Who hasn't dreamed of riding the crests of these prodigious mountains? The Imperial Crown of Zinal captures the hearts of men as much as it illuminates those of the Swiss Alps. Celestial empress or uncompromising nymph, what do we really know about her? Portrait of a fabulous diadem from the heights of val d’Anniviers.
The Imperial Crown of Zinal | Legendary mountains in the heart of the Valais Alps
At the dawn of the formation of the Alps, the Imperial Crown of Zinal was born from the impetuous folding of a long, thick thrust sheet drifting from Africa towards Europe. A treasure unearthed from the depths of the earth, it radiates, flamboyant and grandiose, from the heart of the Swiss Valais to the summit of the world. This diadem of rock set with glaciers is the perfect embodiment of the splendour of a celestial kingdom that sculpts the horizon to the rhythm of our hearts.
The imperial crown protects val d’Anniviers and the village of Zinal , which gladly pledge their allegiance to it. The five legendary and majestic summits peaks, each over 4,000 metres above sea level, soar skywards like a hymn to the grandeur of the Alps. From west to east, the Dent Blanche,Obergabelhorn, Zinalrothorn, Weisshorn and Bishorn walls of granitic gneiss fromArolla have been shaped by icy winds over the millennia. And from the heights of Zermatt, the Matterhorn gazes down upon them, sovereign pyramid and undisputed emblem of the Valais Alps.
The Imperial Crown at Zinal | Rock theater overlooking the val d’Anniviers
At the crossroads and at the heart of everything, the Imperial Crown seems, when observed, to play a double game. From its gigantic crests, it embraces Zinal and val d’Anniviers like a nurturing mother watching over her children. But its peaks, culminating in the center of the Valais, also materialize a separation. To the west is Valais-Central, to the east Upper Valais. To the west Dent Blanche, to the eastObergabelhorn, whose names alone represent diversity. Here, the high mountains tell us two singular stories, marking all the cultural richness of our country.
Beyond words and civilizations, nature has forged this crown of rock as a stage for many wonders. From the Mountet hut, you can admire a monumental, sumptuous glacial cirque. Without doubt one of the most enchanting landscapes in the Swiss Alps. At the foot of Dent Blanche,Obergabelhorn and the Zinalrothorn, the Zinal and Grand Cornier glaciers, the Durand glacier and the Mountet glacier flow over the rock like rivers of diamonds. A dazzling spectacle that leaves a lasting impression on those lucky enough to experience it.
The soul of La Couronne is of course perceptible when you climb its high summits. In contact with its rock, along its walls and balancing on its edges. You feel it, you immerse yourself in it, and it leaves you with a taste of adventure, a hint of the elusive. But the Imperial Crown of Zinal also reveals itself to those who take a little height, enjoying a unique panorama. To embrace this muse with a single glance - what poetic audacity! From the huts of Tracuit, Mountet or Arpitettaz, Moiry or Becs des Bossons, she reveals herself, powerful and absolute. The Haute Route Impériale, one of the most remarkable odysseys in the Alps, offers experienced skiers a unique opportunity to contemplate the giants of the Valais in their finest light. This week-long, high-altitude ski tour takes skiers from north to south along the five immovable mountains of the Zinal Crown.
The Imperial Crown of Zinal | Erhard Loretan's incredible crossing of the Swiss Alps summit
The masterly, bold lines of the Imperial Crown at Zinal have always inspired the most intrepid of adventurers to climb them all. To reach the sky, to feel the immensity of the Alps with every step. To finally surpass themselves and become one with nature, wild and crystalline. But history awards the laurels of glory to Erhard Loretan, famous mountaineer and mountain guide. After conquering the mountains of the Peruvian Andes and the Himalayas, he embarked on a wild odyssey to the heights of val d’Anniviers.
In the waning days of autumn in 1985, his friend André Georges, a renowned mountaineer, asked him to climb the entire Imperial Crown with him at Zinal. 140 km of relentless, sumptuous ridges. 25,000 metres of ascent for an exceptional journey to the most beautiful summits of the Swiss Alps. Without hesitation, Erhard Loretan accepts this incredible challenge. To test his physical and mental stamina, he jumped at the chance. The start was scheduled for February 12, 1986. However, the day after Carnival, the mountaineer learns that his rope-mate is sleeping in prison following quarrels with the Swiss army. This unfortunate setback did not discourage the two explorers. The expedition finally begins two days later.
On February 14, Erhard Loretan and André Georges set off from Grächen in the northern Zermatt valley. Over a three-week period, they climbed some 40 summits , each more magnificent than the last. Throughout their journey, they oscillate between altitudes of 3,000 and 4,000 meters, balancing between earth and sky. They face winds and thick fog. They triumph over snow and icy traps. Fighting with all their might for victory, they advance at all costs along sharp ridges and dizzying walls. Together, they feel stronger. Together, anything is possible. Despite dangers and uncertainties, they stick together. Watching their every step, concentrating on their every move, they make progress.
Nature grants them only 7 days of sun-drenched sweetness. 7 days in paradise, facing the immensity of the Alps as if they were at the heart of everything. During the nineteen days of their race, they only allowed themselves three nights of bivouac. Soaking cold, they can dry their snow-soaked clothes in the shelter of a refuge before continuing their remarkable ascent. Then came the day when Zinal finally welcomed them as heroes. On March 4, 1986, Erhard Loretan and André Georges overcame the Imperial Crown and reached Zinal. A resounding achievement by two mountaineering icons who had the ambition to believe in their dream and the ultimate determination to make it come true.
The Imperial Crown of Zinal, a masterpiece of nature born of its effervescence, embraces val d’Anniviers to better protect it. From the heights of its infinite, eternal peaks, it exhorts mankind to daring and clear-sightedness. In the light of these marvellous mountains, it's up to us to dream, to see life as a unique opportunity, to lead our most beautiful adventures on their slopes.
