Longest women's rope in the world - initiative "100% Women" for International Women's Day 

Making women visible in mountain and outdoor sports, creating role models and encouraging new things: What was successfully launched in 2021 with the "100 % Women" initiative, including the Peak Challenge, is to be continued on International Women's Day 2022 with an ambitious idea. Switzerland Tourism, the Swiss Alpine Club SAC, the Swiss Mountain Guides Association, Saas-Fee/Saas Valley Tourism and the outdoor brand Mammut are planning to set a record with the longest women's rope team, which is likely to be unique worldwide. To achieve this, around 60 women from all over the world will climb the 4027-meter Allalinhorn in Valais together in June.

Travel brings people together. The 100 % Women initiative launched on last year's International Women's Day is proof of this. Despite the pandemic, women from over 20 countries came to Switzerland for the Peak Challenge. Around 700 female climbers scaled all 48 Swiss four-thousand-meter peaks in women-only rope teams and also ensured that female climbers and mountain guides were visible for the first time worldwide in a concerted effort.

With the continuation of "100 % Women" for International Women's Day this year, the diversity and concentrated power of women on the mountain is to become even greater. Switzerland Tourism (ST), together with the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), the Swiss Mountain Guides Association, Saas-Fee/Saastal Tourism and the outdoor brand Mammut, is planning a record-breaking event in the Alps in June: around 60 women will climb the Valais Allalinhorn together, symbolically forming what is probably the longest women's rope team in the world. According to the two partner organizations, the Swiss Mountain Guides Association and the Swiss Alpine Club SAC, as well as renowned experts in the field of women's mountaineering, the mobilization of such a large, all-women's rope team is a first. This is also the case for Swiss historian Marie-France Hendrikx: "To my knowledge, never before in the history of mountaineering have so many women joined forces to climb a peak together. All the more gratifying that this record is being set in Switzerland."

For more diversity on the mountain

The Swiss mountains are accessible to all women. "100 % Women" wants to make this visible with the longest and most diverse women's rope team. Women from all cultures and of all ages, who have the necessary basic fitness for the approximately three-hour climb, can join online apply for the ten places that are available. The remaining 40 or so places will be awarded to female journalists and selected women from Germany and abroad. Care will be taken to ensure that the composition is as diverse as possible.

Around 15 experienced female mountain guides ensure the safety of the four participants per rope during the ascent. And with the Allalinhorn, a four-thousand-meter peak was chosen that is also suitable for women with little mountaineering experience. So for many a woman it could be the first four-thousand-meter peak of her life.

The implementation of the record is planned between June 15 and 17, 2022. Depending on the weather situation, the climb will take place on Thursday or Friday. Saas-Fee will serve as the base camp and thus become a hotspot for women's mountain sports, where it is not only about the mountain experience itself, but also about the exchange of experiences. The supporting program also includes various workshops, training opportunities, offers for relaxation for mind and body, and a celebratory dinner after a successful summit ascent.

"Women-only Travel": Great Potential for Destination Switzerland

ST sees great potential for women's travel in the Swiss tourism industry. Switzerland can score points with the female target group thanks to its diverse and intact nature. Switzerland also regularly occupies the top places in international rankings in the areas of cleanliness and sustainability. These are all aspects to which women attach particular importance. In addition, the conditions for more women in mountain sports and outdoor sports in general are improving: in developed countries, the number of well-educated, financially independent women with a need for sporting adventures in nature is growing. In tourism, this development is reflected in the ever-increasing demand for "women-only travel".

On the platform MySwitzerland.com/women ST has therefore put together plenty of inspiration for experiences that cater specifically to the needs of women as part of the 100 % Women initiative. These include eleven multi-day offers in the areas of mountain sports, hiking and e-biking, led exclusively by female guides. The tours are organized by Mammut Alpine School (MAS) and out & ABOUT - Switzerland Trekking and can be booked directly via their websites.

All women who would like to be part of this event can register online via MySwitzerland.com/worldrecord apply by April 15, 2022.