LOWA Matterhorn Adventure

Together to the top – Four LOWA athletes, two aspiring mountaineers, one summit

Two women on their way to Switzerland’s most iconic peak – accompanied by LOWA athlete Ines Papert and a team of experienced female alpinists. The LOWA Matterhorn Adventure is part of the Summit Scholarship and empowers women in mountain sports through professional support.

The application phase has ended, but the journey for the selected mountaineers has only just begun.

The Matterhorn – an icon of the Alps

Rising 4,478 m between Switzerland and Italy, the Matterhorn stands majestic and solitary, unmistakably shaping the Alpine landscape.

But it is more than a world‑famous photo motif: it is a mountain where courage, technique and mental strength must all come together. The best-known route, the Hörnligrat, is considered the classic normal route for experienced and well-trained alpinists.

The ascent via the Hörnligrat is demanding and requires respect: over roughly 1,200 vertical metres, steep rock steps, exposed ridges and firn-covered sections alternate. Navigation skills, endurance, precise climbing technique and realistic self‑assessment are crucial - especially as weather changes can occur quickly and unexpectedly on this free‑standing summit.

And the challenge does not end at the top: the long descent requires full concentration and sufficient reserves.

Matterhorn at a glance

Height: 4,478 m
First ascent: 14.07.1856
Ascents per year: 2,500–3,000
Ridge routes: Northeast Ridge (Hörnligrat), Northwest Ridge (Zmuttgrat), Southeast Ridge (Furggengrat), Southwest Ridge (Liongrat)
Best season: July–September

The right boot: CERVINO GTX MID

Monte Cervino – the Italian name of the mountain – is also the namesake of our new mountaineering model, the CERVINO GTX MID. A technical boot developed for demanding alpine tours, stable performance and maximum reliability on rock, firn and exposed ridges. On the Matterhorn, it is exactly where it belongs.

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The selection phase

Over 2,000 applications from 82 countries were submitted for the Summit Scholarship 2026. 350 women from 43 nations applied for the Matterhorn Adventure alone.

Sunny Stroeer, extreme athlete and founder of the Summit Scholarship Foundation:

“The number and quality of applications show how many women are eager to forge their own path in alpinism. At the same time, they highlight the importance of our mission to make mountain sports more accessible for women, as financial and social barriers still exist. With the Summit Scholarship, we aim to provide the necessary know-how, equipment, and financial support.”

Meet the 2026 scholarship recipients

Motivated female mountaineers will continue to have the opportunity to pursue their alpine paths with professional support in 2027 and beyond. Follow the updates here to stay informed about future scholarships, application periods and new formats.

The participants of the LOWA Matterhorn Adventure 2026

Tiffany Diep

Tiffany (35) lives in New Hampshire and grew up in a traditional Asian household. Although she dreamed of big outdoor adventures as a child, she lacked encouragement for a long time. Her outdoor journey began at a climbing gym and evolved into major expeditions, including Mt. Whitney, Kilimanjaro and Elbrus.

“This opportunity would be life changing for me and also for my girls to see their mom following her dreams, challengingherself, and working towards something she truly loves. While this is a deeply personal goal, the courage and drive to fully go for it comes from my daughters. Expeditions like this are something I will always be chasing, but at the moment, I am a stay-at-home mom (..). The finances are a huge obstacle currently. Matterhorn is special to me because it is me proving to myself (and others) that becoming a mother doesn’t mean that you need to give up on your dreams.”

Noemi Katalin Kreuz

Noemi (25) is from Rottenburg, Baden‑Württemberg and has been active for years as a youth leader at the German Alpine Club. She climbs regularly with her sister and is involved in a FLINTA* collective that supports women and queer people in climbing. She spent extended time in Peru, exploring the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Central on alpine tours.

“I want to join this Matterhorn guided climb as part of an all-women team because, despite spending much of my life in the mountains, I have rarely experienced alpine spaces intentionally centered around women. Most of my alpine climbing I have done with my sister, but otherwise I have only climbed in mixed-gender groups, which were largely male-dominated. These experiences shaped me as a climber but also highlighted how confidence, leadership, and group dynamics are strongly influenced by gendered expectations.”

1) Women, lesbians, intersex, non‑binary, transgender, and agender people.
The asterisk serves as a placeholder for all individuals who do not identify with any of the aforementioned groups but are nevertheless marginalized due to their gender identity.