Der Monte Adamello ist nach der Presanella der zweithöchste Gipfel der gleichnamigen Gebirgsgruppe auf der Grenze zwischen Lombardei und Trentino. Die West- und die Nordwand des Adamello ragen steil zum Gipfel empor, während der Berg nach Südosten hin flacher abfällt. Der Adamello liegt im Naturpark Parco regionale dell’Adamello, der im Osten direkt an den etwas grösseren Parco naturale Adamello-Brenta grenzt. Neben Steinböcken und Gämsen lassen sich hier gelegentlich grössere Greifvögel wie Steinadler und Bartgeier und selten Braunbären blicken.
The two peaks of the Aiguille du Dru in the northern part of the Mont Blanc massif rise steeply into the sky of the French Alps. The Grand Dru is the higher summit. The Petit Dru is about 20 meters lower. The impressive shape of the mountain has fascinated generations of climbers in Europe, and notably in France. The first ascent of the Grand Dru was accomplished in 1878 via the south-east face.
South of Chamonix, the peak of Aiguille du Midi towers in the Mont Blanc massif. It offers a magnificient view and is the starting point for various climbing routes to the surrounding four-thousander peaks, most of all the famous Mont Blanc. A cable car has been running up the Aiguille du Midi since 1955, making the summit, which is now equipped with restaurants and tourist shops, easy to reach. The highest peak of the Aiguille du Midi was climbed for the first time in 1856. Nowadays, the south face is particularly popular for its many climbing routes.
The Aiguille Verte, the “Green Needle”, is located in the Mont Blanc massif, east of Chamonix. With its rocky, pointed shape, it lives up to its name. The Aiguille Verte's massive rock face makes it one of the most challenging mountains to climb in the Alps. In some places the gradient reaches up to 55°, which is why even the normal route through the Whymper Couloir should not be underestimated. Additionally the mountain massif is surrounded by glaciers, which makes the ascent routes even more difficult.
Die Felsnadeln der Aiguilles d'Arves erheben sich in der Maurienne, im Osten von Grenoble. Die südliche Spitze, Aiguille Méridional, ist dabei die höchste Erhebung. Es folgen die nur ein Meter niedrigere Aiguille Centrale und etwas abgesetzt, weiter im Norden die auch als „Tête de Chat“, also Katzenkopf, bezeichnete Aiguille Septentrionale. Da es viele eher zum berühmten und populären Écrins-Massiv im Süden zieht, sind die Aiguelles d'Arves inzwischen eine Art Geheimtipp für alle, die eher einsame Berg- und Klettertouren suchen.
The Albula Pass in the Swiss canton of Graubünden connects the Albula Valley with the Engadin high valley. It is one of the most popular Alpine passes for cycling. The more than 20 km long ascent from the west is scenically particularly beautiful and varied. Not only the mountains impress, but also the route of the Rhaetian Railway, which runs parallel to the pass road. Because of the train alternative and the partly narrow road, there is relatively little car traffic on the pass.
The Aletsch Glacier in the Swiss canton of Wallis is the best-known as well as the longest and biggest glacier in the entire Alps. Starting at a height of about 3800 meters in the Jungfrau-region of the Bernese Alps the glacier reaches over 22 kilometers towards the Massa river, which itself flows into the Rhône. The Aletsch Glacier as well as the adjacent Aletsch Forest make up the biggest part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage site Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch.
Das Aletschhorn ist der zweithöchste Gipfel der Berner Alpen und wird häufig als kältester Alpenberg beschrieben, da es in besonderem Maße kalten Winden ausgesetzt ist. Von der Spitze aus hat man eine atemberaubende Aussicht auf die umliegenden Drei- und Viertausender der Berner und Walliser Alpen. Rund um das Aletschhorn liegen die Aletschgletscher, die früher verbunden waren. Der Große Aletschgletscher ist der größte Gletscher im gesamten Alpenraum.
Durch seine Lage nahe vieler Viertausender der Walliser Alpen ist das Almagellerhorn nicht der auffälligste Gipfel der Region. Dabei hätte der formschöne Berg, der von Saas Fee aus als perfekte Felspyramide erscheint, alle Aufmerksamkeit verdient. Auch der Aufstieg, der nicht allzu schwierig ist, lohnt sich, denn vom Gipfel des Almagellerhorns hat man eine tolle Aussicht auf die umliegenden Gipfel und Gebirgszüge wie Weissmies im Norden, Stellihorn im Süden und natürlich im Westen die Gipfel von Mischabelgruppe und Monte Rosa.
Alpe d'Huez is a winter sports resort in the French Alps, internationally known as a summit finish of the Tour de France.Alpe d'Huez – these are probably the 21 most famous hairpin bends in the world. The winding climb up to the French resort is also called the "Woodstock of cycling". When the Tour de France stops here, hundreds of thousands make the pilgrimage to the roadside and throw one big party.
