Eastern Breithorn, Mountain summit in Valais, Switzerland and Italy
Eastern Breithorn is a summit in the Wallis region of the Pennine Alps, standing at 4,139 meters with steep slopes covered in glacial ice and rock. The peak forms part of a broader ridge system connecting several adjacent mountains and glaciated valleys.
The peak was first climbed in 1884 by J. Stafford-Anderson with mountain guides Ulrich Almer and Aloys Pollinger. This ascent marked an important moment in the mountaineering exploration of the Wallis region during the Alpine climbing boom of that era.
The mountain draws climbers from Switzerland and Italy who train on its slopes and glaciers, reinforcing connections between Alpine mountaineering traditions on both sides of the border. Visitors at the summit experience the meeting point of two distinct climbing cultures and their approaches to mountain exploration.
Climbers typically approach from Zermatt or Breuil-Cervinia, where cable cars help reach higher elevations before the final push to the summit. The route crosses glaciers and requires experience with snow and ice travel.
The north face drops steeply toward Breithorngletscher in a sheer wall roughly 650 meters tall, creating an imposing sight from below. On the opposite side, the southern slopes blend gradually into the expansive Verra Glacier network that extends across the Italian side.
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