Zumsteinspitze
The Zumsteinspitze (Punta Zumstein in Italian) (4,563 m) is a peak in the Pennine Alps on the border between Italy and Switzerland. It is a subpeak of Monte Rosa.
| Zumsteinspitze | |
|---|---|
| Punta Zumstein | |
 The Zumsteinspitze (centre) with the Signalkuppe (left) | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,563 m (14,970 ft) |
| Prominence | 110 m ↓ Grenzsattel |
| Parent peak | Dufourspitze of Monte Rosa |
| Isolation | 0.5 km → Grenzgipfel |
| Coordinates | 45°55′55″N 7°52′17″E |
| Geography | |
  Zumsteinspitze Location in the Alps | |
| Location | Piedmont, Italy / Valais, Switzerland |
| Parent range | Pennine Alps |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1 August 1820 by Joseph and Johann Niklaus Vincent, Joseph Zumstein, Molinatti, Castel and porters unknown |
| Easiest route | Lysjoch (4,248 m) - Colle Gnifetti (4,454 m) |
The summit lies between the Dufourspitze (to which it is joined by the Grenzsattel) and the Signalkuppe (to which it is joined by the Colle Gnifetti).
Climbing
On 1 August 1820 the mountain was ascended by the brothers Joseph and Johann Niklaus Vincent, Joseph Zumstein, Molinatti, Castel and some unknown porters. During the expedition they thought they had climbed the highest peak of the Monte Rosa massif, but when they reached the summit they found out there was another "highest peak": the Dufourspitze. The Vincent brothers and Zumstein agreed to name the successfully climbed mountain "Cima de la belle Alliance", but Zumstein, forest inspector and member of the Royal Society of Science in Turin, managed to name the mountain after himself.
The first winter ascent was by E. Allegra and guides on 30 March 1902.
References
- Robin G. Collomb, (ed.), Pennine Alps Central, London: Alpine Club, 1975
- Helmut Dumler and Willi P. Burkhardt, The High Mountains of the Alps, London: Diadem, 1994
- Julius Kugy, Im göttlichen Lächeln des Monte Rosa, Graz: Leykam-Verlag, 1940