The Alpspitze is located in the Wetterstein mountains close to Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze. In spite of its low prominence the mountain's unique pyramid shaped peak makes it one of the most iconic mountains of the Northern Limestone Alps and one of the best-known landmarks of nearby Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
The Altmann rises steeply almost 1000 metres over the valleys of the Alpstein. The second highest summit of the Appenzell Alps is a classic climbing mountain. The view from the top is impressive and goes from Lake Constance, over the Rhine valley, the Allgäu Alps, the Rätikon, the Silvretta Alps, up to the Bernese Alps, and Lake Zurich. Around the Altmann you have a fairly good chance to meet Alpine ibexes, which are widespread in the area.
Während die Marmolata als Königin der Dolomiten gilt, ist Antelao ihr König. Für die Gebirgsgruppe eher ungewöhnlich, ragt der Berg als freistehende Felspyramide im Südosten von Cortina d'Ampezzo majestätisch in die Höhe. Zusammen mit dem westlich gelegenen Monte Pelmo bildet der zweithöchste Dolomitengipfel ein riesiges Eingangsportal in das Val di Cadore.
The Ballunspitze is well-known among the visitors of the ski resort Galtür, which is situated in Tyrol on the northern slopes of the mountain, near the town of Wirl. The chairlift Ballunspitzbahn gets you up to 2200 meters. West of the ski area, in Vorarlberg, the Kops water reservoir can be found, which was constructed in the 1960s. South of the Ballunspitze the Threethousanders of the Silvretta Alps dominate the view.
The Barre des Écrins is the Alps' western- and southernmost four-thousander, situated in the Dauphiné-Alps, a wild and rough region in southeastern France. The mountain's north face is covered by the mighty Glacier Blanc, which climbers usually pass on their way to the summit. There are no classic Alpine ski resorts around the mountain but La Grave in the north of the Barre des Écrins has become one of the centers for freeriding and extreme skiing in the Alps.
Situated in the Pennine Alps in the Swiss canton of Valais the main summit of the Becs de Bosson, the Grand Bec, rises up to 3149 metres. The subpeak, Petit bec, is only 20 centimetres lower. The mountain chalet Cabane de Becs de Bosson at an altitude of 2983 metres is the starting point or rest stop for many climbers attempting to reach the summit.
The Biberkopf (beaver's head) rises at the end of the main ridge of the Allgäu Alps and is considered to be Germany's most southern mountain. The border to Austria runs along the distinctive summit. The name of the mountain goes back to larger beaver colonies that populated the nearby Lechtal and the surrounding high moors. Beavers are also part of the traditonal womens' costumes of the area which include beaver hats.
Die Birkkarspitze ist der höchste Berg des Karwendels. Gemeinsam mit den drei westlich des Gipfels gelegenen Ödkarspitzen bildet sie ein beeindruckendes Massiv. Nördlich der Birkkarspitze zieht sich das Karwendeltal. Durch seine Länge und den sanften Anstieg ist es zum Mountainbiken ideal. Auch ausgedehnte Skitouren in beeindruckendem Panorama sind dort beliebt.
Das Birnhorn ist die höchste Erhebung der Leoganger Steinberge und zählt zu den 30 prominentesten Alpengipfeln. Fast 2 000 Meter erhebt sich das Birnhorn über dem Tal der Leoganger Ache in seinem Süden. Die etwa 1 400 Meter hohe Südostwand des Berges ist eine der höchsten Felswände der Ostalpen, die sogar mit der berühmten, nahegelegenen Ostwand des Watzmann verglichen wird.
The Bischofsmütze, German for “bishop's hat”, owes its name to the distinctive shape of the double summit. The border between the Archduchy of Austria and the Archdiocese of Salzburg ran along the mountain, until the beginning of the 19th century. The mountain was said to keep watch over the Eastern Pongau region, which was administered by the Archbishop of Salzburg. Even though in 1993 the Bischofsmütze lost a 200 meter cliff wall in a massive rock slide, which changed the mountain's appearance significantly, it remains a popular destination for mountain climbers since the first ascent, made in 1879.
Das Breithorn ist ein Gebirgszug der Penninischen Alpen mit dem gleichnamigen höchsten Gipfel, der an der Grenze zwischen der Schweiz und Italien liegt. Er befindet sich auf der Hauptkette der Alpen, etwa auf halber Strecke zwischen Matterhorn und Monte Rosa und östlich des Theodulpasses. Der größte Teil des Massivs ist vergletschert und umfasst mehrere Nebengipfel, die alle östlich des Hauptgipfels liegen: das Zentrale Breithorn, der westliche Breithornzwilling, der Gendarm und die Roccia Nera.
Three Swiss cantons border on the top of the Brienzer Rothorn. A cable car from Sörenberg in Lucerne almost reaches the summit from the northern side. In the winter the are is part of the ski resort Sörenberg / Rothorn. The mountain station of the other cable car, going up from Brienz in Bern from the south, is located about 100 meters below the summit. The Brienzer Rothorn is known for the Alpine ibexes which populate its slopes. One might spot the animals when following the route of the “Ibex Trek” starting at Sörenberg.
The Churfirsten form a striking mountain range in the Appenzell Alps in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen. Of its seven summits, the Hinterrugg is the highest at 2306 m. While the range tapers off relatively gently to the north, to the south it drops steeply down to the Walensee at an altitude of around 420 m.
