Incredible new Matterhorn speed record

Swiss mountaineer Dani Arnold broke the speed record for climbing the Matterhorn on 22 April 2015. This new record replaces Ueli Steck’s record set in 2009. Steck, also Swiss, made it to the top in one hour and 56 minutes, 10 minutes longer than Arnold who made it to the summit in one hour and 46 minutes. Arnold, born in the canton of Uri took the Schmid route on the north face of the Matterhorn.

The 4,478 metre peak was first climbed in 1865 by a team led by Edward Whymper from the UK. This expedition ended in tragedy when four of the team fell to their deaths while descending. Since then the deadly peak has claimed hundreds of lives. The difficult north face of the Matterhorn, which Arnold took on 22 April was not climbed until 1931 by Austrian brothers Franz and Toni Schmid.

Here are two videos of Arnold’s rapid ascent. At some points he looks like he’s almost running.

Arnold already holds the speed record for climbing the north face of the Eiger near Grindelwald in the Swiss canton of Bern. Here is a video of Arnold breaking the Eiger speed record in 2011. He made it to the top in 2 hours and 28 minutes.