The Matterhorn is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large, near-symmetric pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of the Pennine Alps, whose summit is 4,478 metres (14,692 ft) high, making it one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe. The four steep faces, rising above the surrounding glaciers, face the four compass points and are split by the Hörnli, Furggen, Leone/Lion, and Zmutt ridges. The mountain overlooks the Swiss town of Zermatt, in the canton of Valais, to the northeast; and the Italian town of Breuil-Cervinia in the Aosta Valley to the south. Just east of the Matterhorn is Theodul Pass, the main passage between the two valleys on its north and south sides, which has been a trade route since the Roman Era.
Andreas "Anderl" Heckmair was a German mountain climber and guide who led the first successful ascent of the Eiger north face in July 1938.
Breuil-Cervinia is a frazione of the comune of Valtournenche, and is considered one of the most renowned winter and summer tourist resorts in the Alps.
Renato Pasini is an Italian former cross-country skier who began competing in 1996. He won the gold medal in the team sprint at the 2007 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Sapporo. Pasini also has seven individual victories at various levels all in sprint since 2002.
Luigi Perenni, before 1934 Prenn, was an Italian military officer and skier.
Kílian Jornet is a Catalan professional long-distance trail runner and ski mountaineer. Widely regarded as one of the greatest trail runners of all time, he has won some of the most prestigious ultramarathons, including the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, Grand Raid, ̍Western States and ̍Hardrock.
Guido Giacomelli is an Italian ski mountaineer.
Jean Pellissier is an Italian ski mountaineer, mountain runner and sky runner.
Lorenzo Holzknecht was an Italian ski mountaineer.
Damiano Lenzi is an Italian ski mountaineer and cross-country skier, Italian Army member, Mountain Warfare Troops ("Alpini").
The Mezzalama Trophy is an Italian high altitude ski mountaineering competition in upper Valtournenche and Ayas valleys, in Aosta Valley.
Aldo Stella is an Italian ski mountaineer and former cross-country skier. Stella was born in Asiago. He participated at the 1968 Winter Olympics, when he placed sixth together with Giulio de Florian, Franco Nones and Palmiro Serafini in the 4 × 10 kilometres relay event and seventeenth in the 50 kilometres race of cross-country skiing.
Oreste Squinobal, from Gressoney-Saint-Jean, was an Italian mountain climber, mountain guide of Monte Rosa and ski mountaineer.
Lorenzo "Renzo" Squinobal from Gressoney-Saint-Jean is an Italian mountain climber, mountain guide and ski mountaineer.
Michele Boscacci is an Italian ski mountaineer.
Giusto Gervasutti was an Italian mountain climber, Alpini officer and skier.
Anselmo Viviani was an Italian cross-country skier who competed in the 1930s and 1940s. In 1937, in the rank of an Alpino, together in team with Tenente Giuseppe Fabre and Sergente Luigi Perenni he won Gold at the Trofeo Mezzalama race. In the same year, he finished second in the 40 km event of the Italian men's championships of cross-country skiing.
Lyndsay Meyer is an American ski mountaineer.
Hervé Barmasse is an Italian alpinist. He began his career as a mountaineer on his home mountain, the Matterhorn, climbing new routes and repeating various prestigious ones.
