There are a lot of very unique mountains in the Rockies, like Grand Teton, Longs Peak, the Maroon Bells, and more. But there’s one that stands out because of both its looks and its origins, and it’s pretty hard to reach. Topo Traveler took a trip out to Mount Assiniboine, nicknamed the “Matterhorn of the Rockies”, and explored the unique geology of the mountain.
So why is Mount Assiniboine so unique? The mountain features a standout pyramidal horn, much like the real Matterhorn. Horns occur when three or more glacial cirques start in the same spot, carving a pointy mountain summit. There are a lot of horns around the Rockies and around the world in general, but ones that stand out among nearby peaks are often given the nickname “Matterhorn”.