Cima d'Asta is the highest peak of the mountain massif of the same name and thus also the highest point in the Fiemme Mountains The mountain is located in a rather remote part of the Dolomites, away from the main tourist routes. The rock of the Cima d'Asta consists of granite, which sets it apart from the surrounding mountains, which are mainly characterized by reddish volcanic stone.
Cima Dodici (or Cima XII) is the highest point of the province of Vicenza and the Vicentine Alps, which rise northeast of Lago di Garda. The border with the province of Trento runs across the summit. In German, the mountain is also known as Zwölferkofel. Since Cima Dodici is easily accessible from all directions it is a popular destination for mountain hikes in the summer and ski tours in winter.
Cima Tosa is a mountain in the Brenta Group, north of Lago di Garda. It was once considered the highest point in the massif. However, new measurements revealed a summit height of just under 3 136 meters, making Cima Brenta (3 151 m) in the north the higher of the two peaks. Nevertheless, Cima Tosa is a fascinating huge, snow-covered rock tower with steep walls. The north face of the mountain, which is around 800 meters high, is particularly impressive.
Der Gipfel des Cimon della Pala ist eine markante Felspyramide, weswegen der Berg auch als das „Matterhorn der Dolomiten“ bekannt ist. Einen besonders schönen Blick auf den Gipfel sowie die umliegenden Berge der Palagruppe hat man vom Gebirgspass Passo Rolle in fast 2000 Metern Höhe. Die Normalroute auf den Gipfel führt über den Ostgrat, wurde jedoch erst 1989 zum ersten mal durchstiegen. Bei der Erstbesteigung des Bergs 1870 wurde hingegen die Route über die Nordwand begangen.
At 2764 metres, the Col de l’Iseran is the highest paved Alpine pass in Europe and one of the most legendary challenges in the French high mountains. It is of great importance for cycling and has been part of the Tour de France several times. Its difficulty comes not only from the amount of climbing and the length of the ascent but also from the thin air and the often extreme weather conditions. Even in high summer, cold and storms can dominate the pass – in 2019 the Tour de France even had to be abandoned here because of snow and landslides.
At 2304 metres, the Col de la Loze is one of the highest rideable passes in the French Alps and a legend of modern cycling. The summit between Méribel and Courchevel has only been accessible since 2019, via a paved cycle path closed to cars. Its difficulty lies less in its length than in its erratic profile: constantly changing gradients with ramps of over 20 per cent make any kind of pacing impossible. Part of the Tour de France since 2020, the climb is considered one of the toughest of the race – in 2023 it was here that Tadej Pogačar finally lost the Tour to Jonas Vingegaard.
At 2642 m, the Col du Galibier is the fifth-highest paved road pass in the Alps. This pass in the Western Alps is one of the absolute classics on the Tour de France programme, and it has a great deal to offer scenically as well. Much of the route runs through high Alpine terrain resembling a lunar landscape. The Galibier also forms a climatic boundary between the wetter northern Alpine climate and the dry Mediterranean climate on its southern side.
The southern neighbour Matterhorn steals a lot of the attention but the pyramid-shaped summit of Dent Blanche is most fascinating nonetheless. From here four ridges run almost perfectly towards the four cardinal points. The first documented ascent of Dent Blanche was accomplished in 1862, three years before the first ascent of the Matterhorn. The chosen route at the time from the south is still the normal route today. The hut of the Swiss Alpine Club Cabane de la Dent-Blanche is a popular starting point for summit attempts.
The Dent du Géant (the Giant's Tooth) is part of the Mont Blanc massif on the border between France and Italy. The northeast summit which rises up steeply gave the mountain its name. The lower southwest summit is also just above the 4000 meter mark.
The Dents du Midi are a mountain range which spans over three kilometers in the Swiss Canton of Valais. The seven peaks, all of which reach a height of about 3,200m, offer magnificient views both of Lake Geneva and the Rhône plains and are habitat for diverse plant and animal life, making them a popular destination for hikers and mountaineers.
With 4545 metres the Dom is the highest mountain with its entire base completely located in Switzerland. The view from the top offers a spectacular panorama far into the country and over the Monte Rosa massif due to the mountain's high prominence. The Dom is named after the Canon of the Sitten cathedral (in German: "Dom") who took part in the first official surveys of the area. The ski resort “Saas-Fee” is only six kilometres away, and even in the summer allows for some of the highest and most beautiful ski-runs in the entire Alps.
These three peaks of the Sesto Dolomites are a popular destination for mountaineers. It was here that many developments of mountaineering began, for example the discipline of sport climbing. Unfortunately, part of their popularity can be traced back to World War I. At the time, the area around the battlements was fiercely contested, the remains of which can still be found around the three peaks today.
The Dufourspitze is the highest mountain of Switzerland and the highest peak of Monte Rosa, one of the Alps' most impressive mountain massifs. The Swiss-Italian border runs along about 100 m east of the summit. The mountain is named after Guillaume-Henri Dufour, a Swiss general and topographer who published the first official map of Switzerland in 1845.
