Ofenhorn, Mountain summit in Valais, Switzerland and Piedmont, Italy
The Ofenhorn, also called Punta d'Arbola, is a 3235-metre summit of the Lepontine Alps on the Swiss-Italian border, between the Binn valley in Valais and the Formazza valley. Its Italian side rises above Val Formazza, and the Margaroli hut serves as the main base for climbs. In Walser dialect of Formazza the peak is called z'Hofuhorä.
The sources consulted do not record a first ascent date for the Ofenhorn; the 1864 date in earlier versions is not supported. The mountain rises to 3,235 metres on the Swiss-Italian border between the Binn valley in Valais and the Formazza valley in Italy, within the Lepontine Alps of the Monte Leone and San Gottardo group. On the Italian side the Rifugio Margaroli serves as a base for climbs.
The mountain carries two names: Ofenhorn in German and Punta d'Arbola in Italian, and the Walser of Formazza call it z'Hofuhorä. The Walser settled the upper Formazza valley from the Valais side, and their German-derived dialect survived in villages such as Pomatt (Formazza) into modern times.
The Margaroli hut (Rifugio Margaroli) on the Italian side, above Val Formazza, is the reference point for an ascent; the Swiss approach comes from the Binn valley. The summit sits on the border ridge at 3,235 m, so plan the route with the crossing of the Swiss-Italian frontier in mind.
The Ofenhorn lies on the Swiss-Italian border between the Binn valley and the Formazza valley, and on the Italian side it overlooks Val Formazza. The Rifugio Margaroli, a mountain hut on the Italian slope, serves as a base for climbs. The summit reaches 3,235 metres above sea level.
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