Climbing celebration

Thanks to cable cars, only the top 300m of the 4,168m mountain need to be done on foot. (photos and text: Dale Bechtel, swissinfo) swissinfo.ch
Among the party was the legendary Doug Scott who enjoyed the ride to the base of the summit. swissinfo.ch
Final preparations were made before the ascent including the strapping on of crampons. swissinfo.ch
George Band (l), the youngest member of the 1953 Everest expedition, was on hand as he was in 1957 for the 100th anniversary. swissinfo.ch
Driving wind and snow obscured views of the summit and surrounding peaks. swissinfo.ch
Alpine Club president Stephen Venables (front, middle) pauses for a summit snapshot with other AC members. swissinfo.ch
Venables (r) with Scott in the background. swissinfo.ch
With 300 members in attendance, the Zermatt event was the biggest ever Alpine Club gathering. swissinfo.ch
They were welcomed by Zermatt's brass band, made up exclusively of mountain guides. swissinfo.ch
For great effect, a helicopter was used to uncover a new monument.
Venables (l) was joined by Swiss officials to watch the unveiling of the statue. swissinfo.ch
The statue of the 19th century climber has pride of place in the Zermatt centre, next to the village museum. swissinfo.ch
But the biggest draw may well remain the monuments in the Zermatt cemetery to the British climbers who died following the first ascent of the Matterhorn. swissinfo.ch