Western Lyskamm, Mountain summit in Valais, Switzerland and Italy.
The Western Lyskamm is a 4,481-metre summit of the Lyskamm in the Monte Rosa massif, on the border between Italy's Aosta Valley and Switzerland's Valais. A thin crest dropping to 4,417 metres links it to the Eastern Lyskamm, and on the Italian south side rises the Naso del Lyskamm. Its western ridge is particularly sharp, framed and reaches gradients of up to 45 degrees.
The first ascent of the peak occurred on August 16, 1864, when Sir Leslie Stephen and Edward N. Buxton reached the summit. This climb was part of the early exploration of the highest mountains in the Alps during the 19th century.
The name Lyskamm comes from the Lys glacier and the Lys river below it; the peak's Italian name, Lyskamm Occidentale, is used on the Italian side. The two summits are joined by a narrow crest dropping to 4,417 m, and on the Italian south side stands the Naso del Lyskamm, a rock nose climbers pass on the normal route.
Climbers reach the peak via established routes starting from the Gnifetti Hut or the Monte Rosa Hut, mostly during the summer climbing season. Mountaineers should prepare for alpine conditions including snow slopes and ice sections along the way.
A notable feature is the roughly one-kilometer ridge connecting this summit to an adjacent peak, which displays numerous snow cornices. These formations shift with the seasons, making the traverse technically demanding for those crossing it.
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