The mountain had been attempted a few days before by Edward Whymper, Jean Antoine Carrel and Luc Meynet but Whymper insisted that they retreat from their planned route up the west ridge because of loose rock.
Val d'Hérens | Hérens | Dent d'Herens |
Monte Rosa itself lies near the intersection of a great north and south ridge, extending from the Balfrin through the Mischabelhörner, and the highest peaks of the mountain itself, to the Vincent Pyramide, and thence through the range that bounds the Val de Lys, nearly to Ivrea, with the transverse range lying between the Dent d'Herens and the Pizzo Bianco near Macugnaga.
Its summit (3,710 metres) is the tripoint between the valleys of Hérens, Mattertal (both in Valais) and Valpelline (in the Aosta Valley).