Ober Gabelhorn, Alpine summit in Valais, Switzerland
Ober Gabelhorn is an alpine summit in the Valais region featuring a pyramid-like form that rises to about 4,063 meters. Its north face is covered in glacier ice, while the remaining flanks are predominantly composed of rock.
The mountain was first climbed in 1865 by A.W. Moore, Horace Walker, and Jakob Anderegg via the east face. A notable alternative route on the southwest ridge, known as Arbengrat, was established later in 1874.
The name refers to the mountain's distinctive fork-like peak shape, a feature that shaped how local climbers and guides have described this summit for generations.
Climbers can access the mountain from three main bases: the Rothorn Hut at about 3,198 meters, the Grand Mountet Hut at roughly 2,886 meters, and the Arben Bivouac. The northeast ridge route is the most straightforward path to the summit.
The northeast ridge serves as the main climbing route, yet many visitors overlook how the Arbengrat on the southwest flank offers a distinctly steeper and more technical challenge. This variety attracts climbers seeking different levels of difficulty on the same mountain.
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