7 x 4000m summits in Monterosa, Italy, on July 31–Aug 1, 2026 (my quick trailer video on YouTube). Videos and editing by Aki Kärkkäinen. (Subscribe to my YouTube channel.)
- Dates
- July 30–August 1, 2026
- Location
- Monte Rosa Massif, Italy
- Peaks
- 7 summits over 4000m in 2 days
- Guide
- Guide Alpine Alagna
This spring and summer have been frustrating: no new job in sight since I was let go due to redundancy at the end of December 2025. Many people and companies are on holiday right now too, which hasn’t helped—things have felt stalled for longer than I’d like 🤔
Still, I’ve kept looking for work while trying to focus on my well-being.
Between my own job situation and the unstable state of the world, I needed a break and time in the mountains, like I do every winter and summer. So this time I decided to go bigger: I booked a guided 7 x 4000m “mini-spaghetti” tour in the Monte Rosa Massif, Italy, July 30–Aug 1, 2026—a more ambitious mountaineering endurance challenge than I’d taken on before.
Planning and Preparation
To maximise my chances of success, I trained a bit more cardio and strength than usual for about three months beforehand.
I took my trekking boots and a 10–13kg backpack and walked up and down my local hills in Hyllie, Malmö, 3–4 times a week, 1–3 hours per session—roughly 2000 vertical meters up and down each week.
On top of that: swimming 1km once a week, cycling 2–3 times a week, home strength training 2–3 days a week, and my usual daily walks, which I’ve kept up for years.
Finding a Guide and a Group
I’ve joined mixed groups with strangers a few times before, which can be risky given differing acclimatisation and fitness levels among participants. So this time, to maximise my own chances of success, I opted for a private guide instead. That turned out to be a good decision. I’ve used different guide offices over the years; this time I tried a new one for me, Guide Alpine Alagna, and it worked really well.
The Tour
Before the glacier, a few highlights from the start of the trip: the Alta Via 1 route from Cheneil to Col de Nana (2775m) was beautiful. I also climbed Becca Trécare (3033m, route 3C) and Bec de Nannaz/Falconetta (3010m, route 3A), both from Col de Nana: 360-degree views over the Alps, the Matterhorn, and the whole Monte Rosa massif, under a clear blue sky.
Next time I’m keen to explore other peaks near Col de Nana, including Petit Tournalin (3207m) and Mont Roisetta (3324m). The Cime Bianche valley looks beautiful too: another one for the list.
After a night at Rifugio Grand Tournalin (2550m), I continued to Rifugio Guide di Frachey (2060m) in Resy, Val d’Ayas. These few days of acclimatising across Cervinia, Valtournenche, Val d’Ayas, and Gressoney (trekking via Alta Via 1) set me up for the main event: Monte Rosa’s 4000m peaks.
The Seven Summits
Seven peaks over 4000m in two days. Left to right: Schwarzhorn (Corno Nero), Ludwigshöhe, Parrotspitze, Zumsteinspitze, Signalkuppe, Balmenhorn, Piramide Vincent.
We woke up at the very crowded Rifugio Gnifetti (3647m) at 3:30 on July 31 and stepped onto the glacier around 4:45. Five peaks that day, two more the next morning.
- Schwarzhorn / Corno Nero (4322m)—Summited 7:20, July 31. Beautiful morning light and a fun climb, with a short rock section before the statue of the Madonna on the summit.
- Ludwigshöhe (4341m)—Summited 7:50, July 31. A short trek across the glacier from Corno Nero, with good views over the other Monte Rosa peaks.
- Parrotspitze / Punta Parrot (4432m)—Summited 8:50, July 31. A beautiful, narrow snow ridge.
- Zumsteinspitze / Punta Zumstein (4563m)—Summited 10:25, July 31. The fifth-highest Alpine four-thousander on the official UIAA list of 82 summits.
