| Gross Windgällen | |
|---|---|
View of the north side (right) from Brunnital |
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| Elevation | 3,187 m (10,456 ft) |
| Prominence | 552 m (1,811 ft) [1] |
| Parent peak | Tödi |
| Location | |
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Gross Windgällen
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| Location | Switzerland |
| Range | Glarus Alps |
The Gross Windgällen is a 3,187 metres high mountain in the Glarus Alps, overlooking the valley of the Reuss in the canton of Uri. The massif of the Gross Wingällen lies between two parallel valleys, the Schächental on the north side and the Maderanertal on the south side, both converging to the Reuss on the west at approximately 500 metres above sea level or 2,700 metres below the summit. On the north side, the massif encloses a small valley, the Brunnital, which belong to the Schächental, thus forming an amphitheatre of several summits above 3,000 metres, including the Gross Ruchen on the east; the north wall of the Gross Ruchen being connected with that of the Gross Windgällen.
Several glaciers can be found on the southern side of the mountain, among which the Stäfelfirn, located east of the summit. The north-west face is very steep and has no glaciers, it overlooks the small lake of Seewli (2,028 metres). Two kilometres south-west of the Gross Windgällen lies the Chli Windgällen (2,986 metres).
The closest locality is Golzern on its southern flanks at 1,400 metres, from where the Gross Windgällen is usually climbed. The Windgällen hut, owned by the Academic Alpine Club of Zurich is located higher at 2,032 metres. From there starts the normal route to the top, via the Stäfelfirn.