MATTERHORN

matterhorn, one of the best known mountains (14,782 ft.) in the alps. it rises s.w. of the village of zermatt, and on the frontier between switzerland (canton of the valais) and italy. though on the swiss side it appears to be an isolated obelisk, it is really but the butt end of a ridge, while the swiss slope is not nearly as steep or difficult as the grand terraced walls of the italian slope. it was first conquered, after a number of attempts chiefly on the italian side, on the 14th of july 1865, by mr e. whymper's party, three members of which (lord francis douglas, the rev. c. hudson and mr hadow) with the guide, michel croz, perished by a slip on the descent. three days later it was scaled from the italian side by a party of men from val tournanche. nowadays it is frequently ascended in summer, especially from zermatt.