Tschenglser Hochwand, Mountain summit in South Tyrol, Italy.
Croda di Cengels, also called Tschenglser Hochwand, is a mountain summit at 3375 meters elevation that sits where three valleys meet: Cengles Valley, Zai Valley, and Razoi Valley in the Ortles Alps. The peak has steep rock faces and sharp ridges with multiple climbing routes at different difficulty levels.
The first recorded ascent of this peak was in 1871 when climber V. Hecht and guide J. Pingerra reached the summit via the southwest ridge. In more recent times, new routes have been added to the mountain, including a via ferrata path opened in 2002.
The mountain sits within Stelvio National Park, where German and Italian cultural traditions overlap and shape the alpine heritage of this border region. From the summit on clear days, you can see valleys on both sides, reflecting how climbers here belong to two different worlds.
The climb starts from Rifugio Serristori at 2721 meters elevation and follows marked path number 5 to Passo di Zai before ascending through a steep gully to reach the ridge. Start early and bring proper rock climbing gear and clothing for changing weather conditions at altitude.
The mountain offers climbers three different routes to choose from, including a normal path and two via ferratas with varying demands. The newest of these routes was established in 2002, making it quite recent compared to the peak's long climbing history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
