One of our main objectives for the summer 2005 was the classic Monte Rosa Traverse. Monte Rosa Massif is THE place for the peak bagger collecting the 4000 meter peaks; the summits are not demanding but they are plenty and near each other. This time the snow conditions made us change our plans as soon as after bagging the first one, Dufourspitze (4634 m.). The snow conditions on the steep ridge descending to Zumsteinspitze were awful! After what I call "trying it out the best that I could" we decided to descend to Silbersattel where we spent the night before topping out Nordend and returning to Zermatt.