Besso (mountain)

Besso
Besso from the Corne de Sorebois
Highest point
Elevation3,669 m (12,037 ft)
Prominence151 m (495 ft)[1]
Parent peakWeisshorn
Coordinates46°4′39.43″N 7°39′31.5″E / 46.0776194°N 7.658750°E / 46.0776194; 7.658750
Geography
Besso is located in Switzerland
Besso
Besso
Location in Switzerland
LocationValais, Switzerland
Parent rangePennine Alps
Climbing
First ascentc. 1862 by J. B. Epinay and J. Vianin
Easiest routeSouth flank and south-east ridge (F)

Besso is a mountain in the Pennine Alps in the Swiss canton of Valais. It has two significant summits: the main summit (3,669 m (12,037 ft)) and the north-top (3,659 m (12,005 ft)).

The name Besso means "twins" in the dialect of the Val d'Hérens and refers to the twin summits of the mountain.

The first ascent of the mountain was probably made by the guides J. B. Épinay and J. Vianin in 1862.[2] The classic route on the mountain – the south-west ridge (PD+) – was, according to Collomb, "possibly" first climbed by R. L. G. Irving and party in 1906.[3]

The Mountet hut (2,886 m) is used for the normal route, which is known as the "Ladies' Route".

  1. ^ Swisstopo maps
  2. ^ Collomb claims that the first ascent was made in "about 1862". Collomb, Robin G., Pennine Alps Central, London: Alpine Club, 1975, p. 75.
  3. ^ Collomb, p. 76.