Alpinism & Climbing

You see them shimmering even from a distance – the striking summits of the Bernina group. And dominating them all, the Piz Bernina, at 4,049 metres the highest peak in the Eastern Alps. Almost more famous than the awe-inspiring summit itself is the snow and ice Biancograt ridge, the so-called “stairway to heaven” leading up to the summit.

The three pillars of Piz Palü with their hanging glaciers are equally as striking. The Bernina massif has long attracted mountaineers and adventurers – the Piz Bernina summit was first reached on 13 September 1850 by Johann Coaz, Jon and Lorenz Ragut Tscharner. Since then, the majestic ice and snow-clad mountains of the Engadin have been a magnet for every ambitious mountain climber.

All those wanting to take to the heights but preferring terra firma to ice and snow and hiking boots and poles to crampons and ice axes, have a choice of attractive Alpine trails with white-blue-white markings.

Providers of guided mountain tours:

• Bergsteigerschule Pontresina | www.bergsteiger-pontresina.ch
• Go Vertical, Pontresina | www.govertical.ch
• St. Moritz Experience, St. Moritz | www.stmoritz-experience.ch
• Crystal Events, St. Moritz | www.crystal-events.ch