- Signalkuppe / Punta Gnifetti (4554m)—Summited 11:05, July 31. Home to Capanna Margherita, the highest mountain hut in Europe. This was my second time up here. In 2017, thick clouds and fog meant I barely saw the landscape, so this time I was determined to catch both sunset and sunrise. The mountain had other plans: as we arrived at Margherita, the weather turned to snow, and the morning brought no change: the wind was still strong. We pushed on regardless, setting off again at 6:00. Third time’s the charm, maybe 😜
- Balmenhorn / Cristo delle Vette (4167m)—Summited 06:55, Aug 1. Balmenhorn isn’t on the official UIAA list of 82 four-thousanders, but it’s included in the extended list of 46 ”lesser summits”. Either way, it felt like a worthy peak in its own right, including a 10–15m ladder-and-rope section just before reaching the Cristo delle Vette statue on top.
- Piramide Vincent (4215m)—Summited 07:35, Aug 1. The final summit of the tour. My second time on this peak (first was 2023). The weather wasn’t as kind this round, but it didn’t take much away from the experience. Grateful for the chance, and for those views.
In summary, the weather was mostly good throughout the trip, with the one exception being that night and morning at the Margherita hut on Signalkuppe.
You can watch the longer video edit of my 7 x 4000m summit tour in the Italian Alps, July 31–Aug 1, 2026, on my YouTube channel (Subscribe). Videos and editing by Aki Kärkkäinen.
The Broad Peak Avalanche
I was mostly offline during the tour. Coming down from 4500 meters, I learned about the avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan that claimed 10 lives on July 30, 2026. I was deeply affected—I’ve followed some of those climbers on social media for years.
It was a hard reminder that we’re just visitors here: the mountains can be cruel, and one mistake can be fatal. I’m merely a tourist compared to those professional climbers, but as someone with a real love for mountains and nature, I feel I can relate to the pain and the senseless loss. May they rest in peace.
Reflections
Whatever happens, the mountains will be there. The glaciers might not. You could see it in the thinning ice and the growing number of crevasses. The ice has visibly retreated even in the few years I’ve been coming here, while Europe burns with heatwaves and wildfires further south. Both are signs of anthropogenic climate change. I’m wondering what more needs to happen for people, businesses, and politicians to change course. I’m not hopeful.
Coming back from the Alps, I’ve had a bit of a blues since I don’t have much steady ground to land on right now—no job, no fixed plan, just the next stretch of uncertainty to sit with.
It’s become a test of resilience, and not just mine—the same instability I feel personally, I see playing out globally too, as the rules-based order that’s held for decades comes apart.
I’ve used the time to reflect, dig into the foundations of AI and related tools, and think about where my renewed self fits into this changing landscape. For now, I’m grateful for every new day and opportunity that comes—and if you know of one, I’d love to hear about it.
What’s Next?
This is a tour that will stay with me. I’ve now summited 12 4000m Alpine peaks—11 of them on the official UIAA list, since Balmenhorn falls just outside it.
For reference, here’s the full list:
- Punta Giordani (4046m) — 2017
- Punta Gnifetti/Signalkuppe (4554m) — 2017, 2026
- Castore (4223m) — 2018
- Piramide Vincent (4215m) — 2023, 2026
- Gran Paradiso (4058m) — 2024
- Western Breithorn (4165m) — 2025
- Central Breithorn (4159m) — 2025
- Schwarzhorn (Corno Nero) (4322m) — 2026
- Ludwigshöhe (4341m) — 2026
- Parrotspitze (4432m) — 2026
- Zumsteinspitze (4563m) — 2026
- Balmenhorn (4167m) — 2026
I’m already planning the next ones. I’m not a climber, but here are some candidates still on the easier side, with a mix of glacier trekking and some short rock scrambling in Monte Rosa and around Saas-Fee:
- Pollux (4092m)
- Allalinhorn (4027m)
- Alphubel (4206m)
- Nadelhorn (4327m)
- Rimpfischhorn (4199m)
- Strahlhorn (4190m)
- Lagginhorn (4010m)
- Weissmies (4017m)
The future will tell. For now, the highest priority is finding a job.
And that’s a wrap. Special thanks to my excellent guide Fabio Guglielmina from Guide Alpine Alagna—couldn’t have done it without him 🙏