Lyskamm

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Lyskamm (Liskamm)

Lyskamm from Pollux
Elevation 4,527 metres (14,852 ft)
Location Flag of Italy Italy / Flag of Switzerland Switzerland
Range Pennine Alps
Prominence 376 m
Coordinates 45°55′25″N 7°50′02″E / 45.92361, 7.83389Coordinates: 45°55′25″N 7°50′02″E / 45.92361, 7.83389
First ascent J. F. Hardy and party, 1861
Easiest route basic glacier/snow climb/scrambling along exposed ridge

Lyskamm (or Liskamm) (4,527 m) is a mountain in the Alps lying on the border between Switzerland and Italy. It consists of a five-kilometre-long ridge with two distinct peaks. The southern (Italian) face is somewhat rugged, and rises only a few hundred metres above the glacier below (Ghiacciaio del Lis), while the northern (Swiss) side is an impressive 1100-metre ice-covered wall, rising up from the Gorner Glacier.

The mountain is often climbed as a traverse from the Felikjoch (West), to the Listjoch (East) or vice versa. The traverse consists mostly of a narrow, snow-covered ridge, with some scrambling over rocks. In good conditions, this route is fairly easy and objectively safe, however in bad snow conditions and/or bad visibility, the ridge can be challenging because of large, sometimes double, cornices, mainly on the southern side of the ridge.

Lyskamm from Felikjoch
Lyskamm from Felikjoch

The eastern and highest of the two peaks is 4,527 m high, and was first ascended in 1861 by a 14-man team (eight Englishmen and six Swiss guides) led by J. F. Hardy and including William Edward Hall, up the east ridge. The ridge as a whole was first traversed three years later by Leslie Stephen, Edward Buxton, Jakob Anderegg and Franz Biener.

[edit] Bibliography

  • W. E. Hall (1870) "The fatal accident on the Lyskamm", Alpine Journal, 5: 23–32

[edit] External links

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