Punta Nordend

Punta Nordend, 4609 m, is located on the Swiss-Italian border and is part of the Monte Rosa group. It is the massif's northernmost peak. The toponym Nordend (Nord End) simply refers to the group's northernmost point and the Piedmont Region's tallest. After Mont Blanc 4810 m, Monte Bianco di Courmayeur 4748 m, and Punta Dufour 4634 m, all of which are part of the Monte Rosa group, Nordend 4609 m is the fourth-highest mountain in the entire Alpin chain. In addition, it is the tallest peak in the Piedmont region and one of the highest mountains in Switzerland. Nordend is separated from Punta Dufour by the Sella d'Argento - Silbersattel. See Monte Rosa for a panoramic view of the entire massif. The beautiful East wall connects Punta Nordend to the other Monte Rosa summit peaks. A thin rocky point is the showpiece. Punta Nordend also has a large rocky bulwark facing NW that is coated in ice. The Cresta di Santa Caterina breaks off from this bastion to the northeast.

Despite having excellent ascents on snow and mixed terrain, among the most severe and longest in the Alps, Punta Nordend is the wildest and least frequented of Monte Rosa's four highest summits (Dufour, Nordend, Zumstein, and Gnifetti). Nordend is a secluded mountain that is significantly less busy than Punta Dufour, which sits nearby. Given the altitude to be attained and the disparity in height to overcome, the acclimatization and physical effort required to climb this mountain are extraordinary, regardless of which side you approach it from.

Elevation: 4,609 m
Location: Switzerland and Italy
Parent peak: Dufourspitze of Monte Rosa