While strolling through Zermatt’s main street on a recent visit, I stopped by The Mountaineers’ Cemetery located right next to the Parish Church of St Mauritius, just a few meters from the #Matterhorn .
The Mountaineers’ Cemetery is a graveyard where climbers who lost their lives in pursuit of mountain glory in the mountains around Zermatt are laid to rest.
I spent time reading each of the about 50 unique headstones, and pondering over what may have driven these young men and women to climb these mountain peaks.
They lost their lives following their passion.
Word on the street has it that the bodies of 125 others have never been found.
At the end of my visit, I left with several life lessons:
What's Covered in This Article
Mountains are beautiful. But they can also be dangerous
Just like many other things in our lives.
There’s nothing more horrible than to die while living another person’s dream
Most of the climbers were quite young when they died.
Some were teens, others were in their 20s.
But they died doing what they loved.
They perished while pursuing their dreams.
Whose dreams am you living? They better be yours.
There are lessons to be learned everywhere
Even in the most unexpected places.
The Mountaineer’s Cemetery, like most of the cemeteries I have had a chance to visit in the past, is very tranquil and well taken care if. A grand gesture for those whose final resting place is the same place where they had their last adventure.
Although largely morbid because of the feelings of despair and sadness they carry within themselves, cemeteries are one of the most unexpected places to find inspiration.
The most dangerous thing you can do in life is play it safe
That this cemetery exists here as a stark reminder of the mountains’ looming dangers hasn’t been a deterrent to other climbers.
Every day of my stay in Zermatt I met several mountaineers trying to conquer the Matterhorn.
Don’t be afraid to fail.
Be afraid not to try.
Life is all about being in the moment and making the best of it
You don’t know what will happen next.
There are no guarantees in this life.
Just because it worked on the way up doesn’t guarantee it will work on the way down…
Some of the climbers died on ascent.
Many others died on their way down after successfully scaling the mountain.
I submit to you to take some time today and ponder about the legacy you want to leave behind.
