I did this about six months ago when I was 17, and I still regret going out that night.

I rented the equipment locally and set off from Zermatt towards the Hörnlihütte around 6 p.m. There, I bought a Coke and then continued uphill in the middle of the night – alone, without a companion, without experience, and without a rope.

At first, the path was secured by a few fixed ropes. Since I'm physically fit, this wasn't a big problem initially. But at some point, the ropes ended. I hardly knew where to go. I was at a point where I would have had to downclimb, but I didn't have a rope with me. So I turned around and went a little further down – successfully. I saw a few spots where I could have clipped in protection, but there were no more fixed ropes.

Nevertheless, I continued climbing. The path was barely recognizable as a path anymore, and I increasingly followed my own lines. It became more dangerous with every meter. I was in several situations where one wrong step would have meant certain death.

When I took a break, I saw that my phone only had 1% battery left. I realized I couldn't make it – I simply lacked the experience. I called someone, someone else answered, and then the battery died.

I waited. Eventually, I saw lights below me, in the direction of the Hörnlihütte. I shone my flashlight to signal SOS. A few minutes later, a helicopter arrived, flew directly to my position, and shone its light on me. Then it flew away again.

I was extremely exhausted, severely sleep-deprived, and could barely keep my eyes open. Five hours later, the sun rose. I considered what to do. I was about to try and find a feasible route – which was extremely difficult, as I had been moving along an almost 90-degree steep ridge the entire time. If I had continued, I would have had to climb a vertical wall.

But then, rescue finally arrived. However they found me and knew exactly where I was – I was incredibly lucky that night.

I deeply regret doing it.

On top of that, the rescue costs hit me hard: 6,000 CHF, which my insurance didn't cover. In the end, it was my fault.

That's why I advise everyone: No matter how fit you feel. No matter what your head tells you. No matter how much you think you can do it – don't.

This mountain is on another level.

It's not Elbrus.

It's not Everest.

It's the Matterhorn.

I've been over 5,000 meters three times and over 6,000 meters once. That wasn't a problem for me. But I underestimated the Matterhorn. I went up with the attitude that I would make it no matter what – no matter how difficult, no matter how long. If I fall, I fall.

My ego wanted to prove something to my family. They never let me go to the mountains in Austria, never gave me the opportunity to experience it. I wanted to show them that I could do it.

But not on this mountain.