Piz Cengalo, Alpine summit in Val Bregaglia, Switzerland and Italy
Piz Cengalo is a granite Alpine summit on the border between Switzerland and Italy in Val Bregaglia, standing at 3,369 meters. The peak forms a truncated pyramid shape defined by three prominent ridges radiating from its top.
The first documented ascent took place in 1866 when British climbers D.W. Freshfield and C.C. Tucker reached the summit with guide Francois Dévouassoud. Since this pioneering climb, the mountain has remained significant in Alpine mountaineering.
The name comes from the local Romansh word Tschingel, meaning girdle, which describes how the rock formations wrap around the mountain's body.
The main access route is through Val Bregaglia, with Rifugio Gianetti serving as the primary base camp for climbs. Visitors should prepare for Alpine conditions and check weather and mountaineering conditions before attempting the ascent.
The north face is one of the tallest rock walls in the Rhaetian Alps at about 1,300 meters and experienced major rockfall events in 2011 and 2017. These incidents highlight the ongoing geological shifts and dynamic changes affecting the mountain.
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