Climbing Castor: Top Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You

Castor is a fairly nondescript peak which sits within the Pennine Alps on the border to the Valais, Switzerland and the Aosta Valley.

With its glaciated peak and phenomenal panoramic views, the mountain is the ideal challenge for intermediate-level mountaineers and can be smited from either the Swiss or Italian sides.

From the Swiss side, the ascent begins by heading from Zermatt to Klein Mountain via cable car. From here, climbers traverse the Grand Glacier of Verra up the mountain’s western flank until he or she reaches the summit.

From the Italian side, the adventure begins in the mountain hamlet of Gressoney. From here climbers take a lift up to the Capanna Quintino Sella mountain hut, before heading to the summit via the Felikjoch, eventually traversing the long and narrow southeast ridge.

Stunning scenery

Views from the top of Castor are incredible. Glaciers and mountains stretch as far as the eye can see. Among the iconic peaks that can be viewed from its summit are the Breithorn, Matterhorn and the rest of the Monte Rosa massif. The approach is no less scenic as well, with green foothills leading up to the Pennine Alps’ imposing glaciers.

Climb “the twins”

When heading to Castor, many climbers opt to combine the experience by summiting nearby Pollux as well. This detour adds another day to the trip, but is well worth the trouble. There’s nothing quite like seeing one from the other and the views from both are well worth the effort of getting up onto either one. Why not add two notches to your mountaineering belt next season?

Excellent location

Castor really is an ideally located mountain peak. It can be reached from either Zermatt or Gressoney. If you have more than the nexecsarry day or two to climb it, then a plethora of other mountain climbing options are also available. Since it’s on the Monte Rosa massif, many climbers will take a few more days to summit Monte Rosa as well. The Breithorn and Matterhorn are also easily accessed.

During the summer months, the weather for climbing Castor is ideal. Average temperatures farther down the mountain hover between 8ºC to 12ºC. These drop closer to freezing as you ascend. Weather on the mountain can be fairly unpredictable, but the summer months tend to be the driest.

Any trip to Castor begins either with a flight into the Geneva International Airport (GVA) or the Turin Airport (TRN). From the former, Zermatt can be easily reached by train, bus or car and from the latter, it is easiest to take a bus or car from Turin to Gressoney.

Italian

+39 / +41

Euro / Swiss Franc (CHF)

June to September