Gross Windgällen, Mountain summit in Uri, Switzerland.
Gross Windgällen reaches 3,187 meters in the Glarus Alps and displays steep rock walls along with multiple glaciers, including the Stäfelfirn on its southern slopes. The southern face is dominated by glacial ice, while the northwest side remains rocky and ice-free.
Mountain guide Josef Maria Tresch-Exer completed the first ascent in 1848 and returned ten days later with Georg Hoffmann for a second successful climb. These early ascents mark the beginning of the peak's documented climbing history.
The mountain's name comes from German words meaning wailing or whistling, a reference to the fierce winds that regularly sweep across the exposed summit.
The Windgällen hut, operated by the Academic Alpine Club of Zurich at 2,032 meters, serves as the main base for the standard route. Visitors should expect snow, ice, and significant exposure, especially on the upper sections.
The northwest side drops sharply toward Lake Seewli at 2,028 meters, representing a rare lowland lake at this elevation. This combination of glacial formation and lake landscape creates an unusual alpine topography.
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