we're going to put krampons
on and put a harness and a rope on so
that we're all fixed together.
Two years ago, I came here and I I I
just felt like I could just walk out and
follow all these people, but you just
can't take that risk. Well, yeah, why
not? Yeah, but you just don't know. So,
you have to take which is why we we got
JB here to help us.
So for JB, this is just a nice morning's
walk. But on my watch, for the first
time ever, I'm going to start a
mountaineering activity.
>> Don't laugh. We are. We're going on a
mountain. So, I am allowed to do that.
If
>> the rope pulls you, it doesn't mean I
want you to go faster. It's like it's
just me knowing that you're here. Okay?
So, try to find your own pace.
>> There you go.
So the danger of falling into a creasse
is very real, which is why we are roped
up uh with about 10 m of distance
between us so that if somebody does
fall, there's plenty of room for us to
arrest the fall and uh pull them out.
This is ridiculously exciting, honestly.
So, we're going over our first creasse
over a little snow bridge. So, I'll
point the camera down and see what we
can see.
Can't see all the way down, but all
these fishes that you can see in the
snow, those are creasses. And you know,
you have no idea how far down they go.
Yeah, I could definitely see that one
goes down a lot deeper. So, we're
starting to climb now.
We've climbed 20 m so far,
but we are going up.
Made it. Elsa fell in.
Hilarious.
It is a good job we're all roped
together. That's for sure. Yeah.
We've just stopped for a little break.
I'm having the food of the gods on a
mountain, which is candle mint cake. I'm
also stuck between being too hot and
worrying about being too cold. It is a
bit windy. Um but standing here just in
my sleeveless, I actually feel fine, but
I know that further up it probably will
be a bit colder. So, worth keeping my
down jacket on.
>> And now it's safer to have shorter
ropes.
>> Oh, yeah. So, now we're having to
shorten the ropes so we're going to be
closer together.
>> Just look at that view.
>> Yeah, the views are just brilliant.
Amazing. That's the cable car station
that we've just come from.
>> We've climbed Well, we've only climbed
140 m so far, but the distance.
>> Yeah.
How is my fal brightness?
>> Look at the creasses down there, guys.
>> Yeah.
>> So, Elsa here is the only one of our
family to have actually literally fallen
down a creasse.
>> I know I did.
>> Say that.
>> Well, it's like you have to jump earlier
than you expect.
>> Ellis fell down.
>> Whilst we were walking out,
>> the only the only one I felt really
sketchy on was literally that one just
there.
>> Why? cuz I look like I thought, "Oh,
it's just it's just a bridge like the
stuffer on the side. I have a little hot
>> until I looked at it. I took off my
glasses and I was like, it's pitch
black. I can't see the bottom.
>> It goes like 100 100."
>> Yeah.
>> Oh, really?
>> Oh my god.
>> You don't want to fall down there.
>> I just like I need to I need to time the
jump right or
>> the thing is we are doing tiny steps. It
looks small, but you've got to remember
the real shape is like it's spread.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Spread out.
>> So like if the bridge collapse, you're
like in the middle of a huge cave.
>> No, thank you.
>> That is enormous. That's terrible.
>> But
it's fantastic.
Right, everyone's telling me I'm stupid
because I've taken my jacket off. I
honestly I'm just sweating. But uh we'll
see what it's like when I get to the
top. And if I complain that I'm too
cold, they can all laugh at me.
So, the cable car station is quite a
long way below us now. Uh, we've climbed
366 m. We are 4,158
m into the sky. We're nearly at the
summit.
Sorry.
>> Have a look if it was like that.
>> Wait, wait, wait, Alex.
Wow. And then there's a a massive drop
over that side as well.
We're so lucky with the weather. It
could have been
like cloudy and
raining or snowing.
We got glorious views all around.
So Ellis is a little bit fright.
Okay. He says he's scared.
So, we've made it to the summit. It is a
little bit windy up here. Little bit
scary.
>> There's a nice drop to the left and a
nice drop to the right.
>> Anyone want to drink, but we're all
good.
>> Um, if I feel safe enough, I'll get in
my
That's coming down. Just
>> Oh, there's a big cute one here.
So many people.
>> Yeah.
>> It's getting very busy here.
>> I don't want to be without
the fun.
>> How you doing?
>> I'm I'm just too hot, man.
>> Too hot. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
>> Where are you from? Uh, Scotland.
>> Beautiful.
>> Yeah.
>> Enjoy, man. Well done.
>> Yeah. You, too.
>> Okay.
>> I don't want to come. I don't want to
leave without you.
>> Views are spectacular.
>> Yeah, the views are amazing.
Ellis was a bit frightened, but
um we made it up there, which is what
counts. It was good.
>> It was very good.
>> Yeah, John Bis was really good looking
after Ellis.
And there is the amazing
Mata Horn in front of us there.
>> Everyone okay? Anyone want to stop or
anything?
I'd be happy at any place to just like
chill.
>> We can stop there. There will be no wind
where people are.
>> Last night it snowed. So, we've been
walking on fresh powdery snow. Although
I feel much safer when I'm on
welltrodden icy bits because I know then
I should be safe.
>> So you you can see how crowded it gets.
There's lots of people coming up, lots
of people going down.
>> So we all have to step off the trail to
the side to let people up.
>> We step up to let them pass.
Whether it's the left or the right
depending on the zigzag.
>> All right, everybody. All right.
>> Yeah. Come on. Let's go.
>> Just walk. Just walk. Just walk.
It's got a little bit cloudy. It's still
very warm though.
It It is amazing how many creasses there
are that you can see. And then there's
the ones that you can't see. And yeah,
we're just, you know, I'm really glad
that we're roped up because I wouldn't
want to walk on all this without the
rope and certainly not without the
krampons.
You just don't know what's below you.
And we are back. We're done. That was
unbelievably amazing.
Absolutely brilliant
civilization.
>> Thanks, man.
That was amazing.
>> Guess what?
>> That that it it felt longer coming down
than going up.
>> Yeah,
>> it always does. It's because your brain
is like, "Okay, it's done.
>> That's done now." Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Doesn't matter.
That was actually good.
There we are. We're back on the ground
in Zamat. Although Zamat itself is 1,500
m above sea level, but we've had a
fantastic time climbing up to the summit
of Bright Horn. That's the first time
any of us have done a 4,000 meter uh
mountain. So, we're really pleased we've
done that. It was an unforgettable
experience and one that I I really
recommend you do if you get the
opportunity to do something like that,
go for it.
>> It was definitely worth booking a guide.
>> Yeah, if you've never done anything like
that before, which we haven't really.
Yeah, I having a guide is is essential
really. But yeah, fantastic. Really
enjoyed it. Hope you enjoyed watching.
Thank you very much for watching. If you
haven't subscribed to the channel
already, please do that now. Much
appreciated. Thanks for watching to the
very end and we'll see you on the Star
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