Normal route

Although a serious alpine climbing route in its own right, the Hörnli ridge (1,220 m, AD III) of the Matterhorn is the "voie normale" that most climbers use to reach the summit.

When talking about moutain climbing, a normal route is the route that is used most often to climb a mountain. Very often, it is the easiest route. This does not have to be the case though. There often is an easier roure than the normal route, but it is used less:

• The easiest route is less well known than the normal route, and therefore used less.
• The easiest route may be more cumbersome than the normal route. It is sometimes used for the return trip.
• The easiest route is associated with special dangers (for example avalanchea or rockfall)
• It may be more difficult to reach, or longer