Piz Palü

The three even peaks of the elegantly looking, glaciated Piz Palü rise to a height of 3,900 meters on the border between Italy and Switzerland. The mountain is part of the Bernina Range in the Central Eastern Alps and is located to the east of Piz Bernina. Many alpinists are captivated by Piz Palü's three pillars and imposing north face. Not only are alpine tours to Piz Palü's summit popular, but the great view of the mountain from the Diavolezza ski resort is as well. Many people may be familiar with the mountain's name even if they have never visited it because it was the setting for Arnold Fanck's famous 1929 mountain film "The White Hell of Pitz Palu," starring Leni Riefenstahl.

Oswald Heer, Peter, and M. Flury, and Johann Madutz and Gian Marchet Colani, with guides Johann Madutz and Gian Marchet Colani, climbed the 3,882 m east peak on August 12, 1835, believing it to be the highest summit of the mountain. This is still the most common route from Switzerland, with an easy traverse to the central peak as a bonus. On July 24, 1864, Edward N. Buxton, W.F. Digby, William Edward Hall, J. Johnston, and Montagu Woodmass made a second ascent of the east summit with Pontresina guides Peter Jenny, Alexander Flury, and J. B. Walther. This group had no knowledge of the ascent nearly 30 years prior and thought they had reached the highest peak.

Elevation: 3,900

Location: Graubünden, Switzerland - Lombardy, Italy