Weisshorn

Weisshorn
North-east view of the Weisshorn
Highest point
Elevation4,506 m (14,783 ft)
Prominence1235 m ↓ Furggjoch[1]
Parent peakMonte Rosa
Isolation11.0 km → Dom[2]
Coordinates46°06′06″N 7°42′58″E / 46.10167°N 7.71611°E / 46.10167; 7.71611
Naming
English translationwhite peak/mountain
Geography
Weisshorn is located in Switzerland
Weisshorn
Weisshorn
Location in Switzerland
LocationValais, Switzerland
Parent rangePennine Alps
Topo mapSwisstopo 1328 Randa
Climbing
First ascent19 August 1861 by John Tyndall with guides J.J. Bennen and Ulrich Wenger
Easiest routerock/snow/ice climb

The Weisshorn (German, lit. white peak/mountain) is a major peak of Switzerland and the Alps,[3] culminating at 4,506 metres (14,783 feet) above sea level. It is part of the Pennine Alps and is located between the valleys of Anniviers and Zermatt in the canton of Valais. In the latter valley, the Weisshorn is one of the many 4000ers surrounding Zermatt, with Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn.

The Weisshorn was first climbed in 1861 from Randa by the Irish physicist John Tyndall, accompanied by the guides J.J. Bennen and Ulrich Wenger. Nowadays, the Weisshorn Hut is used on the normal route. The Weisshorn is considered by many mountaineers to be the most beautiful mountain in the Alps and Switzerland for its pyramidal shape and pure white slopes.[4][5][6][7]

In April and May 1991, two consecutive rockslides occurred from a cliff above the town of Randa on the east side of the massif, below the Bis Glacier.

  1. ^ Swisstopo map (the Furggjoch is the key col at 3,271 metres)
  2. ^ Retrieved from Google Earth. The nearest point of higher elevation is west of the Dom.
  3. ^ Considering peak with at least 300 metres prominence, the Weisshorn is the fifth highest in the Alps and fourth highest in Switzerland.
  4. ^ Williams, Cicely (1964). Zermatt Saga. George Allen and Unwin. p. 104.
  5. ^ Sharp, Hilary (2015). Tour of Monte Rosa: A Trekker's Guide. Cicerone Press. p. 154. ISBN 9781783621842.
  6. ^ Morell, John (1867). Scientific Guide to Switzerland. Smith, Elder and Company. p. 14.
  7. ^ Goodfellow, Basil (1952). "The Weisshorn Horseshoe" (PDF). Alpine Journal. 58. Alpine Club: 465–68. Retrieved 28 September 2015.

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