Dom (Mountain/Peaks)

The Dom, at 4,545 metres, is the highest mountain that lies entirely within Switzerland. The only higher summits in the country, such as the Dufourspitze in the Monte Rosa massif, sit on the Italian border. The Dom is the culminating point of the Mischabel range, a long chain of glaciated peaks between the Mattertal, the valley that leads to Zermatt, and the Saastal, the valley of Saas-Fee. From Saas-Fee and the villages of the Saas valley, it is a dominant presence on the skyline, a massive pyramid of rock and ice that fills the view to the east, and on the other side it rises above the village of Randa in the Mattertal.

The name Dom is generally explained as a tribute to a churchman, Canon Berchtold of Sion, who explored the area in the nineteenth century, though its dome-like shape has also been mentioned as a reason for the name. Before that, local people knew the mountain by other names. The first ascent was made on 11 September 1858 by the English clergyman John Llewelyn Davies with three local guides, an event that belongs to the period often called the golden age of alpinism, when climbers from Britain and elsewhere were making first ascents of most of the great peaks of the Alps and employing guides from the Valais villages.

Today, the Dom is a demanding objective for experienced mountaineers. The normal route starts from Randa and goes through the Dom hut, a high mountain refuge run by the Swiss Alpine Club at about 2,940 metres, which is the base for the final climb. The ascent is very long, with a vertical gain of more than three thousand metres from the valley over two days, and it involves steep, exposed ground and glacier travel. Climbers need good fitness, acclimatisation to altitude, and the technical skills of crampons, ice axe and rope work, or should go with a qualified guide. Conditions vary greatly with the season and the year, and rockfall and avalanche risk must be assessed on the day.

For visitors who do not climb, the Dom is best appreciated from below. The Saas valley offers numerous viewpoints, and lifts from Saas-Fee give access to terraces and trails with views of the whole Mischabel range, including glaciers that hang from the flanks of the mountain. The Dom is also seen from the Mattertal side, and from certain trains and roads in the valley. Photographers favour early morning and late afternoon, when the low sun brings out the relief of the rock and ice.

Weather can change quickly at this altitude, and cloud often hides the summit by midday, so plan viewing for the morning. Climbers should consult local guides, mountain hut keepers and weather forecasts, and should respect the seasonal nature of the climbing season, which is usually from July to September. The mountain suits mountaineers and, from afar, anyone with an interest in the Alps and their history. Visit the museum in Saas-Fee or Zermatt to learn more about the mountaineering history of the region, in which the Dom plays a major part.